On July 1, 1890, Japan’s first general election for members of the House of Representatives of the Diet of Japan (第1回衆議院議員総選挙, Dai-ikkai Shugiin Giinsosenkyo) took place. It was the first time in Asia that a national assembly was popularly elected.
Voters had to be male citizens of at least 25 years old who had been resident in their prefecture for at least a year, and had paid 15 yen or more in national taxes. Hokkaido and Okinawa, which were deemed territories as this time, were excluded from the election. Out of a total population of almost 40 million, only 450,872 people, or a mere 1.13%, met these stringent requirements.
Especially the tax requirement weighed heavily. As a result, the majority of the eligible voters were rural landlords and urban entrepreneurs, 9% were ex-samurai.
To qualify for representation, candidates had to be male citizens of at least 30 years old. They could not be members of the Kazoku peerage or of the imperial family or its branches. Some 1,243 candidates participated.
The newly created Lower House consisted of 300 seats, divided into 214 single-seat districts and 43 two-seat districts.
Japan’s first Diet session took place on November 25, 1890. The majority was held by the Minto (liberal) parties (Jiyuto, Rikken Kaishinto and affiliates). They held 171 of the 300 seats.
