Democratic Party of Japan
The Democratic Party of Japan (民主党) was a centrist party formed to oppose the LDP. There were in fact two DPJs: one formed in 1996 out of New Party Sakigake and JSP members that opposed the LPD-led coalition, and one formed in 1998 as a merger of the aforementioned DPJ and splinters of the failing New Frontier Party.
It merged with the Japan Innovation Party in March 2016 to form the short-lived Democratic Party.
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Roots in the Grand Coalition
In 1993, the LDP lost power for the first time since 1955. A grand coalition government formed under Morihiro Hosokawa (細川 護煕) in August 1993. But in June 1994, the LDP returned to power in coalition with the JSP and Japan/NewPartySakigake. Several members of these two parties opposed the coalition.
1996 Formation
Ahead of the October 1996 general election, members of the JSP and New Party Sakigake left to form a new party that could oppose the LDP. They were led by Yukio Hatoyama (鳩山 由紀夫) and Naoto Kan (菅 直人), both former members of the latter party. The new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won enough seats to become the second-largest opposition party, just after the New Frontier Party.
1998 Reformation
The two largest opposition parties, the DPJ and New Frontier Party, joined in 1998 under the former party's name.
Government