Chairman of the Japan Socialist Party (中央執行委員会委員長, Chūō Shikkō Iinkai Iinchō) was the highest responsible position, equivalent to party leader, in the Japan Socialist Party (JSP), which existed from 1945 to 1996.

Overview The position produced two Prime Ministers of Japan: Tetsu Katayama and Tomiichi Murayama. Under the 1955 System, as the leader of the largest opposition party, the chairman's statements and actions attracted significant attention.

Initially, the chairman was elected by delegates at the party congress. From 1978 onward, it was chosen by direct election among party members.

Although the chairman was the party's top executive, their control was not particularly strong. The party was divided between left-wing and right-wing factions, and a customary practice emerged where if the chairman came from one faction, the secretary-general would come from the opposing faction to balance power. Lower executive positions were selected by the party congress with similar factional balance in mind, often resulting in officials whose views differed from the chairman's. At the 41st continued party congress in 1977, the chairman was authorized to appoint non-standing central executive committee members.

Following the assassination of Inejirō Asanuma, secretary-general Saburō Eda was promoted to acting chairman. Although he never formally assumed the position of chairman, party histories and records treat him as equivalent in status.

In 1996, the Japan Socialist Party changed its name to the Social Democratic Party, where the top leader is called "party leader" (党首, tōshu) rather than chairman.

List of Chairmen of the Japan Socialist Party No.ChairmanTermChairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Japan Socialist Party1Tetsu KatayamaThe position was vacant until assumption; Inejirō Asanuma served as acting chairman as secretary-general.September 28, 1946 – January 16, 1950Chairman of the Japan Socialist Party (Left)—Mosaburō SuzukiJanuary 19, 1951 – October 12, 1955Chairman of the Japan Socialist Party (Right)—Jōtarō KawakamiAugust 25, 1952 – October 12, 1955Chairman of the Japan Socialist Party (Unified Left-Right)2Mosaburō SuzukiOctober 13, 1955 – March 21, 19603Inejirō AsanumaAfter his death, secretary-general Saburō Eda served as acting chairman.March 23, 1960 – October 12, 1960—Saburō Eda (acting chairman)October 12, 1960 – March 6, 19614Jōtarō KawakamiMarch 6, 1961 – May 6, 19655Kōzō SasakiMay 6, 1965 – August 19, 19676Seiichi KatsumataAugust 19, 1967 – October 4, 19687Tomomi NaritaNovember 30, 1968 – December 13, 19778Ichio AsukataDecember 13, 1977 – September 7, 19839Masashi IshibashiSeptember 7, 1983 – September 8, 198610Takako DoiSeptember 8, 1986 – July 31, 199111Makoto TanabeJuly 31, 1991 – January 19, 199312Sadao YamahanaJanuary 19, 1993 – September 25, 199313Tomiichi MurayamaSeptember 25, 1993 – January 19, 1996

indicates those who became Prime Minister during their term. indicates the representative at the time the Japan Socialist Party gained power in government. indicates the representative at the time the Japan Socialist Party lost power.

Results of Chairman Elections The chairman position was often decided through prior negotiations between factions, resulting in many uncontested or unanimous selections; contested elections were relatively few. Date of voteResultMarch 24, 1960Inejirō Asanuma 228 votes, Jōtarō Kawakami 206 votesJanuary 22, 1966Kōzō Sasaki 295 votes, Saburō Eda 276 votesDecember 9, 1966Kōzō Sasaki 313 votes, Saburō Eda 274 votesDecember 2, 1970Tomomi Narita 207 votes, Saburō Eda 148 votesNovember 27, 1981Ichio Asukata 39,379 votes, Yamaji Mutō 14,721 votes, Masakazu Shimodaira 3,425 votesSeptember 6, 1986Takako Doi 58,670 votes, Satoshi Ueda 11,748 votesJuly 30, 1991Makoto Tanabe 46,363 votes, Satoshi Ueda 36,358 votesSeptember 20, 1993Tomiichi Murayama 65,446 votes, Masatoshi Itō 18,075 votesJanuary 17, 1996Tomiichi Murayama 57,591 votes, Tadatoshi Akiba 10,440 votes

See also Japan Socialist Party

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