Japanese House of Councillors election, 2004

Elections to the House of Councillors, the upper house of the legislature of Japan, were held on July 11, 2004. The House of Councillors consists of 247 members who serve six-year terms. Approximately half the members are elected every three years. At these elections 121 members were elected. Of these 73 were elected from the 47 prefectural districts and 48 were elected from a nationwide list by proportional representation.

Parties

* JMt (Jiyu Minshu-to) Liberal Democratic Party (conservative)
* Mt (Minshu-to) Democratic Party (social-democratic/liberal)
* Kt (Komei-to) New Clean Government Party (Komeito) (theocratic Buddhist, conservative)
* NKt (Nihon Kyosan-to) Japanese Communist Party (communist)
* SMt (Shakai Minshu-to) Social Democratic Party (social-democratic)

Results

In the elections, the oppositional Democratic Party won a majority of the seats contested in the election, sweeping the liberal urban areas. The Liberal Democratic Party, the ruling party, failed to win in its strongholds but once more received most of its support from the agrarian areas. The New Clean Government Party (New Komeito) did well, reaching its goals, as did the Social Democratic Party. The Japanese Communist Party did not reach its goals, while Non-partisans won the rest of the seats. The Liberal League and Midori no kaigi failed to win any seats.