Evening star., 1946-04-12
33 From AZ Tojo DIET
And 40 Other Former
Members Reelected
BY the Assoeiatsd Press


three members of the 1912 "Tojo
Diet" definitely were reelected
and 40 other former members
were returned to the House of
Representatives on the basis of
final returns today from all but
six districts in the nationwide
election.
Conservative elements apparently
had clinched total ma ajority.
With 1894 of the House Of Rep
resentatives' 468 seats decided,
women had won 80.
All of the 1912 representatives re-
elected had passed an examination
of their records, but all candidates
elected will be subject to another
check-and possible disqualification
before they can be seated. Several
of the other 40 former legislators
had been disqualified by former
Premier Hideki Tojo's regime and
only now are returning to politics.
Liberals Win I16 Seats.
BY tonight the party lineup of
definitely won seats was: Liberals,
l16; Progressives, 86; Social Demo-
Gratis, 78; Communists, 8, with 8
others apparently certain of victory;
minor parties. 80, and independ-
ents, 72.
The Liberals and Progressives are
rated as conservative, with the So
cial Democrats, minor parties, and
Communists representing various
views farther left.
This lineup means an enforced
coalition in the House, which doubt
less will be dominated by a con-
servative viewpoint. Many Social
Democrats and probably most of
the independents fall into this
category under modern japanese
political conditions. The Socialists,
however, showed surprising strength.
The Communists three assured
and probable six seats were fewer
than the IL conceded them in pre-
election representations.
Home Minister Chuzo Mitsuchi
reported to the cabinet that the
Nationwide average vote was 1913
per cent-"generally better than ex-
pected."
The remaining uncounted dis
tricts include Tokyo's second and
sizable districts in Nagasaki. Re-
suits there are not expected to alter
the general trend.
Eight Women Lead Ali Candidates.
OF the women elected, five each
are from the Progressive, Liberal
and Social Democratic parties, eight
from minority groups, one is Com
munist and eight are Independents.
Eight women were leading all can
didates in their respective districts
Mrs. Michiko Yamazaki, who di-
vorced her husband and was elected
on the same day, was among the
nations six highest vote getters with
5000.
Mrs. Yamazaki, 46, who cam
paigned for "the emancipation Of
womanhood," felt it necessary to
divorce Kenja Yamazaki when he
returned from four-year civilian
administration post in Borneo with
Borneo native for a wife and two
children. Normally, a Japanese
woman pledges to stick by her hus-
band, come what may.
japanese men still shook their
heads at the surprising turnout and
solidarity of the women's vote. Some
privately opined that novelty at
tracted them this time. There prob
ably won't be so much interest or
SO many successful woman candi-
dates at the next election"
First Use of Franchise.
Women, on the other hand, said
"this shows how we want to take
advantage of our new freedom" 1t
was the first time they had been
granted the franchise.
Observers agreed that the En-
peror's appeal to the women was i'm
portant In drawing the feminine
vote.
Three of the women definitely
elected stepped into the campaign
after their husbands were disqual-
ified by Gen. MacArthur's political
purge directive. 1t was not clear
whether their husbands would speak
through them.
Mrs. Haru Wazaki, 81, one of
Japan's early suffragette leaders,
was elected in Akita Prefecture. A
28-year-old woman, Miss Kiloko
Mkt, was elected in Osaka and 30
year-old Shizue Yamaguchi was
chosen in Tokyo.
The nations leading vote getter
appeared to be relatively unknown
school principal, Atsuo Kiyakawa Of
Hiroshima, who polled more than
100000. He campaigned as an In
dependent.