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Index Japan
Flag DescriptionWhite with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the centre. Election Type: Parliamentary Election date: 11 September 2005 (House of Representatives—last held 9 November 2003) Number of registered voters: 101 236 029 (as at 29 July 2001) Compulsory voting: No GovernmentType: Constitutional Monarchy with a Parliamentary government Chief of State: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) Party in Government: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Head of Government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI (since 26 April 2001) Branches: Executive—The Diet (Parliament) designates the Prime Minister. The constitution requires that the Prime Minister commands parliamentary majority. Following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives usually becomes Prime Minister. KOIZUMI's term as leader of the LDP is scheduled to end in September 2006. A new Prime Minister may be chosen at that time. Legislative—A bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors (Sangi-in) and the House of Representatives (Shugi-in). The House of Councillors (Sangi-in) has 242 seats and members are elected for six-year terms. Half are re-elected every three years (144 members in multi-seat constituencies and 98 by proportional representation). The House of Councillors last held elections on 11 July 2004 and the next are to be held in July 2007. The House of Representatives (Shugi-in) has 480 seats and members are elected for four-year terms. (300 in single-seat constituencies and 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs). The last election for the House of Representatives was held on 9 November 2003 and the next election was scheduled to be held by November 2007, but has been brought forward to 11 September 2005. Judicial—Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is appointed by the Monarch after designation by the Cabinet. All other justices are appointed by the Cabinet. Political parties: Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Japan Communist Party (JCP), Komeito, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) [Junichiro KOIZUMI is President], Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Election results: National summary courtesy of Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi dissolved the House of Representatives (lower house of parliament) on Monday 8 August 2005 and called early elections for 11 September 2005. The decision to call elections early was Prime Minister Koizumi’s response to the rejection by the House of Councillors (parliamentary upper house) of his government’s legislation to privatise Japan’s postal system. Fuller details may be read in a news article entitled Koizumi calls snap election after setback over Japan Post privatisation. A Japan Times article of 13 September 2005, entitled Victorious Koizumi firm on fall ’06 exit says that despite the National Democratic Party’s landslide victory, Prime Minister Koizumi still intends to stand aside when his term as LDP President expires in September 2006. This article gives seat results and discusses the postal reform bills which were at the heart of the election. For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.
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