TOKYO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan's 27th House of Councillors election concluded on Monday morning with a stunning defeat for the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito.

Of the seats contested, the LDP won just 39 (27 through electoral districts and 12 through proportional representation), while Komeito secured eight.

Even when combined with their uncontested seats, the two parties fell short of the 125-seat threshold required for a majority in the 248-seat upper house, marking the first time since the LDP's founding in 1955 that the ruling bloc has lost majority control in both houses of parliament.

The election outcome revealed the ruling parties' widespread struggles, including poor showings in key urban districts and traditional rural strongholds.

The defeat follows earlier losses in the 2024 lower house election and the 2025 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, deepening the crisis for the LDP-led government.

The results underscore public dissatisfaction with the coalition's response to soaring living costs, as well as growing fatigue with entrenched political leadership, analysts pointed out.

Exit polls indicate that inflation and economic insecurity dominated voter concerns, with "measures against rising prices" cited as the most important issue.

While the opposition remains fragmented, several parties made significant gains. The Constitutional Democratic Party secured 22 seats, the Democratic Party for the People took 17, and the emerging Sanseito party captured 14.

The Ishiba administration now faces mounting pressure. With both chambers under minority control, it must seek cooperation from opposition parties to pass legislation and advance its agenda.

The weakened mandate also limits Japan's diplomatic flexibility, particularly in negotiations with the United States. As the political landscape grows more fractured, the path forward for Japan's government remains uncertain, analysts noted. ■