House of Councillors elections were held in Japan on 2 June 1959,^[1] electing half the seats in the House. The Liberal Democratic Party won the most seats. Kōji Harashima, who later become a founding member and the first chairman of Kōmeitō, was elected to the Diet for the first time as one of several Soka Gakkai-affiliated independents.

Quick Facts 127 of the 250 seats in the House of Councillors 126 seats needed for a majority, First party ...

1959 Japanese House of Councillors election

← 1956 2 June 1959 1962 →
127 of the 250 seats in the House of Councillors 126 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Nobusuke Kishi Mosaburō Suzuki Party Liberal Democratic Socialist Seats after 132 85 Seat change 10 5 Popular vote 12,120,598 7,794,754 Percentage 41.2% 26.5% Swing 4.5% 3.4%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Sanzō Nosaka Party Ryokufūkai Communist Seats after 11 3 Seat change 20 1 Popular vote 2,382,703 551,196 Percentage 8.1% 1.9% Swing 2.0% 0.2%
President of the House of Councillors before election Yūzō Shigemune Liberal Democratic President of the House of Councillors-designate Yutaka Terao Liberal Democratic

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During the campaign, Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi and MITI began to discuss the now-famous "income doubling" plan, although it was temporarily shelved due to disputes between party factions and the looming importance of the US–Japan Security Treaty revision issue. The plan would not be revived until the tenure of Hayato Ikeda, beginning in 1960.^[2]