1924 Japanese general election

General elections were held in Japan on 10 May 1924.[1] No party won a majority of seats, resulting in Kenseikai, Rikken Seiyūkai and the Kakushin Club forming the country's first coalition government led by Katō Takaaki.

10 May 1924
All 464 seats to the House of Representatives 233 seats were needed for a majority
Leader Kato Takaaki Tokonami Takejirō Party Kenseikai Seiyūhontō Last election 110 seats, 27.5%  – Seats won 151 111 Seat change 41  – Popular vote 872,533 730,077 Percentage 29.3% 24.8% Swing 1.8%  –   Leader Takahashi Korekiyo Inukai Tsuyoshi Party Seiyūkai Kakushin Club Last election 278 seats, 56.2%  – Seats won 103 30 Seat change 175  – Popular vote 666,317 182,720 Percentage 22.2% 6.1% Swing 34.0%  –
House of Representatives conformation
Prime Minister before election Kiyoura Keigo Independent Subsequent Prime Minister Kato Takaaki Kenseikai

Electoral system

The 464 members of the House of Representatives were elected in 295 single-member constituencies, 68 two-member constituencies and 11 three-member constituencies. Voting was restricted to men aged over 25 who paid at least 3 yen a year in direct taxation.[2]

Campaign

A total of 972 candidates contested the elections, of which 265 were from Kenseikai, 242 from Seiyūhontō, 218 from Rikken Seiyūkai, 53 from the Kakushin Club and 194 from minor parties or running as independents.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Kenseikai	872,533	29.3	151	+41
Seiyūhontō	730,077	24.8	111	New
Rikken Seiyūkai	666,317	22.2	103	–175
Kakushin Club	182,720	6.1	30	New
Others	521,311	17.5	69	+22
Invalid/blank votes	25,310	–	–	–
Total	2,998,268	100	464	0
Registered voters/turnout	3,288,405	91.2	–	–
Source: Mackie & Rose, Voice Japan

References

1. Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p281
2. Mackie & Rose, p276