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July 01, 2026
 

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LOWER HOUSE

Lawmakers in kimonos attend a session of the Lower House in Tokyo in January 2023. For nearly a half century, the chamber operated under a multiseat district system. But following revisions to the election law in 1994, the current model of single-seat districts and proportional representation seats was introduced. Now, there is a growing debate in parliament about returning the body's current electoral system to what it once was.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 2, 2026
Debate grows on reforming Lower House electoral system
Some argue the flaws in the current system could be fixed by returning to the old one. Others aren’t so sure.
A reduction of Lower House seats is unlikely to be implemented in time for the next general election, says Keiji Furuya, the head of the Liberal Democratic Party’s election strategy committee.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 22, 2025
Lower House seats might not be reduced ahead of next election
Interparty discussions and a revision of constituencies would need to take place first, the head of the Liberal Democratic Party’s election strategy committee says.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura hold a joint news conference in parliament in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 16, 2025
Decision on Lower House seat-reduction bill postponed to next year
The delay could impact the ruling coalition, as the JIP had made passing the bill this year a key plank of its October tie-up with the LDP.
LDP parliamentary affairs chief Hiroshi Kajiyama (left) and JIP counterpart Takashi Endo discuss the seat reduction bill in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 12, 2025
Lower House seat-reduction bill faces headwinds as Diet session nears end
The bill has been a key point of agreement for the ruling LDP and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party.
Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party lawmakers present a bill to reduce at least 45 Lower House seats by the end of next year, for submission on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 5, 2025
LDP and JIP submit bill to eliminate at least 45 Lower House seats
The path to the bill’s submission has been rough as the parties had been at loggerheads over the number of seats to cut and which ones, and the legal framework for implementation.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a policy speech during an extraordinary session of the Lower House in Tokyo on Oct. 24. Japan needs to right-size its parliament to match a declining population.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 5, 2025
A plan to fix voter disparity and modernize Japan’s political system
With the population continuing to decline, down 5% since 2009, and people relocating from rural to urban areas, the scale of the government should also be adjusted.
Ruling and opposition lawmakers deliberate on bills related to political donations reform at a House of Representatives committee session in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 4, 2025
Japan’s parliament starts debates on corporate donation reform bills
Some have speculated that the ruling side is putting the bills on the back burner.
Katsunobu Kato, head of the Liberal Democratic Party's political system reform panel, speaks at a party meeting on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 4, 2025
Proposed Lower House seat reduction could affect 20 prefectures
As the 20 prefectures include areas with many conservative voters who strongly support the LDP, an increasing number of party members are voicing their opposition to the measure.
LDP and JIP lawmakers discuss Lower House seats reduction in Tokyo on Nov. 21.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 1, 2025
Takaichi and JIP’s Yoshimura agree to submit bill reducing Lower House seats
Passing a bill to cut seats in the lower chamber was a key demand for the Japan Innovation Party to enter into a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party.
Fumitake Fujita, co-leader of the Japan Innovation Party, speaks at a news conference on Nov. 19.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Dec 1, 2025
Uncertainty looms over Lower House seat reduction
Frustration is increasing within the Liberal Democratic Party over the attitude of the Japan Innovation Party.
Takashi Endo, parliamentary affairs chief of the Japan Innovation Party and special adviser to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks during an interview at the parliamentary building on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 28, 2025
Japan Innovation Party may leave coalition if seat-cut talks falter
Although the JIP positions seat reductions as an absolute condition for the coalition, there are still cautious voices within the LDP over the move.
Former Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato (third from left) attends a meeting with Japan Innovation Party lawmakers in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2025
LDP and JIP agree to submit bill outlining reduction of Lower House seats
The two parties are postponing reaching a conclusion on the actual number of seats to be cut and whether to cut proportional seats.
Ichiro Aisawa (second from right) of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, who heads the council on the all-important lower parliamentary chamber's electoral system, attends a meeting on Tuesday at the Diet building.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 18, 2025
Opposition lawmakers voice caution on proposed Lower House seat cut
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan urged that a conclusion be reached at the council to better reflect the opinions of smaller parties.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2025
LDP sees difficulty in agreeing on Lower House seat reduction in current Diet session
A coalition between the LDP and the JIP says that the two parties will work together to cut the number of Diet members by 10%.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi holds a news conference in Gyeongju, South Korea, following the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 2, 2025
Takaichi rules out dissolving Lower House for snap election
The prime minister said her government must focus on accelerating the rollout of economic measures, including steps to tackle inflation.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers her policy speech at a Lower House plenary session on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 26, 2025
Concern raised over proposed cut in Lower House seats
JIP is calling for a cut of about 50 proportional representation seats in the all-important lower chamber of parliament.
Then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a policy speech during an ordinary session at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo in January. Sanae Takaichi’s victory may result in fewer proportional seats in parliament, a shift that could hurt smaller parties. Bloomberg
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 21, 2025
How the LDP-JIP coalition could hurt smaller parties
If the JIP’s proposal goes through unchanged, it would mean a reduction of 46 seats from the proportional representation districts.
Yoshitami Kameoka, elected to the Lower House for the first time in 2005, served in posts including state minister for post-disaster reconstruction.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 3, 2025
Ex-LDP lawmaker Kameoka pleads not guilty over cash distribution
Kameoka, elected to the Lower House for the first time in 2005, served in posts including state minister for post-disaster reconstruction.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Yoshihiko Noda speaks during a news conference in the parliament building on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 15, 2025
Japan’s opposition parties wary of snap election
The opposition remains fragmented against the ruling coalition in the event a general election is called by the Liberal Democratic Party’s next leader.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba answers questions from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda during a Lower House Budget Committee session on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 6, 2025
Ruling parties to discuss corporate donation issue with CDP and DPP
Now that the ruling parties are short of a majority in both chambers, the coalition is set to meet halfway with the opposition in an effort to kick-start the stalled debate.
Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay's Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team's loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Yen hits 40-year low against the dollar, breaking ¥162 level
Japan's currency broke ¥162 to the dollar on Tuesday in Tokyo.
Japan falls in gut-wrenching fashion as Brazil strikes late to win World Cup clash
Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli (right) shoots past Japan defenders Shogo Taniguchi (left) and Takehiro Tomiyasu to score in the second half of a match in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston on Monday.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

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