Das unvollkommene Ende einer Ära. Die japanischen Unterhauswahlen von 1993

Abstract The article analyzes the 1993 House of Representatives elections in Japan which led to the first change in government since 1955. Focussing on the electoral behavior of the Japanese, the analysis shows that - unlike in former years - the Japanese electorate has become more informed and more interested in politics, causing a rising influence of issues on the party choice. Most important issues have been the reform of the political system and a restoration of the political culture. But because of the overall conservative orientation of a vast majority of the Japanese the majority did not vote at all rather than opt for an opposition party. The LDP’s losses in 1993 were not due to a fundamental re-orientation of the electorate, but to the appearance of new conservative alternatives split off from the LDP.