1920 Japanese general election

General elections were held in Japan on 10 May 1920.[1] The result was a victory for the Rikken Seiyūkai party led by Hara Takashi, which won 278 of the 464 seats.

10 May 1920
All 464 seats to the House of Representatives 233 seats were needed for a majority
Leader Hara Takashi Kato Takaaki Inukai Tsuyoshi Party Seiyūkai Kenseikai Kokumintō Last election 165 seats, 38.8% 121 seats, 36.0% 35 seats, 9.7% Seats won 278 110 29 Seat change 113 11 6 Popular vote 1,471,728 715,500 140,397 Percentage 56.2% 27.5% 5.4% Swing 17.4% 8.5% 4.3%
Prime Minister before election Hara Takashi Seiyūkai Subsequent Prime Minister Hara Takashi Seiyūkai

Electoral system

Following electoral reforms in 1919, 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, reduced from 10 yen in the 1917 elections, increasing the proportion of the population able to vote to 6%.[2]

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Rikken Seiyūkai	1,471,728	56.2	278	+113
Kenseikai	715,500	27.5	110	–11
Rikken Kokumintō	140,397	5.4	29	–6
Others	311,444	11.0	47	–13
Invalid/blank votes	22,573	–	–	–
Total	2,661,642	100	464	+83
Registered voters/turnout	3,069,148	86.7	–	–
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