Liberalism in Japan
Encyclopedia
This article gives an overview of liberalism in Japan
. It is limited to liberal
parties
with substantial support, proved by having had representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties labelled themselves `liberal`.
and the main conservative party is named Liberal Democratic Party
(Jiyu Minshuto). The Democratic Party
(Minshuto) is a left of center liberal, social democratic party. The liberal character of the Liberal League (Jiyu Rengo) is disputed, it is also considered to be conservative party.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is limited to liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
with substantial support, proved by having had representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties labelled themselves `liberal`.
Introduction
In reaction to traditional society a liberal current formed in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century 'liberal' became gradually a synonym for conservativeConservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and the main conservative party is named Liberal Democratic Party
Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(Jiyu Minshuto). The Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
(Minshuto) is a left of center liberal, social democratic party. The liberal character of the Liberal League (Jiyu Rengo) is disputed, it is also considered to be conservative party.
From Public Society of Patriots until Constitutional Politics Party
- 1874: Liberals founded the Public Society of PatriotsAikoku KotoThe ' was a political party in Meiji period Japan.The Aikoku Kōtō was formed in January 1874 by Itagaki Taisuke, Etō Shimpei, Gotō Shōjirō and others as part of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. Its purpose was to petition the Meiji government to establish a national assembly...
(Aikoku Koto) - 1881: The Aikoku Koto is continued by the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Japan (1881)The is the name of several liberal political parties in the history of Japan, two of which existed in the Empire of Japan prior to 1945.-Liberal Party of 1881:...
(Jiyu-to) - 1891: The Jiyuto is renamed into Constitutional Liberal Party (Rikken Jiyuto)
- 1898: The Constitutional Liberal Party merged with the ⇒ Progressive Party into the Constitutional Politics Party (Kenseito)
- 1898: A faction seceded as the ⇒ Constitutional Center Party
- 1900: The party is taken over by the oligarchy and renamed into Constitutional Political Friends Association (Rikken Seiyukai)
From Constitutional Progressive Party to Reform Club
- 1882: The Constitutional Progressive Party (Rikken Kaishinto) is formed
- 1896: The party is continued by the 'Progressive Party (Shinpoto)
- 1898: The party merged into the Constitutional Politics Party (Kenseito)
- 1898: This party fell apart and a faction of the Kenseito formed the Constitutional Center Party (Kensei Honto), renamed in 1910 into the Constitutional National Party (Rikken Kokuminto)
- 1913: A faction seceded as the ⇒ Constitutional Friendship Association
- 1922: The Constitutional National Party is renamed Reform Club (Kakushin Kurabu)
- 1920s: The Reform Club merged into the Constitutional Political Friends Association
From Constitutional Friendship Association to Constitutional People's Party
- 1913: A faction of the ⇒ Constitutional National Party formed the Constitutional Friendship Association (Rikken Doshikai), renamed Constitutional Association (Kenseikai) in 1916
- 1927: The Constitutional Association merged with the ⇒ Political Friends Center Party into the Constitutional People's Party (Rikken Minseito)
- 1940: The party is dissolved by the regime
Political Friends Center Party
- 1924: A faction of the Constitutional Political Friends Association formed the Political Friends Center Party (Seiyu Honto)
- 1927: The party merged into the ⇒ Constitutional People's Party
From Renewal Party to Liberal Party (1993)
- 1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Japan)The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the Renewal PartyJapan Renewal PartyThe Japan Renewal Party was a Japanese political party that existed in the early 1990s. It was founded in 1993 by 44 members of the Liberal Democratic Party led by Tsutomu Hata and Ichirō Ozawa...
(Shinseito) - 1994: The Renewal Party merged with other factions into the New Frontier PartyNew Frontier PartyThe was a Japanese political party that existed during the mid-1990s. As a merger of several small parties, the party was ideologically diverse, with its membership ranging from moderate socialists to neoliberals and conservatives...
(Shinshinto) - 1997: The New Frontier Party fell apart into many parties, among them since 1998 the Liberal Party (Jiyuto), but also the Good Governance Party (Minseito), the New Fraternity PartyNew Fraternity PartyThe was a Japanese political party that existed in early 1998. It was founded by Diet members that broke away from the New Frontier Party in January 1998. It was a liberal party espousing various left of centre causes....
(Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo) - 2000: Dissidents of the Liberal Party formed the New Conservative Party (Hoshuto)
- 2003: The Liberal Party merged into the ⇒ Democratic Party of Japan
New Party Harbinger
- 1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Japan)The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
(Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the New Party Harbinger (Shinto Sakigake) - 1996: Most members co-found the ⇒ Democratic Party of Japan
- 1998: The party evolved in conservative direction, renamed into HarbingerHarbinger-Places:* Montes Harbinger, lunar mountains* Harbinger, an unincorporated community in Currituck County, North Carolina-Transportation:* Harbinger , ship also called Norfolk in 1797* Harbinger , thoroughbred racehorse...
(Sakigake) and further renamed in 2002 into Green Assembly (Midori No Kaigi)
Democratic Party of Japan
- 1996: Dissidents from the ⇒ New Party Harbinger and the Social Democratic Party of Japan formed the Democratic Party of JapanDemocratic Party of JapanThe is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
(Nihon Minshuto) - 1998: The party merged with the Good Governance PartyGood Governance PartyThe was a Japanese political party which was in existence for a short period in early 1998. It was a centrist, reformist party that merged with other parties in April 1998 to form the Democratic Party of Japan....
(Minseito), the New Fraternity PartyNew Fraternity PartyThe was a Japanese political party that existed in early 1998. It was founded by Diet members that broke away from the New Frontier Party in January 1998. It was a liberal party espousing various left of centre causes....
(Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo) under the name Democratic Party of JapanDemocratic Party of JapanThe is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
(Nihon Minshuto, 民主党) - 2003: The ⇒ Liberal Party merged into the party
See also
- History of JapanHistory of JapanThe history of Japan encompasses the history of the islands of Japan and the Japanese people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history of Japan as a nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese Archipelago fostered human...
- Politics of JapanPolitics of JapanThe politics of Japan is conducted in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, where Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. Japanese politics uses a multi-party system. Executive power exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the Diet, with...
- List of political parties in Japan