The average value of assets held by 478 House of Representatives lawmakers elected last November stands at 51.6 million yen, excluding stocks, according to a Kyodo News survey released Monday.
The figure is down about 15.6 million yen from the previous survey, which was conducted in December 2000 and involved reports by newly elected Diet members or those who retained their Lower House seats in the general election held in June that year.
The decrease is probably due to a rise in the number of young legislators who have apparently not yet accumulated large assets, as well as to a decline in land prices.