# House of Representatives (Japan)

The House of Representatives (Japanese: 衆議院, Hepburn: Shūgiin) is the lower house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors is the upper house. The composition of the House is established by Article 41 [ja] and Article 42 [ja] of the Constitution of Japan. The House of Representatives has 465 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 176 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation, and 289 are elected from single-member constituencies.
The overall voting system used to elect the House of Representatives is a parallel system, a form of semi-proportional representation. Under a parallel system, the allocation of list seats does not take into account the outcome in the single seat constituencies. Therefore, the overall allocation of seats in the House of Representatives is not proportional, to the advantage of larger parties. In contrast, in bodies such as the German Bundestag or the New Zealand Parliament the election of single-seat members and party list members is linked, so that the overall result respects proportional representation fully or to some degree.
The House of Representatives is the more powerful of the two houses, able to override vetoes on bills imposed by the House of Councillors with a two-thirds majority.
The last election for the House of Representatives was held on October 27, 2024, in which the Liberal Democratic Party and their coalition partner Komeito failed to reach a majority of 233 seats, instead winning 215, 18 short of a majority.

## Right to vote and candidature

* Japanese nationals aged 18 years and older may vote (prior to 2016, the voting age was 20).
* Japanese nationals aged 25 years and older may run for office in the lower house.

## Differences between the Upper and Lower Houses

The House of Representatives has several powers not given to the House of Councillors. If a bill is passed by the lower house (the House of Representatives) but is voted down by the upper house (the House of Councillors) the House of Representatives can override the decision of the House of Councillors by a two-thirds vote in the affirmative. However, in the case of treaties, the budget, and the selection of the prime minister, the House of Councillors can only delay passage, but not block the legislation. As a result, the House of Representatives is considered the more powerful house.
Members of the House of Representatives, who are elected to a maximum of four years, sit for a shorter term than members of the House of Councillors, who are elected to full six-year terms. The lower house can also be dissolved by the Prime Minister or the passage of a nonconfidence motion, while the House of Councillors cannot be dissolved. Thus the House of Representatives is considered to be more sensitive to public opinion, and is termed the "lower house".
While the legislative term is nominally 4 years, early elections for the lower house are very common, and the median lifespan of postwar legislatures has in practice been around 3 years.

## Current composition

Composition of the House of Representatives of Japan (as of November 11, 2024, first day of the 215th National Diet) (elected in 2024; term: 27 October 2024 – 2028 or earlier dissolution) :
| Parliamentary groups/caucuses | Parliamentary groups/caucuses | Parties | Seats |
| | Liberal Democratic Party/Assembly of independents Jiyūminshutō・mushozoku no kai | Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Independents | 196 |
| | Constitutional Democratic Party/Independents Rikken Minshutō・mushozoku | Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) Social Democratic Party (SDP) | 148 |
| | Nippon Ishin no Kai Nippon Ishin no Kai | Nippon Ishin no Kai | 38 |
| | Democratic Party for the People/Independent club Kokumin Minshutō・mushozoku club | Democratic Party For the People (DPFP) | 28 |
| | Komeito Kōmeitō | Komeito | 24 |
| | Reiwa Shinsengumi Reiwa Shinsengumi | Reiwa Shinsengumi | 9 |
| | Japanese Communist Party Nihon Kyōsantō | Japanese Communist Party (JCP) | 8 |
| | Yūshi no Kai Yūshi no kai | Independents | 4 |
| | Sanseitō Sanseitō | Sanseitō | 3 |
| | Conservative Party of Japan Nippon Hoshutō | Conservative Party of Japan | 3 |
| | Independents (not member of a caucus) Mushozoku | Independents (not member of a party) LDP (Speaker) CDP (Vice-Speaker) | 4 |
| Total | Total | Total | 465 |
| viewtalkedit ||||
For a list of majoritarian members and proportional members from Hokkaidō, see the List of members of the Diet of Japan.

## Latest election result

| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats | Votes | % | Seats | Total seats | +/– |
| | Liberal Democratic Party | 14,582,690 | 26.73 | 59 | 20,867,762 | 38.46 | 132 | 191 | –68 |
| | Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan | 11,564,222 | 21.20 | 44 | 15,740,860 | 29.01 | 104 | 148 | +52 |
| | Japan Innovation Party | 5,105,127 | 9.36 | 15 | 6,048,104 | 11.15 | 23 | 38 | –3 |
| | Democratic Party For the People | 6,172,434 | 11.32 | 17 | 2,349,584 | 4.33 | 11 | 28 | +17 |
| | Komeito | 5,964,415 | 10.93 | 20 | 730,401 | 1.35 | 4 | 24 | –8 |
| | Reiwa Shinsengumi | 3,805,060 | 6.98 | 9 | 425,445 | 0.78 | 0 | 9 | +6 |
| | Japanese Communist Party | 3,362,966 | 6.16 | 7 | 3,695,807 | 6.81 | 1 | 8 | –2 |
| | Sanseitō | 1,870,347 | 3.43 | 3 | 1,357,189 | 2.50 | 0 | 3 | New |
| | Conservative Party of Japan | 1,145,622 | 2.10 | 2 | 155,837 | 0.29 | 1 | 3 | New |
| | Social Democratic Party | 934,598 | 1.71 | 0 | 283,287 | 0.52 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | Collaborative Party | 23,784 | 0.04 | 0 | 29,275 | 0.05 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Association to Consider the Euthanasia System | 18,455 | 0.03 | 0 | | | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Conservative Party of Nippon [ja] | | | | 21,671 | 0.04 | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Kawaguchi Vigilante Group | | | | 9,348 | 0.02 | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Third Way Party | | | | 6,033 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Party that Ends the Liberal Democratic Party | | | | 4,424 | 0.01 | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Party of the Heart | | | | 1,749 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Money for Everyone | | | | 530 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | New |
| | Independents | | | | 2,534,571 | 4.67 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 54,549,720 | 100.00 | 176 | 54,261,877 | 100.00 | 289 | 465 | 0 |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 54,549,720 | 97.53 | | 54,261,877 | 97.01 | | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 1,379,079 | 2.47 | | 1,672,577 | 2.99 | | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 55,928,799 | 100.00 | | 55,934,454 | 100.00 | | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 103,880,749 | 53.84 | | 103,880,749 | 53.84 | | | |
| Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ||||||||||

## Historical composition
### Before World War II (1890–1942)

Shakai Taishūtō
  Shakai Minshū-tō and misc. socialist
  Rikken Minseitō
  Jiyūtō
  Kensei Hontō
  Kokumintō
  Dōshikai
  Kenseikai
  Seiyūhontō
  Others
  Independent
  Taiseikai
  Kenseitō
  Kaishintō / Shimpotō
  Shōwakai
  Teikokutō
  Rikken Seiyūkai
  Kokumin Kyōkai
  Kokumin Dōmei
  Tōhōkai
  Taisei Yokusankai :
| Election | Total seats | Composition |
| 1st (1890) | 300 | 130 5 45 79 41 |
| 2nd (1892) | 300 | 94 124 44 38 |
| 3rd (Mar. 1894) | 300 | 120 51 34 60 35 |
| 4th (Sep. 1894) | 300 | 107 48 64 49 32 |
| 5th (Mar. 1898) | 300 | 105 26 37 103 29 |
| 6th (Aug. 1898) | 300 | 9 26 244 21 |
| 7th (1902) | 376 | 95 41 32 17 191 |
| 8th (1903) | 376 | 85 44 55 17 175 |
| 9th (1904) | 379 | 90 82 55 19 133 |
| 10th (1908) | 379 | 70 58 64 187 |
| 11th (1912) | 381 | 95 31 46 209 |
| 12th (1915) | 381 | 27 153 45 48 108 |
| 13th (1917) | 381 | 35 121 60 165 |
| 14th (1920) | 464 | 29 110 47 278 |
| 15th (1924) | 464 | 30 151 111 69 103 |
| 16th (1928) | 466 | 7 216 7 19 217 |
| 17th (1930) | 466 | 5 273 9 5 174 |
| 18th (1932) | 466 | 5 146 2 12 301 |
| 19th (1936) | 466 | 18 205 34 20 174 15 |
| 20th (1937) | 466 | 37 179 34 19 175 11 11 |
| 21st (1942) | 466 | 85 381 |

### After World War II (since 1946)

JCP
  Shakaitō-saha
  JSP
  Shakaitō-uha
  Labourers and Farmers Party
  Nihon Kyōdōtō / Kokumin Kyōdōtō
  Others
  Independent
  Vacant
  Nihon Nōmintō
  Kaishintō
  Nihon Shinpotō
  Minshutō
  Nihon Minshutō
  Liberal Party–Hatoyama
  Nihon Jiyūtō / Minshujiyūtō / Jiyūtō :
| Election | Total seats | Composition |
| 22nd (1946) | 466 | 6 92 14 38 81 2 94 141 |
| 23rd (1947) | 466 | 4 143 31 17 12 2 4 124 131 |
| 24th (1949) | 466 | 35 48 7 14 17 12 69 264 |
| 25th (1952) | 466 | 54 57 4 7 19 85 240 |
| 26th (1953) | 466 | 1 72 66 5 1 11 76 35 199 |
| 27th (1955) | 467 | 2 89 67 4 2 5 185 112 |
JCP
  JSP
  Reiwa Shinsengumi
  SDP
  Minsha-tō
  Tomorrow Party of Japan
  SDF
  Minshutō
  CDPJ
  Shintō Sakigake
  NFP
  Minshutō
  Others
  Independent
  DPFP
  Jiyū-tō
  Nihon Shintō
  Kōmeitō / Komeito
  JRP
  Minna no Tō
  Ishin no Tō
  Shin-jiyū-kurabu
  PNP
  NCP
  Ishin
  Kibō no Tō
  LDP
  Nippon Ishin no Kai
  Sanseitō
  Conservative Party of Japan :
| Election | Total seats | Composition |
| 28th (1958) | 467 | 1 166 1 12 287 |
| 29th (1960) | 467 | 3 145 17 1 5 296 |
| 30th (1963) | 467 | 5 144 23 12 283 |
| 31st (1967) | 486 | 5 140 30 9 25 277 |
| 32nd (1969) | 486 | 14 90 31 16 47 288 |
| 33rd (1972) | 491 | 38 118 19 2 14 29 271 |
| 34th (1976) | 511 | 17 123 29 21 55 17 249 |
| 35th (1979) | 511 | 39 107 35 2 19 57 4 248 |
| 36th (1980) | 511 | 29 107 32 3 11 33 12 284 |
| 37th (1983) | 511 | 26 112 38 3 16 58 8 250 |
| 38th (1986) | 512 | 26 85 26 4 9 56 6 300 |
| 39th (1990) | 512 | 16 136 14 4 1 21 45 275 |
| 40th (1993) | 511 | 15 70 15 4 13 30 35 51 55 223 |
| 41st (1996) | 500 | 26 15 2 156 52 1 9 239 |
| 42nd (2000) | 480 | 20 19 127 6 15 22 31 7 233 |
| 43rd (2003) | 480 | 9 6 177 2 11 34 4 237 |
| 44th (2005) | 480 | 9 7 113 2 18 31 4 239 |
| 45th (2009) | 480 | 9 7 308 2 6 21 5 3 119 |
| 46th (2012) | 480 | 8 2 9 57 1 5 31 18 1 54 294 |
| 47th (2014) | 475 | 21 2 73 4 8 35 41 291 |
| 48th (2017) | 465 | 12 2 55 22 29 11 50 284 |
| 49th (2021) | 465 | 10 3 1 96 10 11 32 41 261 |
| 50th (2024) | 465 | 8 9 1 148 12 28 24 38 3 3 191 |

## Election results for major parties since 1958

Shaded
* green: Ruling party/coalition before and after the lower house election
* red: Ruling party/coalition until the election = Change of government as a result of the lower house election
* blue: Ruling party/coalition after the election = Change of government as a result of the lower house election
* none: Opposition before and after the election
Note that the composition of the ruling coalition may change between lower house elections, e.g. after upper house elections. Parties who vote with the government in the Diet, but are not part of the cabinet (e.g. SDP & NPH after the 1996 election) are not shaded.

### Parallel electoral system (since 1996)

Vote and seats by party and segment :
| Parties | Segment | 1996 | 2000 | 2003 | 2005 | 2009 | 2012 | 2014 | 2017 |
| Total seats | Total seats | 500 | 480 | 480 | 480 | 480 | 480 | 475 | 465 |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | FPTP | 38.6% | 41.0% | 43.9% | 47.8% | 38.6% | 43.0% | 48.1% | 48.21% |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | FPTP | 169 | 177 | 168 | 219 | 64 | 237 | 223 | 226 |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | PR | 32.8% | 28.3% | 35.0% | 38.1% | 26.7% | 27.6% | 33.1% | 33.28% |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | PR | 70 | 56 | 69 | 77 | 55 | 57 | 68 | 66 |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | Total seats | 239 | 233 | 237 | 296 | 119 | 294 | 291 | 284 |
| Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) Rikken Minshutō | FPTP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8.75% |
| Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) Rikken Minshutō | FPTP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 18 |
| Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) Rikken Minshutō | PR | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 19.88% |
| Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) Rikken Minshutō | PR | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 37 |
| Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) Rikken Minshutō | Total seats | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 55 |
| Party of Hope Kibō no Tō | FPTP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 20.64% |
| Party of Hope Kibō no Tō | FPTP | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 18 |
| Party of Hope Kibō no Tō | PR | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17.36% |
| Party of Hope Kibō no Tō | PR | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 32 |
| Party of Hope Kibō no Tō | Total seats | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 50 |
| Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshutō (1996–2014) Democratic Party (DP) Minshintō (2017) | FPTP | 10.6% | 27.6% | 36.7% | 36.4% | 47.4% | 22.8% | 22.5% | no party nominations, ≈14 members elected |
| Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshutō (1996–2014) Democratic Party (DP) Minshintō (2017) | FPTP | 17 | 80 | 105 | 52 | 221 | 27 | 38 | no party nominations, ≈14 members elected |
| Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshutō (1996–2014) Democratic Party (DP) Minshintō (2017) | PR | 16.1% | 25.2% | 37.4% | 31.0% | 42.4% | 15.9% | 18.3% | no party nominations, ≈14 members elected |
| Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshutō (1996–2014) Democratic Party (DP) Minshintō (2017) | PR | 35 | 47 | 72 | 61 | 87 | 30 | 35 | no party nominations, ≈14 members elected |
| Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshutō (1996–2014) Democratic Party (DP) Minshintō (2017) | Total seats | 52 | 127 | 177 | 113 | 308 | 57 | 73 | no party nominations, ≈14 members elected |
| Japan Restoration Party (JRP) Nippon Ishin no Kai (2012) Japan Innovation Party (JIP) Ishin no Tō (2014) | FPTP | – | – | – | – | – | 11.6% | 8.2% | 3.18% |
| Japan Restoration Party (JRP) Nippon Ishin no Kai (2012) Japan Innovation Party (JIP) Ishin no Tō (2014) | FPTP | – | – | – | – | – | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| Japan Restoration Party (JRP) Nippon Ishin no Kai (2012) Japan Innovation Party (JIP) Ishin no Tō (2014) | PR | – | – | – | – | – | 20.3% | 15.7% | 6.07% |
| Japan Restoration Party (JRP) Nippon Ishin no Kai (2012) Japan Innovation Party (JIP) Ishin no Tō (2014) | PR | – | – | – | – | – | 40 | 30 | 8 |
| Japan Restoration Party (JRP) Nippon Ishin no Kai (2012) Japan Innovation Party (JIP) Ishin no Tō (2014) | Total seats | – | – | – | – | – | 54 | 41 | 11 |
| (New) Komeito (K/NK/NKP/CGP/NCGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | FPTP | – | 2.0% | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| (New) Komeito (K/NK/NKP/CGP/NCGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | FPTP | – | 7 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| (New) Komeito (K/NK/NKP/CGP/NCGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | PR | – | 13.0% | 14.8% | 13.3% | 11.4% | 11.8% | 13.7% | 12.51% |
| (New) Komeito (K/NK/NKP/CGP/NCGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | PR | – | 24 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 26 | 21 |
| (New) Komeito (K/NK/NKP/CGP/NCGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | Total seats | – | 31 | 34 | 31 | 21 | 31 | 35 | 29 |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | FPTP | 12.6% | 12.1% | 8.1% | 7.2% | 4.2% | 7.8% | 13.3% | 9.02% |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | FPTP | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | PR | 13.1% | 11.2% | 7.8% | 7.2% | 7.0% | 6.1% | 11.4% | 7.9% |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | PR | 24 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 11 |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | Total seats | 26 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 21 | 12 |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shakai Minshutō | FPTP | 2.2% | 3.8% | 2.9% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.7% | 0.8% | 1.15% |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shakai Minshutō | FPTP | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shakai Minshutō | PR | 6.4% | 9.4% | 5.1% | 5.5% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 2.5% | 1.69% |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shakai Minshutō | PR | 11 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) Shakai Minshutō | Total seats | 15 | 19 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| New Frontier Party (NFP) Shinshintō (1996) Liberal Party Jiyūtō (2000) Tomorrow Party of Japan (TPJ) Nippon Mirai no Tō (2012) People's Life Party (PLP) Seikatsu no Tō (2014) Liberal Party (LP) Jiyūtō (2017) | FPTP | 28.0% | 3.4% | – | – | – | 5.0% | 1.0% | no party nominations, 2 members elected |
| New Frontier Party (NFP) Shinshintō (1996) Liberal Party Jiyūtō (2000) Tomorrow Party of Japan (TPJ) Nippon Mirai no Tō (2012) People's Life Party (PLP) Seikatsu no Tō (2014) Liberal Party (LP) Jiyūtō (2017) | FPTP | 96 | 4 | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | no party nominations, 2 members elected |
| New Frontier Party (NFP) Shinshintō (1996) Liberal Party Jiyūtō (2000) Tomorrow Party of Japan (TPJ) Nippon Mirai no Tō (2012) People's Life Party (PLP) Seikatsu no Tō (2014) Liberal Party (LP) Jiyūtō (2017) | PR | 28.0% | 11.0% | – | – | – | 5.7% | 1.9% | no party nominations, 2 members elected |
| New Frontier Party (NFP) Shinshintō (1996) Liberal Party Jiyūtō (2000) Tomorrow Party of Japan (TPJ) Nippon Mirai no Tō (2012) People's Life Party (PLP) Seikatsu no Tō (2014) Liberal Party (LP) Jiyūtō (2017) | PR | 60 | 18 | – | – | – | 7 | 0 | no party nominations, 2 members elected |
| New Frontier Party (NFP) Shinshintō (1996) Liberal Party Jiyūtō (2000) Tomorrow Party of Japan (TPJ) Nippon Mirai no Tō (2012) People's Life Party (PLP) Seikatsu no Tō (2014) Liberal Party (LP) Jiyūtō (2017) | Total seats | 156 | 22 | – | – | – | 9 | 2 | no party nominations, 2 members elected |
| Your Party (YP) Minna no Tō | FPTP | – | – | – | – | 0.8% | 4.7% | – | – |
| Your Party (YP) Minna no Tō | FPTP | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | – | – |
| Your Party (YP) Minna no Tō | PR | – | – | – | – | 4.2% | 8.7% | – | – |
| Your Party (YP) Minna no Tō | PR | – | – | – | – | 3 | 14 | – | – |
| Your Party (YP) Minna no Tō | Total seats | – | – | – | – | 5 | 19 | – | – |
| Conservative Party Hoshutō (2000) New Conservative Party Hoshu Shintō (2003) | FPTP | – | 2.0% | 1.3% | – | – | – | – | – |
| Conservative Party Hoshutō (2000) New Conservative Party Hoshu Shintō (2003) | FPTP | – | 7 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Conservative Party Hoshutō (2000) New Conservative Party Hoshu Shintō (2003) | PR | – | 0.4% | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Conservative Party Hoshutō (2000) New Conservative Party Hoshu Shintō (2003) | PR | – | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Conservative Party Hoshutō (2000) New Conservative Party Hoshu Shintō (2003) | Total seats | – | 7 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | FPTP | 1.3% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | FPTP | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | PR | 1.0% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | PR | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | Total seats | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

### SNTV multi-member districts (1947–1993)

Vote for candidates by party and seats by party :
| Parties | 1958 | 1960 | 1963 | 1967 | 1969 | 1972 | 1976 | 1979 | 1980 | 1983 | 1986 | 1990 | 1993 |
| Total seats | 467 | 467 | 467 | 486 | 486 | 491 | 511 | 511 | 511 | 511 | 512 | 512 | 511 |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | 57.8% | 57.6% | 54.7% | 48.8% | 47.6% | 46.8% | 41.8% | 44.6% | 47.9% | 48.9% | 49.4% | 46.1% | 36.7% |
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshutō | 287 | 296 | 283 | 277 | 288 | 271 | 249 | 248 | 284 | 250 | 300 | 275 | 223 |
| Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Nippon Shakaitō | 32.9% | 27.6% | 29.0% | 27.9% | 21.4% | 21.9% | 20.7% | 19.7% | 19.3% | 19.5% | 17.2% | 24.4% | 15.4% |
| Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Nippon Shakaitō | 166 | 145 | 144 | 140 | 90 | 118 | 123 | 107 | 107 | 112 | 85 | 136 | 70 |
| Japan Renewal Party (JRP) Shinseitō | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10.1% |
| Japan Renewal Party (JRP) Shinseitō | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 55 |
| Kōmeitō (K/KP/CGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | – | – | – | 5.4% | 10.9% | 8.5% | 11.0% | 9.8% | 9.0% | 10.1% | 9.4% | 8.0% | 8.1% |
| Kōmeitō (K/KP/CGP/etc.) Kōmeitō | – | – | – | 25 | 47 | 29 | 55 | 57 | 33 | 58 | 56 | 45 | 51 |
| Japan New Party (JNP) Nihon Shintō | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 8.0% |
| Japan New Party (JNP) Nihon Shintō | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 35 |
| Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) Minshatō | – | 8.8% | 7.4% | 7.4% | 7.7% | 7.0% | 6.3% | 6.8% | 6.6% | 7.3% | 6.4% | 4.8% | 3.5% |
| Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) Minshatō | – | 17 | 23 | 30 | 31 | 19 | 29 | 35 | 32 | 38 | 26 | 14 | 15 |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | 2.6% | 2.9% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 6.8% | 10.5% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 9.8% | 9.3% | 8.8% | 8.0% | 7.7% |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsantō | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 38 | 17 | 39 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 16 | 15 |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3.5% |
| New Party Harbinger (NPH) Shintō Sakigake | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 13 |

## History
### Meiji period (1890–1912)

The Japanese parliament, then known as the Imperial Diet, was established in 1890 as a result of the 1889 Meiji Constitution. It was modeled on the parliaments of several Western countries, particularly the German Empire and the United Kingdom, because of the Emperor Meiji's westernizing reforms. The Imperial Diet consisted of two chambers, the elected House of Representatives which was the lower house, and the House of Peers which was the upper house. This format was similar to the House of Lords in the Westminster system, or the Herrenhaus in Prussia, where the upper house represented the aristocracy.
Both houses, and also the Emperor, had to agree on legislation, and even at the height of party-based constitutional government, the House of Peers could simply vote down bills deemed too liberal by the Meiji oligarchy, such as the introduction of women's suffrage, increases in local autonomy, or trade union rights. The prime minister and his government served at the Emperor's pleasure, and could not be removed by the Imperial Diet. However, the right to vote on, and if necessary to block, legislation including the budget, gave the House of Representatives leverage to force the government into negotiations. After an early period of frequent confrontation and temporary alliances between the cabinet and political parties in the lower house, parts of the Meiji oligarchy more sympathetic to political parties around Itō Hirobumi and parts of the liberal parties eventually formed a more permanent alliance, in the form of the Rikken Seiyūkai in 1900. The confidence of the House of Representatives was never a formal requirement to govern, but between 1905 and 1918, only one cabinet took office that did not enjoy majority support in the House of Representatives.

### Taisho and early Showa periods (1912–1937)

During the Taishō political crisis in 1913, a no-confidence vote against the third Katsura government, accompanied by major demonstrations outside the Diet, was followed shortly by resignation. Subsequently, in the period often referred to as Taishō democracy, it became increasingly customary to appoint many ministers, including several prime ministers, from the House of Representatives – Hara Takashi was the first commoner to become prime minister in 1918.
In the same year, the Rice Riots had confronted the government with an unprecedented scale of domestic unrest, and a German Revolution brought the Prusso-German monarchy to an end, the very system Meiji oligarchs had used as the main model for the Meiji constitution to consolidate and preserve Imperial power. Even Yamagata Aritomo and other oligarchs that had been fundamentally opposed to political parties, became more inclined to cooperate with the still mainly bourgeoisie parties, to prevent a rise of socialism or other movements that might threaten Imperial rule. Socialist parties would not be represented in significant numbers in the lower house until the 1930s.
The initially very high census suffrage requirement was reduced several times, until the introduction of universal male suffrage in 1925. The electoral system to the House of Representatives was also fundamentally changed several times: between systems of "small" mostly single- and few multi-member electoral districts (1890s, 1920, 1924), "medium" mostly multi-member districts (1928–1942) and "large" electoral districts (usually only one, rarely two city and one counties district per prefecture; 1900s and 1910s), using first-past-the-post in single-member districts, plurality-at-large voting (1890s) or single non-transferable vote in the multi-member districts.
Influence of the House of Representatives on the government increased, and the party cabinets of the 1920s brought Japan apparently closer to a parliamentary system of government, and there were several reforms to the upper house in 1925. However, the balance of powers between the two houses and the influential role of extra-constitutional actors such as the Genrō (who still selected the prime minister) or the military (that had brought down several cabinets) remained in essence untouched. Within a year of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in September 1931, a series of assassinations and coup attempts followed. Party governments were replaced by governments of "national unity" (kyokoku itchi) which were dominated by nobles, bureaucrats and increasingly the military.

### World War II and aftermath (1937–1947)

After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the start of war in 1937, the influence of the Imperial Diet was further diminished, though never eliminated, by special laws such as the National Mobilization Law and expanded powers for cabinet agencies such as the Planning Board. The House of Representatives in the Empire had a four-year term and could be dissolved by the Emperor. In contrast, members of the House of Peers had either life tenure (subject to revocation by the Emperor) or a seven-year term in the case of members elected in mutual peerage elections among the three lower peerage ranks, top taxpayer and academic peerage elections. During the war, the term of the members of the House of Representatives elected in the last pre-war election of 1937 was extended by one year.
In the 1946 election to the House of Representatives, held under the U.S.-led Allied occupation of Japan, women's suffrage was introduced, and a system of "large" electoral districts (one or two per prefecture) with limited voting was used. A change in the electoral law in April 1945 had for the first time allocated 30 seats to the established colonies of the Empire: Karafuto (Sakhalin), Taiwan, and Chōsen (Korea); but this change was never implemented. Similarly, Korea and Taiwan were granted several appointed members of the House of Peers in 1945.
In 1946, both houses of the Imperial Diet (together with the Emperor) passed the postwar constitutional amendment which took effect in 1947. The Imperial Diet was renamed the National Diet, the House of Peers was replaced by an elected upper house called the House of Councillors, and the House of Representatives would now be able to override the upper house in important matters. The constitution also gave the Diet exclusive legislative authority, without involvement of the Emperor, and explicitly made the cabinet responsible to the Diet and requires that the prime minister has the support of a majority in the House of Representatives.

### Late Showa period (1947–1989)

The Diet first met under the new constitution on May 20, 1947. Four days later, Tetsu Katayama of the Democratic Socialist Party became Japan's first socialist prime minister and the first since the introduction of parliamentarianism.
Since the end of US rule in 1952, it has been the norm that the prime minister dissolves the House of Representatives before its 4-year term expires. Only once, in 1976, did the House last a full 4 years. It has become tradition to give nicknames to each dissolution, usually referencing a major political issue or controversy. One infamous example was on March 14, 1953, when Shigeru Yoshida dissolved the House and called for new election, after he name called people during a meeting of the budget committee. This came to be known as the "you idiot" dissolution.
In 1955, prime minister Ichirō Hatoyama oversaw the creation of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which since his third government has dominated Japanese politics under the 1955 System. The LDP would govern without interruption for nearly 40 years until the 1993 election, alone save for a three-year coalition government with the New Liberal Club after the 1983 election.
Hatoyama planned to change the electoral system to first past the post, introducing a bill to that effect in March 1956. This was met with opposition from the Socialist Party, who criticized Hatoyama's plan as a "Hatomander". The bill passed the House of Representatives in May 1956, but was never voted on by the House of Councillors. Electoral reform came into vogue again in the 1970s, but Kakuei Tanaka's plan met opposition internally in the LDP and never came to a vote in either chamber of the Diet.

### Heisei and Reiwa periods (since 1989)

Japan entered a lengthy recession in the 1990s (see Lost Decades), which many people blamed on the LDP. In the 1993 election, the party lost power for the first time under the 1955 System, when an eight-party coalition led by Morihiro Hosokawa of the Japan New Party were able to form a government. This government fell apart after nine months, and was succeeded by the Hata Cabinet, another short-lived non-LDP government. The LDP returned to power in 1994 with the Murayama Cabinet, this time in a coalition with their old rivals the Socialists, whose leader Tomiichi Murayama became prime minister.
As with party colleagues Ichirō Hatoyama and Kakuei Tanaka before him, prime minister Toshiki Kaifu of the LDP unsuccessfully tried to reform the electoral system in 1991. However, the Morihiro Hosokawa government got the 1994 Japanese electoral reform through the Diet, introducing a parallel voting system which went into effect at the next election in 1996. Under this system, which remains in effect as of 2022, 300 (since reduced to 289) members of the House of Representatives are elected using first past the post in single-member constituencies, while 200 (since reduced to 176) members are elected in regional blocs using party-list proportional representation.
Prime minister Junichiro Koizumi introduced a bill to the House of Representatives in 2006 on changing the Imperial Household Law to allow a woman to ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne (see Japanese imperial succession debate), but he withdrew the bill after the birth of Prince Hisahito of Akishino the same year. The LDP once again lost power at the 2009 election, when the Democratic Party-led Hatoyama Cabinet took over, followed in rapid succession by the Kan Cabinet and Noda Cabinet. The LDP and Komeito, who had formed a two-party government between 2003 and 2009, came to power again after the 2012 election. Shinzo Abe, who had previously led the First Abe Cabinet, was prime minister for another stint lasting eight years, stepping down for health reasons in 2020.
When the Emperor Akihito expressed interest in abdicating, the Diet passed the Emperor Abdication Law in 2017, allowing for the 2019 Japanese imperial transition and the succession to the throne of Naruhito. In December 2022, in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and increased military cooperation between China and Russia, prime minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to significantly increase funding for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

## List of House of Representatives general elections
### 19th century

| Election | Date | Elected prime minister (during term) | Turnout | Seats | Date of dissolution (D) / expiration of term (E) | Registered voters | Majority party | Seats Share | Seats Share | Emperor (Reign) |
| Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Imperial Diet (1890–1947); upper house: House of Peers | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 1st | 1 July 1890 | Yamagata Aritomo | 93.91% | 300 | | 450,872 | Constitutional Liberal | 130 | 43.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 1st | 1 July 1890 | (Matsukata Masayoshi) | 93.91% | 300 | | 450,872 | Constitutional Liberal | 130 | 43.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 2nd | 15 February 1892 | Matsukata Masayoshi | 91.59% | 300 | (D) December 25, 1891 | 434,594 | Constitutional Liberal | 094 | 31.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 2nd | 15 February 1892 | (Itō Hirobumi) | 91.59% | 300 | (D) December 25, 1891 | 434,594 | Constitutional Liberal | 094 | 31.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 3rd | March 1, 1894 | Itō Hirobumi | 88.76% | 300 | (D) December 30, 1893 | 440,113 | Constitutional Liberal | 120 | 40.00% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 4th | 1 September 1894 | Itō Hirobumi | 84.84% | 300 | (D) June 2, 1894 | 460,483 | Constitutional Liberal | 107 | 35.66% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 4th | 1 September 1894 | (Matsukata Masayoshi) | 84.84% | 300 | (D) June 2, 1894 | 460,483 | Constitutional Liberal | 107 | 35.66% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 4th | 1 September 1894 | (Itō Hirobumi) | 84.84% | 300 | (D) June 2, 1894 | 460,483 | Constitutional Liberal | 107 | 35.66% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 5th | 15 March 1898 | Itō Hirobumi | 87.50% | 300 | (D) December 25, 1897 | 452,637 | Constitutional Liberal | 105 | 35.00% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 5th | 15 March 1898 | (Ōkuma Shigenobu) | 87.50% | 300 | (D) December 25, 1897 | 452,637 | Constitutional Liberal | 105 | 35.00% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 6th | 10 August 1898 | Ōkuma Shigenobu | 79.91% | 300 | (D) June 10, 1898 | 502,292 | Kensei Hontō | 124 | 41.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 6th | 10 August 1898 | (Yamagata Aritomo) | 79.91% | 300 | (D) June 10, 1898 | 502,292 | Kensei Hontō | 124 | 41.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 6th | 10 August 1898 | (Itō Hirobumi) | 79.91% | 300 | (D) June 10, 1898 | 502,292 | Kensei Hontō | 124 | 41.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 6th | 10 August 1898 | (Katsura Tarō) | 79.91% | 300 | (D) June 10, 1898 | 502,292 | Kensei Hontō | 124 | 41.33% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| Election | Date | Elected prime minister (during term) | Turnout | Seats | Date of dissolution (D) / expiration of term (E) | Registered voters | Majority party | Seats Share | Seats Share | Emperor (Reign) |

### 20th century

| Election | Date | Elected prime minister (during term) | Turnout | Seats | Date of dissolution (D) / expiration of term (E) | Registered voters | Majority party | Seats Share | Seats Share | Emperor (Reign) |
| 7th | August 10, 1902 | Katsura Tarō | 88.39% | 376 | (E) August 9, 1902 | 982,868 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 191 | 50.79% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 8th | March 1, 1903 | Katsura Tarō | 86.17% | 376 | (D) December 28, 1902 | 958,322 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 175 | 46.54% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 9th | 1 March 1904 | Katsura Tarō | 86.06% | 379 | (D) December 11, 1903 | 762,445 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 133 | 35.09% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 9th | 1 March 1904 | (Saionji Kinmochi) | 86.06% | 379 | (D) December 11, 1903 | 762,445 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 133 | 35.09% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 10th | 15 May 1908 | Saionji Kinmochi | 85.29% | 379 | (E) March 27, 1908 | 1,590,045 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 187 | 49.34% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 10th | 15 May 1908 | (Katsura Tarō) | 85.29% | 379 | (E) March 27, 1908 | 1,590,045 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 187 | 49.34% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 10th | 15 May 1908 | (Saionji Kinmochi) | 85.29% | 379 | (E) March 27, 1908 | 1,590,045 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 187 | 49.34% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 11th | 15 May 1912 | Saionji Kinmochi | 89.58% | 381 | (E) May 14, 1912 | 1,506,143 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 209 | 54.85% | Meiji (1867–1912) |
| 11th | 15 May 1912 | (Katsura Tarō) | 89.58% | 381 | (E) May 14, 1912 | 1,506,143 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 209 | 54.85% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 11th | 15 May 1912 | (Yamamoto Gonnohyōe) | 89.58% | 381 | (E) May 14, 1912 | 1,506,143 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 209 | 54.85% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 11th | 15 May 1912 | (Ōkuma Shigenobu) | 89.58% | 381 | (E) May 14, 1912 | 1,506,143 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 209 | 54.85% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 12th | 25 March 1915 | Ōkuma Shigenobu | 92.13% | 381 | (D) December 25, 1914 | 1,546,411 | Rikken Dōshikai | 153 | 40.15% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 12th | 25 March 1915 | (Terauchi Masatake) | 92.13% | 381 | (D) December 25, 1914 | 1,546,411 | Rikken Dōshikai | 153 | 40.15% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 13th | 20 April 1917 | Terauchi Masatake | 91.92% | 381 | (D) January 25, 1917 | 1,422,126 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 165 | 43.30% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 13th | 20 April 1917 | (Hara Takashi) | 91.92% | 381 | (D) January 25, 1917 | 1,422,126 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 165 | 43.30% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 14th | 10 May 1920 | Hara Takashi | 86.73% | 464 | (D) February 26, 1920 | 3,069,148 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 278 | 59.91% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 14th | 10 May 1920 | (Takahashi Korekiyo) | 86.73% | 464 | (D) February 26, 1920 | 3,069,148 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 278 | 59.91% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 14th | 10 May 1920 | (Katō Tomosaburō) | 86.73% | 464 | (D) February 26, 1920 | 3,069,148 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 278 | 59.91% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 14th | 10 May 1920 | (Yamamoto Gonnohyōe) | 86.73% | 464 | (D) February 26, 1920 | 3,069,148 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 278 | 59.91% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 14th | 10 May 1920 | (Kiyoura Keigo) | 86.73% | 464 | (D) February 26, 1920 | 3,069,148 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 278 | 59.91% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 15th | 10 May 1924 | Katō Takaaki | 91.18% | 464 | (D) January 31, 1924 | 3,288,405 | Kenseikai | 151 | 32.54% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 15th | 10 May 1924 | (Wakatsuki Reijirō) | 91.18% | 464 | (D) January 31, 1924 | 3,288,405 | Kenseikai | 151 | 32.54% | Taishō (1912–1926) |
| 15th | 10 May 1924 | (Tanaka Giichi) | 91.18% | 464 | (D) January 31, 1924 | 3,288,405 | Kenseikai | 151 | 32.54% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 16th | 20 February 1928 | Tanaka Giichi | 80.36% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1928 | 12,408,678 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 218 | 46.78% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 16th | 20 February 1928 | (Hamaguchi Osachi) | 80.36% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1928 | 12,408,678 | Rikken Seiyūkai | 218 | 46.78% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 17th | 20 February 1930 | Hamaguchi Osachi | 83.34% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1930 | 12,812,895 | Rikken Minseitō | 273 | 58.58% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 17th | 20 February 1930 | (Wakatsuki Reijirō) | 83.34% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1930 | 12,812,895 | Rikken Minseitō | 273 | 58.58% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 17th | 20 February 1930 | (Inukai Tsuyoshi) | 83.34% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1930 | 12,812,895 | Rikken Minseitō | 273 | 58.58% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 18th | 20 February 1932 | Inukai Tsuyoshi | 81.68% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1932 | 13,237,841 | Rikken Seiyukai | 301 | 64.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 18th | 20 February 1932 | (Saitō Makoto) | 81.68% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1932 | 13,237,841 | Rikken Seiyukai | 301 | 64.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 18th | 20 February 1932 | (Keisuke Okada) | 81.68% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1932 | 13,237,841 | Rikken Seiyukai | 301 | 64.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 19th | 20 February 1936 | Kōki Hirota | 78.65% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1936 | 14,479,553 | Rikken Minseitō | 205 | 43.99% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 19th | 20 February 1936 | (Senjūrō Hayashi) | 78.65% | 466 | (D) January 21, 1936 | 14,479,553 | Rikken Minseitō | 205 | 43.99% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | Senjūrō Hayashi | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Fumimaro Konoe) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Hiranuma Kiichirō) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Nobuyuki Abe) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Mitsumasa Yonai) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Fumimaro Konoe) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Fumimaro Konoe) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 20th | 30 April 1937 | (Hideki Tojo) | 73.31% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1937 | 14,618,298 | Rikken Minseitō | 179 | 38.41% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 21st | 30 April 1942 | Hideki Tojo | 83.16% | 466 | (E) April 29, 1942 | 14,594,287 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 381 | 81.75% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 21st | 30 April 1942 | (Kuniaki Koiso) | 83.16% | 466 | (E) April 29, 1942 | 14,594,287 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 381 | 81.75% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 21st | 30 April 1942 | (Kantarō Suzuki) | 83.16% | 466 | (E) April 29, 1942 | 14,594,287 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 381 | 81.75% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 21st | 30 April 1942 | (Kantarō Suzuki) | 83.16% | 466 | (E) April 29, 1942 | 14,594,287 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 381 | 81.75% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 21st | 30 April 1942 | (Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni) | 83.16% | 466 | (E) April 29, 1942 | 14,594,287 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 381 | 81.75% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 21st | 30 April 1942 | (Kijūrō Shidehara) | 83.16% | 466 | (E) April 29, 1942 | 14,594,287 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association | 381 | 81.75% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 22nd | April 10, 1946 | Shigeru Yoshida | 72.08% | 466 | (D) December 18, 1945 | 36,878,420 | Liberal | 141 | 30.25% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 23rd | 25 April 1947 | Tetsu Katayama | 67.95% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1947 | 40,907,493 | Socialist | 143 | 30.68% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 23rd | 25 April 1947 | (Hitoshi Ashida) | 67.95% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1947 | 40,907,493 | Socialist | 143 | 30.68% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 23rd | 25 April 1947 | (Shigeru Yoshida) | 67.95% | 466 | (D) March 31, 1947 | 40,907,493 | Socialist | 143 | 30.68% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| Shōwa (1926–1989) ||||||||||
| 24th | 23 January 1949 | Shigeru Yoshida | 74.04% | 466 | (D) December 23, 1948 | 42,105,300 | Democratic Liberal | 264 | 56.65% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 24th | 23 January 1949 | (Shigeru Yoshida) | 74.04% | 466 | (D) December 23, 1948 | 42,105,300 | Democratic Liberal | 264 | 56.65% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 25th | October 1, 1952 | Shigeru Yoshida | 76.43% | 466 | (D) August 28, 1952 | 46,772,584 | Liberal | 240 | 51.50% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 26th | 19 April 1953 | Shigeru Yoshida | 74.22% | 466 | (D) March 14, 1953 | 47,090,167 | Liberal Yoshida faction | 199 | 42.70% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 26th | 19 April 1953 | (Ichirō Hatoyama) | 74.22% | 466 | (D) March 14, 1953 | 47,090,167 | Liberal Yoshida faction | 199 | 42.70% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 27th | 27 February 1955 | Ichirō Hatoyama | 75.84% | 467 | (D) January 24, 1955 | 49,235,375 | Democratic | 185 | 39.61% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 27th | 27 February 1955 | (Ichirō Hatoyama) | 75.84% | 467 | (D) January 24, 1955 | 49,235,375 | Democratic | 185 | 39.61% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 27th | 27 February 1955 | (Tanzan Ishibashi) | 75.84% | 467 | (D) January 24, 1955 | 49,235,375 | Democratic | 185 | 39.61% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 27th | 27 February 1955 | (Nobusuke Kishi) | 75.84% | 467 | (D) January 24, 1955 | 49,235,375 | Democratic | 185 | 39.61% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 28th | 22 May 1958 | Nobusuke Kishi | 76.99% | 467 | (D) April 25, 1958 | 52,013,529 | Liberal Democratic | 287 | 61.45% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 28th | 22 May 1958 | (Hayato Ikeda) | 76.99% | 467 | (D) April 25, 1958 | 52,013,529 | Liberal Democratic | 287 | 61.45% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 29th | November 20, 1960 | Hayato Ikeda | 73.51% | 467 | (D) October 24, 1960 | 54,312,993 | Liberal Democratic | 296 | 63.38% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 30th | 21 November 1963 | Hayato Ikeda | 71.14% | 467 | (D) October 23, 1963 | 58,281,678 | Liberal Democratic | 283 | 60.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 30th | 21 November 1963 | (Eisaku Satō) | 71.14% | 467 | (D) October 23, 1963 | 58,281,678 | Liberal Democratic | 283 | 60.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 31st | January 29, 1967 | Eisaku Satō | 73.99% | 486 | (D) December 27, 1966 | 62,992,796 | Liberal Democratic | 277 | 56.99% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 32nd | 27 December 1969 | Eisaku Satō | 68.51% | 486 | (D) December 2, 1969 | 69,260,424 | Liberal Democratic | 288 | 59.25% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 32nd | 27 December 1969 | (Kakuei Tanaka) | 68.51% | 486 | (D) December 2, 1969 | 69,260,424 | Liberal Democratic | 288 | 59.25% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 33rd | 10 December 1972 | Kakuei Tanaka | 71.76% | 491 | (D) November 13, 1972 | 73,769,636 | Liberal Democratic | 271 | 55.19% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 33rd | 10 December 1972 | (Takeo Miki) | 71.76% | 491 | (D) November 13, 1972 | 73,769,636 | Liberal Democratic | 271 | 55.19% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 34th | 5 December 1976 | Takeo Fukuda | 73.45% | 511 | (E) December 9, 1976 | 77,926,588 | Liberal Democratic | 249 | 48.72% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 34th | 5 December 1976 | (Masayoshi Ōhira) | 73.45% | 511 | (E) December 9, 1976 | 77,926,588 | Liberal Democratic | 249 | 48.72% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 35th | October 7, 1979 | Masayoshi Ōhira | 68.01% | 511 | (D) September 7, 1979 | 80,169,924 | Liberal Democratic | 248 | 48.53% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 36th | 22 June 1980 | Zenkō Suzuki | 74.57% | 511 | (D) May 19, 1980 | 80,925,034 | Liberal Democratic | 284 | 55.57% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 36th | 22 June 1980 | (Yasuhiro Nakasone) | 74.57% | 511 | (D) May 19, 1980 | 80,925,034 | Liberal Democratic | 284 | 55.57% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 37th | December 18, 1983 | Yasuhiro Nakasone | 67.94% | 511 | (D) November 28, 1983 | 84,252,608 | Liberal Democratic | 250 | 48.92% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 38th | 2 June 1986 | Yasuhiro Nakasone | 71.40% | 512 | (D) June 2, 1986 | 86,426,845 | Liberal Democratic | 300 | 58.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 38th | 2 June 1986 | (Noboru Takeshita) | 71.40% | 512 | (D) June 2, 1986 | 86,426,845 | Liberal Democratic | 300 | 58.59% | Shōwa (1926–1989) |
| 38th | 2 June 1986 | (Sōsuke Uno) | 71.40% | 512 | (D) June 2, 1986 | 86,426,845 | Liberal Democratic | 300 | 58.59% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 38th | 2 June 1986 | (Toshiki Kaifu) | 71.40% | 512 | (D) June 2, 1986 | 86,426,845 | Liberal Democratic | 300 | 58.59% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 39th | 18 February 1990 | Toshiki Kaifu | 73.31% | 512 | (D) January 24, 1990 | 90,322,908 | Liberal Democratic | 275 | 53.71% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 39th | 18 February 1990 | (Kiichi Miyazawa) | 73.31% | 512 | (D) January 24, 1990 | 90,322,908 | Liberal Democratic | 275 | 53.71% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 40th | 18 July 1993 | Morihiro Hosokawa | 67.26% | 511 | (D) June 18, 1993 | 94,477,816 | Liberal Democratic | 223 | 43.63% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 40th | 18 July 1993 | (Tsutomu Hata) | 67.26% | 511 | (D) June 18, 1993 | 94,477,816 | Liberal Democratic | 223 | 43.63% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 40th | 18 July 1993 | (Tomiichi Murayama) | 67.26% | 511 | (D) June 18, 1993 | 94,477,816 | Liberal Democratic | 223 | 43.63% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 40th | 18 July 1993 | (Ryūtarō Hashimoto) | 67.26% | 511 | (D) June 18, 1993 | 94,477,816 | Liberal Democratic | 223 | 43.63% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 41st | 20 October 1996 | Ryūtarō Hashimoto | 59.65% | 500 | (D) September 27, 1996 | 97,680,719 | Liberal Democratic | 239 | 47.80% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 41st | 20 October 1996 | (Keizō Obuchi) | 59.65% | 500 | (D) September 27, 1996 | 97,680,719 | Liberal Democratic | 239 | 47.80% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 41st | 20 October 1996 | (Yoshirō Mori) | 59.65% | 500 | (D) September 27, 1996 | 97,680,719 | Liberal Democratic | 239 | 47.80% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 42nd | 25 June 2000 | Yoshirō Mori | 62.49% | 480 | (D) June 2, 2000 | 100,492,328 | Liberal Democratic | 233 | 48.54% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 42nd | 25 June 2000 | (Junichiro Koizumi) | 62.49% | 480 | (D) June 2, 2000 | 100,492,328 | Liberal Democratic | 233 | 48.54% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| Election | Date | Elected prime minister (during term) | Turnout | Seats | Date of dissolution (D) / expiration of term (E) | Registered voters | Majority party | Seats Share | Seats Share | Emperor (Reign) |

### 21st century

| Election | Date | Elected prime minister (during term) | Turnout | Seats | Date of dissolution (D) / expiration of term (E) | Registered voters | Majority party | Seats Share | Seats Share | Emperor (Reign) |
| 43rd | November 9, 2003 | Junichiro Koizumi | 59.86% | 480 | (D) October 10, 2003 | 102,306,684 | Liberal Democratic | 237 | 49.37% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 44th | 11 September 2005 | Junichiro Koizumi | 67.51% | 480 | (D) August 8, 2005 | 103,067,966 | Liberal Democratic | 296 | 61.66% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 44th | 11 September 2005 | (Shinzo Abe) | 67.51% | 480 | (D) August 8, 2005 | 103,067,966 | Liberal Democratic | 296 | 61.66% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 44th | 11 September 2005 | (Yasuo Fukuda) | 67.51% | 480 | (D) August 8, 2005 | 103,067,966 | Liberal Democratic | 296 | 61.66% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 44th | 11 September 2005 | (Tarō Asō) | 67.51% | 480 | (D) August 8, 2005 | 103,067,966 | Liberal Democratic | 296 | 61.66% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 45th | 30 August 2009 | Yukio Hatoyama | 69.28% | 480 | (D) July 21, 2009 | 104,057,361 | Democratic | 308 | 64.16% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 45th | 30 August 2009 | (Naoto Kan) | 69.28% | 480 | (D) July 21, 2009 | 104,057,361 | Democratic | 308 | 64.16% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 45th | 30 August 2009 | (Yoshihiko Noda) | 69.28% | 480 | (D) July 21, 2009 | 104,057,361 | Democratic | 308 | 64.16% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 46th | December 16, 2012 | Shinzo Abe | 59.32% | 480 | (D) November 16, 2012 | 103,959,866 | Liberal Democratic | 294 | 61.25% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 47th | December 14, 2014 | Shinzo Abe | 52.66% | 475 | (D) November 21, 2014 | 104,067,104 | Liberal Democratic | 291 | 61.26% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 48th | 22 October 2017 | Shinzo Abe | 53.68% | 465 | (D) September 28, 2017 | 106,091,229 | Liberal Democratic | 284 | 61.08% | Akihito (Heisei) (1989–2019) |
| 48th | 22 October 2017 | (Yoshihide Suga) | 53.68% | 465 | (D) September 28, 2017 | 106,091,229 | Liberal Democratic | 284 | 61.08% | Naruhito (Reiwa) (2019–present) |
| 48th | 22 October 2017 | (Fumio Kishida) | 53.68% | 465 | (D) September 28, 2017 | 106,091,229 | Liberal Democratic | 284 | 61.08% | Naruhito (Reiwa) (2019–present) |
| 49th | October 31, 2021 | Fumio Kishida | 55.93% | 465 | (D) October 14, 2021 | 105,622,758 | Liberal Democratic | 261 | 56.12% | Naruhito (Reiwa) (2019–present) |
| 49th | October 31, 2021 | (Shigeru Ishiba) | 55.93% | 465 | (D) October 14, 2021 | 105,622,758 | Liberal Democratic | 261 | 56.12% | Naruhito (Reiwa) (2019–present) |
| 50th | October 27, 2024 | Shigeru Ishiba | 53.85% | 465 | (D) October 9, 2024 | 103,880,749 | Liberal Democratic | 191 | 41.08% | Naruhito (Reiwa) (2019–present) |
| Election | Date | Elected prime minister (during term) | Turnout | Seats | Date of dissolution (D) / expiration of term (E) | Registered voters | Majority party | Seats Share | Seats Share | Emperor (Reign) |