The , formerly known as the , was a conservative and nationalist political party in Japan. The SPJ was formed on 10 April 2010 by five Japanese lawmakers and parliamentarians, four former members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and an independent politician. It was named by the then-Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Shintarō Ishihara who supported the action."New political party to be named 'Tachiagare Nippon' (Stand up Japan)" At its inception, the party described itself as an "anti-DPJ, non-LDP" political force.
It was renamed and re-formed on 14 November 2012 by co-leaders Ishihara and Takeo Hiranuma. The party merged into the Japan Restoration Party on 17 November 2012.Johnston, Eric, "Nippon Ishin no Kai: Local but with national outlook", The Japan Times, 3 October 2012, p. 3
Party name When the party was founded in 2010 as "Tachiagare Nippon" – the Sunrise Party of Japan. It was named by Shintaro Ishihara, who was then still governor of Tokyo. In 2012, after Ishihara stepped down as governor and announced he would form a new party he renamed the party "The Sunrise Party". The Japanese name of the party, "Taiyō no Tō", literally translates as "party of the sun", and is taken from Ishihara's novel Season of the Sun. Some other proposed names had included "Nippon Kaishin Tō" (Japan reform and progress party) and "Reimei" (Dawn).Daily Yomiuri
2010–2011 arrivals and departures Yoshio Nakagawa belonged to the party but did not contest his Hokkaidō seat in the 2010 House of Councillors election, and ran instead on the party's national proportional list. Toranosuke Katayama won the party's only proportional seat in this election. LDP Councillor Kyōko Nakayama (proportional, up in 2013) had joined the party in June 2010 together with her husband Nariaki Nakayama, a former LDP Representative."Nakayamas go with Tachiagare Nippon", The Japan Times, 22 June 2010.
Kaoru Yosano, one of the founding members, left this party on 13 January 2011The Japan Times Yosano exits party, seen angling for ruling bloc 14 January 2012 to join the Naoto Kan's cabinet as the minister of economic and fiscal policy.The Japan Times New team seen prioritizing TPP entry, sales tax hike 15 January 2012
2012 reformation In October 2012, when Ishihara stepped down as Tokyo governor and announced that he would set up a new national political party, it was expected that he would form it with members of the Sunrise party.Nagata, Kazuaki, "Ishihara leaves office with sights on Diet seat", The Japan Times, 1 November 2012. When announced by co-leaders Ishihara and Hiranuma in mid-November, 2012, The Sunrise Party incorporated all five members of the SPJ. The SP looked to form a coalition with other small parties including Osaka Mayor Tōru Hashimoto's Japan Restoration Party for possibly impending elections.Aoki, Mizuho, "Ishihara, Hiranuma unveil new party", The Japan Times, 14 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012. On 13 November, Ishihara stated that: "Taiyō no Tō is only a part of the process. We will definitely form a coalition before the [lower house] election. I don't mind if [our party] is absorbed [into the alliance] and vanishes".Daily Yomiuri Nation's '3rd political force' remains inchoate 15 November 2012
Aborted merger with Genzei Nippon On 15 November 2012, Ishihara and Takashi Kawamura of the Nagoya-based Genzai Nippon (Tax Reduction Party). announced that they would merge.Mainichi Shimbun Ishihara's Sunrise Party, Nagoya mayor's Genzei Nippon to merge 16 November 2012 The following day Ishihara had a meeting with Hashimoto and decided to unilaterally cancel the plans for the Genzai Nippon merger. Kawamura was disappointed but said he would continue to seek a merger with Ishihara's group.Daily Yomiuri New parties merge forces / Taiyo no To dissolves to join Ishin no Kai; Ishihara named chief 18 November 2012
Merger with Japan Restoration Party On 17 November 2012, Ishihara and Hashimoto decided to merge their parties, with Ishihara becoming the head of the Japan Restoration Party. Your Party would not join the party, nor would Genzei Nippon, as the latter party's anti-consumption tax increase policy does not match the JRP's pro-consumption tax policy.
Presidents No.NameTerm of officeTook officeLeft officeSplit from: Liberal Democratic Party1 10 April 201013 January 20112Takeo Hiranuma13 January 201113 November 20123 13 November 201219 November 20124Shintaro Ishihara13 November 201219 November 2012Successor party: Restoration Party
Politicians Takeo Hiranuma Hiroyuki Sonoda Takao Fujii Toranosuke Katayama Kyoko Nakayama Nariaki Nakayama Shintarō Ishihara
Election results House of Councillors Election Leader Constituency Party list Seats Position Status Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Election Total 2010 Takeo Hiranuma 328,475 0.56 1,232,207 2.11 7th
References
External links Sunrise Party of Japan