Liberalism in Japan

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`.

1 Introduction
2 The timeline
3 Liberal leaders
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Introduction

In reaction to traditional society a liberal current formed in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century 'liberal' became gradually a synomym for conservative and the main conservative party is named Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu Minshuto). The Democratic Party (Minshu-to) 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.

[edit] The timeline

[edit] From Public Society of Patriots until Constitutional Politics Party

1874: Liberals founded the Public Society of Patriots (Aikoku Koto)
1881: The Aikoku Koto is continued by the Liberal Party (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)

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] From Renewal Party to Liberal Party (1993)

1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the Renewal Party (Shinseito)
1994: The Renewal Party merged with other factions into the New Frontier Party (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 Party (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

[edit] New Party Harbinger

1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (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 Harbinger (Sakigake) and further renamed in 2002 into Green Assembly (Midori No Kaigi)

[edit] Democratic Party of Japan

1996: Dissidents from the ⇒ New Party Harbinger and the Social Democratic Party of Japan formed the Democratic Party of Japan (Nihon Minshuto)
1998: The party merged with the Good Governance Party (Minseito), the New Fraternity Party (Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo) under the name Democratic Party of Japan (Nihon Minshuto, 民主党)
2003: The ⇒ Liberal Party merged into the party