(Nikkei: January 1, 2016 – p. 2)

 The number of candidates expected to run in this summer’s House of Councillors election, including single-seat electorates and proportional representation blocs, totaled 247 as of Dec. 31, 2015, according to a poll conducted by Nikkei. This figure represents an increase of about 80 from a poll conducted at the same time for the 2013 Upper House election. There is a possibility that the number of candidates will decrease because the opposition parties are aiming to field unified candidates in single-seat electorates.

 The term of office for members of the Upper House is six years. Half of the 242 Upper House representatives, or 121 members, are reelected every three years. The term of the Upper House members up for reelection this summer will expire on July 25.

 One of the ruling coalition’s goals for this summer’s Upper House election is to secure more than two-thirds of the seats, which is required for proposing constitutional amendments to the Diet. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner the Komeito party already hold a majority in the House of Representatives. Attention is now focused on whether the ruling parties, which hold 135 seats, will be able to increase their Upper House seats. In order to block constitutional reform, the opposition parties are hoping to file practically unified candidates in single-seat electorates.

 Expected number of candidates for Upper House election