House of Councillors (Japan)

House of Councillors
House of Councillors ; 参議院; Sangiin
Type
Type	Upper house
Leadership
President	Akiko Santō, LDP (caucus: independent) ; Since 1 August 2019
Vice President	Toshio Ogawa, CDP (caucus: independent) ; Since 1 August 2019
Structure
Seats	245
Political groups	Government (141) LDP (113); Kōmeitō (28); Opposition (104) CDP & DPFP & SDP & Affiliated Independents (61); Ishin (16); JCP (13); Reiwa (2); Hekisuikai (2); Your Party (2); Independents (6);
Elections
Voting system	Parallel voting:; Single non-transferable vote (147 seats); Party-list proportional representation (98 seats); Staggered elections
Last election	21 July 2019
Next election	2022
Meeting place
	Chamber of the House of Councillors
Website
	www.sangiin.go.jp

The House of Councillors (参議院, Sangiin) is the upper house of the National Diet of Japan. The House of Representatives is the lower house.

The House of Councillors has 242 members who each serve six-year terms, two years longer than those of the House of Representatives. Councillors must be at least 30 years old, compared with 25 years old in the House of Representatives.