The 2005 Democratic Party of Japan leadership election was held on 17 September 2005. The election was held to replace outgoing president Katsuya Okada, who resigned following the party's losses at the 2005 Japanese general election. Seiji Maehara defeated former leader Naoto Kan by a margin of just two votes to become the new president.

Electoral system Candidates were required to gather endorsements from twenty (maximum 25) of the party's members of the National Diet in order to stand. Each Diet member was eligible to vote (194 total). If no candidate won more than 50% of votes, a runoff was to be held the same day. Nominations were taken on the 17th and the election held the same day.

Candidates Candidate Offices held Seiji Maehara Member of the House of Representatives (1993–) Naoto Kan Member of the House of Representatives (1980–)President of the Democratic Party of Japan (1996–99, 2002–04)Minister of Health and Welfare (1996)

Sponsors Seiji Maehara (20) Naoto Kan (20) House of RepresentativesHouse of Councillors House of RepresentativesHouse of Councillors Source

Withdrew Takashi Kawamura, member of the House of Representatives (1993–)

Contest Initial speculated candidates included Ichirō Ozawa, Naoto Kan, and Yukio Hatoyama. Maehara announced his candidacy on 14 September. Yoshihiko Noda was approached by supporters to run, but stated he was supporting Maehara. At a party meeting on the 15th, some members favoured uniting around a single candidate, while others called for an open process with multiple contenders. Ozawa suggested he was open to running, but announced on the 16th that he would not: "I am in a position where I must take some of the blame for the defeat in the election." Takashi Kawamura attempted to run but was unable to gather sufficient support.

Kan was viewed as the frontrunner with a strong base of support: he was supported by Takahiro Yokomichi's faction and many members of the Hatoyama and Ozawa factions, including Hatoyama himself and close Ozawa aide Tatsuo Hirano. However, the Hatoyama, Ozawa, and ex-DSP factions made no official endorsement and allowed a free vote, making the election unpredictable. Maehara ran as a reformer, supported by junior legislators, and pledged to appoint personnel on the basis of merit instead of seniority or factional balance. He was supported by Yoshihiko Noda and Motohisa Furukawa, and the Asahi reported that a majority of ex-DSP faction members would support him. Commentators suggested that his pitch for renewal and reform won over undecided legislators. In 2015, journalist Akiko Azumi stated that Maehara's emotional final pitch, in which he spoke of his late father who died by suicide during his childhood, was the deciding factor.

Results Candidate Votes % Seiji Maehara 96 50.5 Naoto Kan 94 49.5 Total 190 100.00 Invalid 2 Turnout 192 99.0 Eligible 194 Source: DPJ Archive

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