List of political parties in Japan

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Japan

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Political parties in Japan lists political parties in Japan.

Contents 1 Major parties 2 Minor Political Parties 2.1 Existing National Parties with Representations in the Diet in the Past 2.2 Other Parties 2.3 Regional Parties 3 Defunct Parties

[edit] Major parties

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Jiyū Minshū-tō, or Jimin-tō (conservative, 1955-)
  • The LDP is Japan's largest political party and the senior partner in the current governing coalition. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a member of this political party. It is a conservative party of the right-wing and is made up of various conservative and reformist factions. The LDP has been in power almost continuously since 1955, when it was formed as a merger of early postwar Japan's two conservative parties, the Liberal Party of Japan, Occupation, and the Democrat Party of Japan, Occupation. The party is characterized as being very conservative on social and foreign matters.
• Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Minshūtō (social liberal 1998-)
  • The DPJ is Japan's second largest party and leads the opposition. It is a social liberal party. It is the largest opposition party, and was formed in the late 1990s as a result of the merger of several anti-LDP parties. Quite liberal and oppositional on key issues, as well as moderately social-democratic. It is against the Iraq war, and was led by Seiji Maehara until the end of March 2006, when he resigned due to a crisis involving a DPJ member (Hisayasu Nagata) making false allegations that the son of LDP Secretary-General (Tsutomu Takebe) illicitly received money from former Livedoor president Takafumi Horie. As of April 5, 2006, Naoto Kan and Ichiro Ozawa are running for DPJ party president.
• New Komeito* Komeitō (conservative, theocratic Buddhist, 1998-)
  • formerly Komeito (Former) (centrist, theocratic Buddhist, 1964-1998)
  • formerly Komei Political Assembly (centrist, theocratic Buddhist, 1961-1964)
  • The Shin Komeito Party (Japanese name for the New Komeito) is Japan's third largest party and the governing party's junior partner. It was formerly known as the Clean Government Political Assembly and the Komeito. The party is a conservative party of the right-wing, but it is also the political wing of Soka Gakkai, an almost militant sect of Nichiren Buddhism. Therefore, it is also considered a theocratic Buddhist party. It has moderated its stance however. Because it is partners with the LDP, it is unopposed to the war in Iraq. It is now led by Takenori Kanzaki.
• Japanese Communist Party* Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Nihon Kyōsan-tō (communist, 1922-)
  • The Japanese Communist Party is Japan's fourth largest party and the middle partner of the opposition coalition. It is a moderate communist party of the left-wing. Though it is communist, it is not against religion and does not want the emperor to step down. It supports multi-party democracy and does not advocate the imposition of radical change on Japanese society. That is why the Communists have more seats than the Social Democrat Party. It is very pacifist and does not support an alliance with the United States.
• Social Democratic Party (Japan) (SDP) Shakai Minshūtō, or Shamin-tō (socialist, 1996-)
  • formerly Japan Socialist Party (JSP) Nihon Shakai-tō (socialist, 1945-1996)
    • a breakaway group formerly known as the Democratic Socialist Party (Japan), now defunct, (social-democratic, 1960-1996)
      • in 1948 split up into the Rightist Socialist Party of Japan, (moderate social-democratic, 1948-1955), and Leftist Socialist Party of Japan, (extreme socialist, 1948-1955), in 1955, reunified into JSP.
  • The Social Democrat Party of Japan is Japan's fifth largest party and the junior partner in the opposition coalition. It is a moderate social-democratic party of the left-wing. It is seen more as a moderate social-democratic, and populist party rather than a revolutionary socialist party. It grew out of the Japan Socialist Party and the Democratic Socialist Party (Japan) It is not popular in Japan and the Communists have more votes than the Social Democrats. It is against the war in Iraq.

[edit] Minor Political Parties

• Liberal League Jiyu Rengo (liberal, 1994-)
  • The Liberal League is a right-wing party in Japan, which, despite its name, is actually conservative. The party is not very popular among the Japanese people, but it has 1 seat so far in the Diet.
• Other minor parties
  • Japan has other minor parties, but these are just about defunct. Most other parties are communist and socialist parties, as well as a few nationalist, reformist, and even racist and far right-wing parties.
  • Dissidents from the LDP formed in 2005 the following parties:
    • People's New Party (PNP) Kokumin Shintō (conservative, 2005-)
    • New Party Nippon (NPN) Shintō Nippon (2005-)
    • New Party Daichi (NPD) Shintō Daichi (2005-)

[edit] Existing National Parties with Representations in the Diet in the Past

Current political parties which used to have representation in the Diet before but which do not now.

• Dainiin Club Dainiin Kurabu (centrist, 1983-)
• New Socialist Party Shin Shakai To (socialist, 1996-)
• Sports and Peace Party Supotsu Heiwa To (centrist, 1989-)
• Takeru (centrist, 2001-)

[edit] Other Parties

• Rainbow and Greens Niji to Midori (green)
• Ishin Seito Shimpu (far-right, 1995-)
• Women's Party Josei To (Feminist, 1993-)
• Internet Breakthrough Party of Japan (Led by Iron Chef Comentator and Judge and former LDP member Shinichiro Kurimoto)

[edit] Regional Parties

Some of the main regional parties with representations in regional assemblies.

• Kanagawa Network Movement Kanagawa Nettowaku Undo (Yokohama, socialist)
• Seikatsusha Network Seikatsusha Nettowaku (Tokyo, socialist)
• Okinawa Social Mass Party Okinawa Shakai Taishu To (Okinawa, socialist)
• Green Niigata, Midori Niigata (Niigata, communist)
  • formerly Niigata New Party for People, Shimin Shin-to Niigata (Niigata, communist)

[edit] Defunct Parties

• Association of Independents Mushozoku no Kai (centrist, 1999-2004)
  • formerly House of Representatives Club Sangiin Kurabu (centrist, 1998-1999)
• New Conservative Party, (conservative, 2002-2003)
  • formerly Conservative Party of Japan (2000), (conservative, 2000-2002)
• Liberal Party (1998), (liberal, 1998-2003)
• Democratic Party of Japan (1996), (liberal, 1996-1998)
• Good Governance Party, (liberal, 1998)
• New Fraternity Party, (liberal reformist, 1998)
• Sun Party, (liberal reformist, 1996-1998)
• Democratic Reform Party (liberal reformist, 1993-1998)
• Midori no Kaigi Environmental Green Political Assembly (ecologist conservative reformist, 2002-2004)
  • formerlyThe Sakigake Party, (conservative reformist-ecologist, 1998-2002)
  • formerly New Party Sakigake, (conservative reformist-ecologist, 1993-1998)
• New Peace Party, (conservative, 1997-1998)
• Japan New Party, (liberal, 1993-1996)
• Japan Renewal Party, (liberal, 1993-1994)
• New Frontier Party, (socialist/liberal, 1994-1997)
• Democratic Socialist Party (Japan), (social-democratic, 1960-1994 - broke off from JSP)
• Democratic Party of Japan, Occupation, (agrarian conservative, 1945-1955)
• Liberal Party of Japan, Occupation, (conservative, 1945-1955)
• Great Achievement Association, (conservative nationalist, 1889-1909)
  • formerly Conservative Party of Japan (1880)
• Constitutional Liberal Party (Japan), (liberal, 1882-1931)
• Constitutional Progressive Party, (moderate liberal, 1882-1934)
• Liberal Party of Japan (1881), (liberal, 1881)
  • formerly Aikokusha, (liberal, 1872-1881)

• Liberalism in Japan

Japan has other minor parties not represented in Parliament (which have never been represented before), mostly reformist, liberal, nationalist, socialist, and communist parties.

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