Japan begins elections with a directly proportional system and districts

Elections for Japan’s House of Representatives have begun with an unprecedented speed. A total of 1,284 candidates are competing for 465 seats in a historic milestone: the House was officially dissolved recently, leaving just 16 days between dissolution and election day—the shortest interval recorded since the end of World War II.

Two voting mechanisms: single-member district seats and proportional representation

The electoral system for this contest combines two different methods. The 289 single-member district seats are decided through direct voting, where each voter casts their vote for a specific candidate in their district, and the candidate with the most votes wins. In contrast, the remaining 176 seats operate under a proportional representation system, where voters cast their ballots for political parties, and the seats are allocated to parties based on the exact proportion of votes they receive. This fundamental difference between the two mechanisms will significantly influence the final composition of the chamber.

The ruling coalition aims to maintain its parliamentary majority

Political focus centers on whether the alliance between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Restoration Party will secure a majority of seats in this election. Both forces seek to consolidate their legislative control in an accelerated electoral scenario.

The fastest election cycle since the end of World War II

This electoral process represents an unprecedented cycle in contemporary Japanese electoral history. The brief 16-day window between parliamentary dissolution and voting contrasts sharply with previous periods, highlighting the urgency and exceptional nature of this political contest.