Japan’s election system ‘favours’ celebrities, critics argue

As the trend risks undermining democratic governance, voters need to make more careful choices, writes Tomoyuki Tachikawa

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Political parties in Japan have long faced criticism for fielding celebrity candidates in House of Councillors elections, with the upper house electoral system giving more weight to name recognition, sometimes at the expense of policy expertise or governing credentials.

Races for both the upper house and the more powerful House of Representatives contain a proportional representation section. But while voters can only choose parties in this section for the lower house, they can write either a party name or an individual's for the upper house, giving well-known figures a clear edge.

Some analysts warn that social media has further enhanced the ability of celebrities to dominate elections as “talent candidates,” as brief, emotionally appealing messages spread rapidly and attract more attention than substantive policy debate.

As the trend risks undermining democratic governance, with deliberation and accountability receding, voters need to make more careful and informed choices based on policy content and competence rather than popularity or image, they say.

Lawmakers in the upper house of the country’s bicameral legislature serve six-year terms. Elections are held every three years to replace half the chamber, ensuring legislative continuity and preventing a complete turnover of members.