▁also ▁the ▁threshold ▁that ▁candidates ' ▁votes ▁must ▁exceed ▁in ▁order ▁for ▁them ▁to ▁claim ▁an ▁election ▁exp enses ▁allow ance ▁from ▁the ▁State . ▁ ▁Japan ▁ ▁Japan ’ s ▁elect oral ▁depos it ▁is ▁the ▁most ▁expensive ▁by ▁far ▁among ▁the ▁countries ▁having ▁such ▁a ▁system . ▁ ▁Currently , ▁a ▁candidate ▁for ▁a ▁constitu ency ▁seat ▁of ▁the ▁lower ▁house ▁or ▁the ▁upper ▁house ▁must ▁place ▁a ▁ ¥ 3 ▁million ▁depos it . ▁It ▁is ▁ref und ed ▁provided ▁that ▁the ▁lower ▁house ▁candidate ▁g ains ▁one - t enth ▁( 1 0 %) ▁or ▁more ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁valid ▁votes ▁cast ▁in ▁the ▁constitu ency , ▁or ▁provided ▁that ▁the ▁upper ▁house ▁candidate ▁g ains ▁one - e ighth ▁( 1 2 . 5 %) ▁or ▁more ▁of ▁the ▁total ▁valid ▁votes ▁divided ▁by ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁the ▁seats ▁for ▁the ▁constitu ency . ▁The ▁depos it ▁for ▁a ▁proportional ▁seat ▁of ▁both ▁houses ▁is ▁ ¥ 6 ▁million ▁and ▁the ▁ref und ▁would ▁depend ▁on ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁seats ▁that ▁the ▁party ▁won . ▁It ▁is ▁ref und ed ▁in ▁full ▁amount ▁if ▁half ▁or ▁more ▁of ▁its ▁candidates ▁won ▁seats . ▁ ▁Local ▁elections ▁including ▁g ubern atorial ▁and ▁mayor al ▁elections ▁also ▁have ▁the ▁depos it ▁system ▁with ▁the ▁amounts ▁r anging ▁from ▁ ¥ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁to ▁ ¥ 3 ▁million . ▁For ▁town ▁and ▁village ▁council ▁elections , ▁candidates ▁are ▁not ▁required ▁to ▁pay ▁depos it . ▁