Kanagawa 3rd district (1947–1993)

Quick Facts: Who was Kanagawa 3rd district (1947–1993)?

Subject:

Kanagawa 3rd district (1947–1993)

Known for:

Former multi-member constituency of the Japanese House of Representatives, active from 1947 to 1993.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Kanagawa 3rd district (Japanese: 神奈川県第3区, romanized: Kanagawa-ken dai-san-ku) was a multi-member constituency of the House of Representatives in the National Diet of Japan. It existed from the 1947 Japanese general election until the electoral reform of 1994 and was used in general elections from 1947 to 1993. The modern single-member districts that cover the former area are Kanagawa 12th district, Kanagawa 13th district, Kanagawa 14th district, Kanagawa 15th district, Kanagawa 16th district and Kanagawa 20th district. It has no relation to the current Kanagawa 3rd district. At the time of the 1992 amendment to the Public Offices Election Act the district consisted of the following areas (5 seats): Fujisawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Yamato Ebina Zama Ayase Kōza District Tsukui District At the time of the 1986 amendment to the Public Offices Election Act the district consisted of the following areas (4 seats): Fujisawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Yamato Ebina Zama Ayase Kōza District Tsukui District At the time of the 1975 amendment to the Public Offices Election Act the district consisted of the following areas (3 seats): Fujisawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Yamato Ebina Zama Kōza District Tsukui District At the time of the enactment of the Public Offices Election Act in 1950 the district consisted of the following areas (5 seats): Hiratsuka Fujisawa Odawara Chigasaki Kōza District Naka District Ashigarakami District Ashigarashimo District Aikō District Tsukui District Created in 1947 with the reintroduction of the multi-member system, the district originally covered a vast area from the Shōnan and central Kanagawa regions to the western Ashigara districts (including Odawara, Hakone and the Tanzawa mountains) and the northern Aikō and Tsukui districts.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The powerful Kōno family (based in the western Odawara area) — Ichirō Kōno, Kenzō Kōno and later Yōhei Kōno — dominated the district for decades. They competed with long-serving figures such as former Prime Minister Tetsu Katayama (Socialist, based in Fujisawa) and long-time Vice-Speaker Nobuyuki Iwamoto (based in Sagamihara). In the first election (1947), Ichirō Kōno was still purged and could not run; his younger brother Kenzō finished just outside the winners. Kenzō won in 1949 and later moved to the House of Councillors. Ichirō returned in 1952 and held the seat until his death in 1965.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Katayama topped the poll in 1947 but lost in 1949 amid the collapse of his coalition government; he returned in 1952 but was defeated for a second time in 1963 (as a Democratic Socialist) and retired — the only former prime minister to suffer two electoral defeats under the postwar constitution until that time. After the retirements of Ichirō Kōno and Katayama, the 1967 election saw Yōhei Kōno (Ichirō’s second son) and Masaru Kawamura (Democratic Socialist, Katayama’s successor) take the top two places. From then until 1972 the four main incumbents (Yōhei Kōno, Takeshi Hirabayashi, Kawamura and Shinji Kohama of Kōmeitō) largely held their seats, with the fifth seat contested. In July 1975 the district was split. The southwestern portion (Odawara, Hiratsuka, Atsugi, etc.) became the new Kanagawa 5th district.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1947: 1947 Milestone — It existed from the 1947 Japanese general election until the electoral reform of 1994 and was used in general elections from 1947 to 1993.
2. 1949: 1949 Milestone — Kenzō won in 1949 and later moved to the House of Councillors.
3. 1952: 1952 Milestone — Ichirō returned in 1952 and held the seat until his death in 1965.
4. 1967: 1967 Milestone — After the retirements of Ichirō Kōno and Katayama, the 1967 election saw Yōhei Kōno (Ichirō’s second son) and Masaru Kawamura (Democratic Socialist, Katayama’s successor) take the top two places.
5. 1972: 1972 Milestone — From then until 1972 the four main incumbents (Yōhei Kōno, Takeshi Hirabayashi, Kawamura and Shinji Kohama of Kōmeitō) largely held their seats, with the fifth seat contested.
6. 1975: 1975 Milestone — In July 1975 the district was split.
7. 1992: 1992 Milestone — At the time of the 1992 amendment to the Public Offices Election Act the district consisted of the following areas (5 seats): Fujisawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Yamato Ebina Zama Ayase Kōza District Tsukui District At the time of the 1986 amendment to the Public Offices Election Act the district consisted of the following areas (4 seats): Fujisawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Yamato Ebina Zama Ayase Kōza District Tsukui District At the time of the 1975 amendment to the Public Offices Election Act the district consisted of the following areas (3 seats): Fujisawa Chigasaki Sagamihara Yamato Ebina Zama Kōza District Tsukui District At the time of the enactment of the Public Offices Election Act in 1950 the district consisted of the following areas (5 seats): Hiratsuka Fujisawa Odawara Chigasaki Kōza District Naka District Ashigarakami District Ashigarashimo District Aikō District Tsukui District Created in 1947 with the reintroduction of the multi-member system, the district originally covered a vast area from the Shōnan and central Kanagawa regions to the western Ashigara districts (including Odawara, Hakone and the Tanzawa mountains) and the northern Aikō and Tsukui districts.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kanagawa 3rd district (1947–1993)

True or False: “The Kanagawa 3rd district was always represented by the same set of geographical areas throughout its history.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The boundaries changed significantly over time; for instance, the 1950 boundaries included districts like Hiratsuka and Odawara, which were not part of later configurations.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Kanagawa 3rd district (1947–1993)