Masakazu Sekiguchi Hiroyuki Nagahama Yukihiko Imasaki Kazuo Ueda

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) under Ryūtarō Hashimoto had restored single-party government in 1996 and was now aiming to also regain clear control of the House of Councillors, in which it was several seats short of a majority.

However, it lost 13 seats in the elections giving the opposition clear control and leading to prime minister Hashimoto announcing his resignation.

Keizō Obuchi was elected LDP president on 24 July, defeating Seiroku Kajiyama and Junichirō Koizumi.

In January 1999 the LDP entered a ruling coalition with Ichirō Ozawa's Liberal Party, bringing the government within few seats of a majority; in October 1999 New Komeito also entered the coalition, ending the divided Diet.