1989 Japanese House of Councillors election

1989 Japanese House of Councillors election

23 July 1989
126 (of the 252) seats in the House of Councillors 127 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Sōsuke Uno Takako Doi Koshiro Ishida Party Liberal Democratic Socialist Komeito Last election 143 seats, 38.6% 42 seats, 17.2% 24 seats, 13.0% Seats after 109 66 22 Seat change 34 24 2 Popular vote 15,343,455 19,688,252 6,097,971 Percentage 27.3% 35.1% 10.9% Swing 11.3% 17.9% 2.1%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Kenji Miyamoto – Eiichi Nagasue Party Communist Democratic Reform Democratic Socialist Last election 16 seats, 9.5% New 12 seats, 6.9% Seats after 14 11 8 Seat change 2 11 4 Popular vote 3,954,408 – 2,726,419 Percentage 7.0% – 4.9% Swing 2.5% – 2.0%
President of the House of Councillors before election Yoshihiro Tsuchiya Liberal Democratic Elected President of the House of Councillors Yoshihiro Tsuchiya Liberal Democratic

Elections for the Japanese House of Councillors were held in Japan on 23 July 1989.

The election result was a setback for ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) because of the Recruit scandal, the introduction of a 3% consumption tax, and the involvement of Prime Minister Uno Sōsuke in a sex scandal.

This is the first time that the LDP lost the majority in the House of Councillors. Since 1989, due to the House of Councillors without a simple majority, LDP needs to cooperate and form coalitions with other parties.

The Japan Socialist Party-led opposition won a majority of seats.

Election results

Party	PR seats	District seats	Total Elected 1989	Total
Liberal Democratic Party	15	21	36	109
Japan Socialist Party	20	26	46	66
Rengō no kai	0	11	11	12
Komeito	6	4	10	20
Communist Party	4	1	5	14
Democratic Socialist Party	2	1	3	8
Others	3	2	5	23
Independents	0	10	10
Total	50	76	126	252

References

• About Japan Series (1999), Changing Japanese Politics, No. 24, Tokyo: Foreign Press Center.
• Mahendra Prakash (2004), Coalition Experience in Japanese Politics: 1993-2003, New Delhi: JNU[1].
• http://www.binghamton.edu/cdp/era/elections/jpn89par.html