Japan's 2025 House of Councilors Election Kicks Off
(MENAFN) Official campaigning for Japan's House of Councilors, the upper chamber of the Diet, began on Thursday, marking a pivotal moment for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's minority government amid escalating living costs, according to local media outlets.
This 17-day election race will be a defining test of whether the ruling coalition can hold onto its majority, requiring a victory in at least 50 of the 125 available seats.
A total of 519 candidates have entered the race, spanning both electoral districts and proportional representation, with media reporting that nearly 30% of the contenders are women. This brings the total female representation to 152, setting a new record for the second-highest level of female participation in the House of Councilors election.
The election is scheduled for July 20. The House of Councilors comprises 248 members, with elections held every three years to fill about half of the seats. Members serve six-year terms, and the elections are determined through a combination of local district votes and national proportional representation.
Currently, the ruling coalition holds 75 uncontested seats in the upper house. To retain their majority, they need to secure an additional 50 seats in this election.
Prime Minister Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Komeito Party, are facing intense scrutiny over rising inflation, which opposition parties have made a central theme of their campaigns. Last year, the ruling coalition lost its majority in the lower house and now operates as a minority government, relying on support from opposition groups.
In response to public pressure, both the ruling and opposition parties are proposing economic relief measures, including direct cash payments, cuts to or even the elimination of the consumption tax, and interventions aimed at curbing skyrocketing rice prices.
Key issues like pensions, social security, the nation’s declining birthrate, and foreign policy, including Japan’s stance on US tariff pressures, are all expected to dominate the campaign.
The LDP, traditionally backed by agricultural groups, has committed to protecting the agriculture sector from US demands for greater market access.
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