1924 Japanese general election

The Japanese general election of 1924 was the first instance when two political parties were united to form the government. The Seiyuhonto and Seiyukai combined, and they gained 47 of seats in the house.

In the earlier election of 1920, the Seiyukai was the dominant party in the House of Representatives with 60% of seats. In the year 1924 the party combined due the factional politics inside and this resulted in the formation of Seiyuhonto. In this election, the second largest party was Kenseikai with 37 percent of seats in the lower house. Takaaki Kato formed his first cabinet through a coalition of three parties; the Kenseikai (Constitutionalist Association), the Seiyukai and the Kakushin Kurabu (Reform Club), were generated in June 1924 by a constitutionalist movement opposed government by the military and privileged classes. It was the first coalition form of government in the Japanese political history.

Total 972 candidates were in fray for the election, however, 465 were elected on party basis for the 100 seats of the house and first time in the Japanese history coalition government was formed.

The Result was:

Election Results of 10 May 1924

Political Parties	Candidates	Elected	% of Seats
Kenseikai	265	152	33
Seiyuhonto	242	112	25
Kakushin Club	53	30	7
Minor Parties & Ind.	194	69	13
Total	972	465	100

References

• Robert A. Scalapino (Ed. by) Robert E. Ward (1973), Political Development in Modern Japan, USA: Princeton University Press.

• Mahendra Prakash (2004), Coalition Experience in Japanese Politics: 1993-2003, New Delhi: JNU[1].