All Japan elections

1890 Japanese General Election

Asia's first national election

1 July 1890 · The Imperial Diet's first decades · 300 seats, 151 for a majority

General elections were held in Japan for the first time on 1 July 1890. Voters elected 300 members of the House of Representatives of the Diet of Japan in what was the first example of a popularly elected national assembly in Asia (as the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies was elected indirectly).

Prime Minister before

Yamagata Aritomo

Independent

Prime Minister (continued)

Yamagata Aritomo

Independent

Largest force

Liberal

130 of 300 seats

Turnout

The result

Share of the House
LiberalItagaki Taisuke130
TaiseikaiShigeyuki Masuda79
Rikken KaishintōŌkuma Shigenobu41
Kokumin Jiyutō5

45 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.