1912 Japanese general election

General elections were held in Japan on 15 May 1912.[1] The result was a victory for the Rikken Seiyūkai party, which won 209 of the 381 seats.

15 May 1912
All 381 seats to the House of Representatives 191 seats were needed for a majority
Leader Saionji Kinmochi Inukai Tsuyoshi Party Seiyūkai Kokumintō Last election 187 seats, 48.4%  – Seats won 209 95 Seat change 22  – Popular vote 689,613 381,465 Percentage 51.5% 28.5% Swing 3.1%  –
House of Representatives conformation
Prime Minister before election Saionji Kinmochi Seiyūkai Subsequent Prime Minister Saionji Kinmochi Seiyūkai

Electoral system

The 381 members of the House of Representatives were elected in 51 multi-member constituencies based on prefectures and cities. Voting was restricted to men aged over 25 who paid at least 10 yen a year in direct taxation.[2] 1912 was also the first year citizens in Okinawa could vote.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Rikken Seiyūkai	689,613	51.5	209	+22
Rikken Kokumintō	381,465	28.5	95	+25
Chūō Club	113,834	8.5	31	New
Others	153,593	11.5	46	–18
Invalid/blank votes	10,672	–	–	–
Total	1,349,177	100	381	+2
Registered voters/turnout	1,506,143	89.6	–	–
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