Japanese liberalism formed in the nineteenth century as a reaction against traditional society. In the twentieth century 'liberal' gradually became a synonym for conservative, and today the main conservative party in the country is named . The defunct was considered in part a centrist-liberal party, as are most parties which derived from it. The liberal character of the is disputed, as it is also considered to be conservative by some. This article is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, proved by having had representation in parliament.

Modern Japanese liberalism

Liberals in Japan are generally considered united by one major factor: their opposition to changing the post-World War II constitution forbidding the creation of a national military.

Before the 1990s, Japanese liberals did not form a prominent individual political party.

  • Japan's radical liberalism (left-wing liberalism) emerged as a "peace movement" and was largely led by the Japan Socialist Party (JSP).
  • Until the 1990s, conservative liberalism (right-wing liberalism) in Japan was led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and they contrasted with left-wing liberalism.

Since the 1990s, most conservative liberals have left the LDP. The Japan New Party (JNP) and New Party Sakigake are the parties founded by Japanese conservative-liberals against the LDP's nationalist project, which lead to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-liberalism tradition. Japan's previous liberal party, the DPJ, was led by moderates of both the right-wing LDP and left-wing JSP.

Currently, the LDP has not been considered a liberal party. In the past, liberals in the LDP became opposition forces after leaving the party, so "liberal" generally became a force against "conservative" in Japanese politics in the 21st century. The current DPJ-liberalism tradition is being continued by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ).

Since Japanese conservatism was influenced by Shinto, Japan's radical liberalism and democratic socialism were more influenced by Christianity.

As the LDP becomes an increasingly solid conservative party, and the socialist movement that led the traditional anti-LDP camp has lost control in Japan's opposition political camp, gradually shifting from the centre-right "liberal" in the European and Australian sense of the past to the centre-left "liberal" in the American sense.

File:ITAGAKI Taisuke.jpg|link=|

File:Shigenobu Okuma 2.JPG|link=|Prime minister

File:Kato takaaki.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Yukio Ozaki.jpg|link=|

File:Tokuzō Fukuda.jpg|link=|

File:Reijiro Wakatsuki.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Inukai Tsuyoshi.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Shigeru Yoshida suit.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Hatoyama Ichirō.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:ISHIBASHI Tanzan.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Hayato Ikeda 1962 (cropped).jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Masao-Maruyama-1.png|link=|

File:Morihiro Hosokawa 19930809.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Yukio Hatoyama Profile.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Naoto Kan 20071221.jpg|link=|Prime minister

File:Yukio Edano In front of Tenjin Twin Building (2020.10.18) (cropped).jpg|link=|Leader Yukio Edano of the CDPJ

File:Kenta Izumi and Katsuya Okada (cropped).png|link=|Leader Kenta Izumi of the CDPJ

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See also

  • Conservatism in Japan
  • History of Japan
  • Politics of Japan
  • List of political parties in Japan
  • Mainichi Shimbun
  • Reformist party (Japan)
  • The Asahi Shimbun
  • Chunichi Shimbun
  • Non-LDP and non-JCP Coalition
  • Kakushin Sētō (progressive political parties)
  • Christianity in Japan
  • Liberalism in South Korea – This was also influenced by Japanese liberalism during its early formation.

Notes

References