General elections were held in Japan on 7 October 1979 to elect the 511 members of the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Ōhira Masayoshi's announcement that a consumption (sales) tax would be imposed was a hot-button issue in the run-up to the election. Facing widespread public disapproval, the prime minister abandoned the tax proposal.^[1] The prime minister's party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), ended up losing one seat, while the Japan Communist Party experienced a surge in voter support and its best ever electoral result, which mostly came at the expense of the Japan Socialist Party and the LDP-breakaway New Liberal Club.

Quick Facts All 511 seats in the House of Representatives of Japan 256 seats needed for a majority, Turnout ...

1979 Japanese general election

← 1976 7 October 1979 1980 →
All 511 seats in the House of Representatives of Japan 256 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	68.0% (5.4%)
First party Second party Third party   Leader Masayoshi Ōhira Ichio Asukata Yoshikatsu Takeiri Party Liberal Democratic Socialist Kōmeitō Leader since 1 December 1978 13 December 1977 13 February 1967 Last election 249 seats, 43.2% 123 seats, 21.9% 55 seats, 10.9% Seats won 248 107 57 Seat change 1 16 2 Popular vote 24,084,131 10,643,450 5,282,683 Percentage 44.59% 19.71% 9.78% Swing 1.4pp 2.2pp 1.1pp   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Kenji Miyamoto Sasaki Ryōsaku Yōhei Kōno Party Communist Democratic Socialist New Liberal Club Leader since 1 August 1958 June 1976 Last election 17 seats, 10.4% 29 seats, 6.3% 17 seats, 4.2% Seats won 39 35 4 Seat change 22 6 13 Popular vote 5,625,528 3,663,692 1,631,812 Percentage 10.4% 6.78% 3.02% Swing 0.5pp 1.2pp   Seventh party   Leader Hideo Den Party Socialist Democratic Leader since March 1978 Last election – Seats won 2 Seat change New Popular vote 368,660 Percentage 0.68% Swing New
Prime Minister before election Masayoshi Ōhira Liberal Democratic Prime Minister after election Masayoshi Ōhira Liberal Democratic

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This was the first election in the LDP's history in which the party increased its share of the popular vote compared to the previous election.