Liberal Democratic Party
The Liberal Democratic Party (自由民主党) (LDP) is the dominant political power of modern Japan.
It is generally categorized as center-right in terms of ideology, but effectively it is a factional big tent party.
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Formation
The LDP formed in 1955 as a merger between the Liberal Party (自由党) and the Japan Democratic Party (日本民主党).
LDP politicians made extensive use of koenkai (後援会) for campaign finance and voter mobilization. LDP leadership would attempt to subsume these organizations multiple times, but early attempts failed due to factionalism. Over time koenkai became vertically-integrated political machines, especially within the LDP.
Government
The Japan Socialist Party served as the opposition throughout.
First Loss of Power
In the August 1993 general election, in the context of the stagflating economy and the Recruit scandal, the LDP lost enough seats for a grand coalition government to form. Morihiro Hosokawa (細川 護煕) led this government for 8 months, following which Tsutomu Hata (羽田 孜) led for 2 months.
The government fell in June when the LDP, JSP, and New Party Sakigake joined to form a new coalition. Tomiichi Murayama served as prime minister for 2 years, then handed power back to the LDP under Ryutaro Hashimoto. The coalition then devolved into a confidence and supply agreement.
The remaining grand coalition members consolidated into the New Frontier Party and served as the opposition.
Trying to solve the issue of leading a minority government, Hashimoto called for the July 1998 House of Councilors elections. Instead the LDP lost seats and Hashimoto resigned.
First Return to Power
Keizou Obuchi formed a coalition government with the Liberal Party in January 1999. In October, Komeito joined as well. Obuchi died in office and Yoshirou Mori became prime minister.
The Mori government was plagued by scandals while a reformist faction was ascendent within the party. The YKK faction, composed of Junichirou Koizumi, Koichi Kato (加藤 紘一), and Taku Yamasaki (山崎 拓), were serious contenders in the leadership contests of 1999 and 2000. The latter two gambled on a doomed vote of no confidence, but Koizumi was well positioned for the leadership contest following Mori's resignation.
Koizumi ushered in a new era of popularity for the LDP, and resigned at the end of his party leadership term.
Shinzo Abe became prime minister after Koizumi. In the context of deteriorating health and losing the majority in the July 2007 House of Councilors election, he resigned in September 2007.
Second Loss of Power