Japan held a general election on 27 October 2024.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved parliament on 9 October and announced a snap general election for 27 October.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in the lower House of Representatives after winning 215 seats, down from 279 seats previously and short of the 233-seats needed to govern.
The largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), increased its seats from 98 to 148.
Prime Minister Ishiba replaced Fumio Kishida in September, after winning the leadership contest for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party following Kishida's resignation that month.
Japan has a bicameral parliament (the National Diet) with the lower House of Representatives and the upper House of Councillors.
The House of Representatives comprises 465 members − 289 are chosen from single-seat constituencies and 176 are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by proportional representation. Members serve four-year terms.
The House of Councillors has 248 members elected for a six-year term − 148 members are elected by first past the post in 47 plural-seat prefectural constituencies and 100 by proportional representation. Every three years, half of the upper house is renewed in a mid-term election.
Japan has a population of 124 million and around 105 million registered voters. In the 2024 general election, voter turnout was 53.8%.