In 2023, by-elections were held in Japan in order to fill vacancies in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors, the two houses of the National Diet of Japan.[1]
On 23 April 2023, 5 by-elections were held together with the second phase of the unified local elections (municipal elections except designated major cities), including Yamaguchi 4th district, the seat of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinaed on 8 July 2022.[2]
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and opposition Japan Innovation Party both made 1 pickup, flipping an Independent and a Democratic Party for the People seat respectively.[3]
| Constituency | House | Outgoing MP | Party | Member elected | Party | Reason | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiba 5th district | House of Representatives | Kentaro Sonoura | Independent (elected LDP) | Arfiya Eri | LDP | Resigned on 19 December 2022[4] | ||
| Wakayama 1st district | House of Representatives | DPP | Yumi Hayashi | JIP | Resigned on 1 September 2022[5] | |||
| Yamaguchi 2nd district | House of Representatives | Nobuo Kishi | LDP | LDP | Resigned on 3 February 2023[6] | |||
| Yamaguchi 4th district | House of Representatives | Shinzo Abe | LDP | Shinji Yoshida | LDP | Assassinated on 8 July 2022[7] | ||
| Ōita at-large district | House of Councillors |