The was a Japanese political party that existed briefly from 1992 to 1994.
The party, considered liberal, was founded by Morihiro Hosokawa, a former Diet member and Kumamoto Prefecture governor, who left the Liberal Democratic Party to protest corruption scandals. In 1992, the party elected four members to the House of Councillors, including Hosokawa. Although this was a disappointing result for them, in 1993 they were able to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with the LDP, electing a total of 35 members (including 3 who joined after the election). Hosokawa became Prime Minister leading a broad coalition, but was soon forced to resign.
The party defended the political reformism, consumers rights and supported decentralization.
By 1994, the Japan New Party dissolved, its members flowing into the New Frontier Party (新進党).
Several Diet members who've become prominent in other parties were first elected for the Japan New Party, including Yoshihiko Noda, Seiji Maehara, Yukio Edano, Toshimitsu Motegi, Yuriko Koike and Takashi Kawamura.
List of leaders of JNP No.NamePortraitConstituency / titleTerm of office Took officeLeft officeSplit from: Liberal Democratic Party1Morihiro HosokawaRep forKumamoto 1st22 May 19929 December 1994Miyazawa himself Hata Murayama Successor party: New Frontier Party
Election results House of Representatives Election Leader Votes % Seats Position Status 1993 Morihiro Hosokawa 5,053,981 8.05 5th
House of Councillors Election Leader Constituency Party list Seats Position Status Votes % Seats Votes % Seats 1992 Morihiro Hosokawa colspan=3 3,617,247 7.97 4th
See also Liberalism in Japan Conservative mainstream (in Japanese)
References