Japanese Parliament: History, Structure, Topical Challenges

The article discusses the development of parliamentary and electoral system in Japan, beginning with the establishment of the first parliament in 1890. The main stages of the development of the electoral system are traced over the pre-World War II period, and the particular importance of the 1947 Constitution is highlighted. In 1955, the right and the centrist political forces joined to create the LDP, which became the dominant political force in the decades to follow. We observe that the era of LDP’s dominance is marked by certain characteristics that became the persistent features of Japan’s political life, such as the de-facto prevalence of the executive branch over the parliament and the collision of interests of the business and the political circles. We also discuss the reasons of the political system’s stability, which remains even in spite of the recent corruption-related scandals and the crisis of the public trust in the LDP’s leadership. In conclusion, we argue that the stability of the Japanese political system is likely to persist.