Japan’s 50th House of Representatives election officially kicked off on Tuesday, with a 12-day campaign period leading up to the voting on October 27. A total of 1344 candidates have registered to run in the House of Representatives election, and it is noteworthy that the number of female candidates has reached a record high since 2009.
According to reports by the Japanese Kyodo News on October 15, the announcement for the 50th House of Representatives election in Japan was made, with voting scheduled for the 27th, marking the start of a 12-day campaign period. A total of 1344 candidates representing nine parties have signed up to run, including 314 female candidates, setting a new record. They will compete for a total of 465 seats, consisting of 289 constituencies and 11 proportional representation blocks across the country.
The focus of this election is whether the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (President of the Liberal Democratic Party) can secure a majority of seats (233 seats). The combined total of seats held by the two ruling parties before the announcement was 288.
This will be the House of Representatives election held again after October 2021. The three-year administration of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also under scrutiny. This election marks the first implementation of new electoral district divisions following changes in the number of designated seats for single-member districts (“10 increase, 10 decrease”). Ishiba’s term as prime minister came just 26 days before the voting, making it the shortest period after World War II.
In his first campaign speech in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, Ishiba addressed the issue of factions within the Liberal Democratic Party, stating, “Through deep reflection, the LDP will create a new Japan.” He mentioned the violations of Japanese territorial waters and airspace by the Chinese Communist Party and Russia, emphasizing the need to “protect Japan’s independence and peace.”
The election campaign is now in full swing, with candidates from various parties vying for seats in the House of Representatives. As the election day approaches, the political landscape in Japan is set to undergo changes, reflecting the desires and aspirations of the Japanese people for the future direction of their country.