Japanese Legislators Gather for a Five-Day Emergency Parliamentary Meeting

Japanese Legislators Gather for a Five-Day Emergency Parliamentary Meeting

LDP-Kōmeitō Coalition Loses Upper House Majority in Japan's Diet

In a significant shift in Japan's political landscape, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Kōmeitō has lost its majority in the House of Councillors, the upper house of Japan's parliament, the Diet. This is the first time since the LDP was founded in 1955 that the coalition has failed to maintain a majority in both chambers of the Diet.

The July 20, 2025, election to the upper house saw the LDP and Kōmeitō secure 122 seats combined, down from 141 before the election. The LDP won 39 of the contested 125 seats, and Kōmeitō took 8, which was insufficient to maintain control.

Opposition parties made considerable gains in the election. The Democratic Party for the People (DPFP) increased its seats from 4 to 17, the far-right Sanseitō surged from 1 to 14 or 15 seats (depending on the source), and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) maintained its holding at around 22 seats.

Voter dissatisfaction with the ruling coalition's handling of economic issues, especially inflation and rising consumer prices, as well as concerns over social and immigration policies, contributed to the opposition parties' gains. Sanseitō's nationalist “Japan First” rhetoric also drew attention to immigration and national identity debates, pressuring the LDP to address these topics more explicitly.

As a result, the new upper house composition will require the LDP-Kōmeitō coalition to seek support from opposition parties to pass legislation, increasing political fragmentation and instability. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru acknowledged the coalition’s defeat but stated he intended to remain as leader despite calls from some within the LDP for his resignation.

The Diet was convened for a five-day extraordinary session on August 1, marking the first time since the ruling coalition lost its majority in the upper house. During this session, Tetsuro Fukuyama, a former secretary-general of the CDP, was elected as the vice president of the Upper House. Masakazu Sekiguchi from the LDP was re-elected as the president of the Upper House, and Yusuke Nakanishi from the LDP was chosen as head of the Budget Committee in the Upper House. Takao Makino from the LDP retained the post of chief of the Rules and Administration Committee in the Upper House.

In a first for the Sanseitō, the up-and-coming party obtained the post of committee chair in the Upper House with Manabu Matsuda from Sanseito appointed as the chair of the Upper House Discipline Committee. The two key Upper House standing committees, Rules and Administration, and Budget, will continue to be chaired by LDP lawmakers.

This political shift is expected to bring about a more challenging legislative environment for the LDP-Kōmeitō coalition, as they navigate the complexities of governing with a minority in the upper house. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining the direction of Japan's political landscape and policy-making.

[1] NHK World. (2025, August 1). Japan's ruling coalition loses majority in upper house election. Retrieved from https://www.nhk.or.jp/news/20250801_32.html

[2] The Japan Times. (2025, July 21). LDP, Komeito lose majority in upper house election. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/21/national/politics-diplomacy/ldp-komeito-lose-majority-upper-house-election/

[3] Asahi Shimbun. (2025, July 21). Sanseitō surges in upper house election, posing challenge to LDP. Retrieved from https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASB1M7563815.html

[4] Kyodo News. (2025, July 21). Sanseitō's surge in upper house election raises concern over nationalism. Retrieved from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2025/07/338c70f2126e-sanseito-s-surge-in-upper-house-election-raises-concern-over-nationalism.html

[5] Mainichi Shimbun. (2025, July 21). LDP-Komeito coalition loses upper house majority for the first time since 1955. Retrieved from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250721/p2a/00m/0na/016000c

1. The political shift in Japan following the upper house election has led to a surge in interest in General News, as the public seeks updates on the policy-and-legislation implications of the LDP-Kōmeitō Coalition's loss of majority.
2. In light of the LDP-Kōmeitō's defeat, opposition parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People, have promised to push for more progressive policies on issues like immigration and economic development, potentially influencing the future of the country's politics and photojournalism landscape.

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