New Frontier Party

The New Frontier Party (新進党) was a center-right party in Japan that operated from 1994 until 1997. While many political parties participated in the founding, it was the Japan Renewal Party that dictated policy and direction.

After the JSP left the grand coalition government, the remaining members consolidated into this party. They overtook the JSP as the second-largest party and served as the opposition.

History

After the Japan Socialist Party left the grand coalition in 1993, Hata resigned rather than face a no confidence vote. A new coalition government emerged between the JSP, LDP, and New Party Sakigake.

Meanwhile the Japan Renewal Party (新生党), a breakaway group from the LDP that had formed the core of the original coalition, rallied other members into a consolidation. In December they merged with the Japan New Party and the Democratic Socialist Party, among others. This was the founding of the New Frontier Party. Toshiki Kaifu served as the first leader. This immediately became the second largest party, and would serve as the opposition to the next several governments.

In the 1995 leadership contest, Ichirou Ozawa beat out Hata. This began a fragmentation of the party, principally into the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Party

Leadership

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