1936 Japanese general election

General elections were held in Japan on 20 February 1936.^[1] Rikken Minseitō emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives, winning 205 of the 466 seats and securing a slim majority with parties in support of the government. Following the elections, an attempted coup took place on 26 February.

Quick facts All 466 seats in the House of Representatives 234 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1936 Japanese general election

← 1932 20 February 1936 1937 â†’
All 466 seats in the House of Representatives 234 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   SWK Leader Machida ChÅ«ji Suzuki Kisaburō Vacant Party Rikken Minseitō Rikken SeiyÅ«kai Shōwakai Last election 35.25%, 146 seats 32.25%, 301 seats – Seats won 205 174 18 Seat change 59 127 New party Popular vote 4,444,413 4,188,029 531,772 Percentage 39.92% 37.62% 4.78% Swing 4.67pp 20.58pp New party   Fourth party Fifth party   Leader Abe Isoo Adachi Kenzō Party Shakai TaishÅ«tō Kokumin Dōmei Last election 2.59%, 5 seats[a] – Seats won 18 15 Seat change 13 New party Popular vote 518,844 421,632 Percentage 4.66% 3.79% Swing 2.07pp New party
Districts shaded according to winners' vote strength
Prime Minister before election Keisuke Okada Imperial Japanese Navy Prime Minister after election Kōki Hirota Independent

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Formed in 1934, the Okada administration faced a fierce opposition from Rikken Seiyūkai, the largest bloc in the House of Representatives at the time, and had to rely on a minority coalition composed of Rikken Minseitō and a group of Seiyūkai dissidents led by Tokonami Takejirō (the group then became Shōwakai). The administration sought to obtain a majority with its coalition partners in this election. Though the goal was fulfilled, the administration collapsed almost immediately in the aftermath of the February 26 Incident. Elder Saionji Kinmochi then called diplomat Hirota Kōki to form a new cabinet with endorsement from both Minseitō and Seiyūkai, after the initial invitation to Konoe Fumimaro was declined.