Japan Innovation Party (2014–2016) Explained

Native Name:維新の党
Native Name Lang:ja
Founders:Kenji Eda
Tōru Hashimoto
Merged:Democratic Party
Ideology:Conservatism[1]
Neoliberalism[2]
Right-wing populism[3]
Position:Centre-right
Country:Japan

The was a political party in Japan. It was launched on 22 September 2014, following the merger of the Japan Restoration Party headed by Tōru Hashimoto, and the Unity Party, led by Kenji Eda. On 27 March 2016 the party merged with the Democratic Party of Japan and Vision of Reform to form the Democratic Party (Minshintō).[4]

History

When it was founded, the Japan Innovation Party was led by Kenji Eda and Osaka city mayor Tōru Hashimoto. Their initial policy positions included constitutional revision, increased local government autonomy, and the phasing out of nuclear power, and the party also signalled a willingness to work with the Liberal Democratic Party and Party for Future Generations on issues where their policies aligned.[5] Soon after forming, however, Hashimoto resigned in December 2014 from his role in order to focus on the Osaka mayoral election scheduled for the spring of 2015, and Eda remained as the sole leader of the party.[6]

Following the defeat of the Osaka Metropolis plan in an Osaka city referendum in May 2015, Eda resigned as leader and former Democratic Party of Japan member Yorihisa Matsuno was elected as his replacement.[7]

In October 2015 a faction aligned with Hashimoto split from the party to form the Initiatives from Osaka.[8] Then, in late October, another four members left after expressing dissatisfaction with Matsuno's leadership; the group went on to form the Vision of Reform in December 2015.[9]

On 24 February 2016, the Japan Innovation Party, Vision of Reform and larger Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) announced an agreement to merge ahead of the Upper House elections in July 2016.[10] [11] On 14 March 2016 the Japanese name of the new party was announced as Minshintō, having been the most popular choice of two possible names among voters.[12] [13] On 27 March 2016, the DPJ, Vision of Reform, JIP and other minor parties merged to form the new Democratic Party.[14]

Presidents of JIP

No. Name Photo Took office Left office
Preceding parties: Restoration Party & Unity Party
1
21 September 2014 23 December 2014
223 December 2014 17 May 2015
319 May 2015 27 March 2016
Successor parties: Initiatives from Osaka & Democratic Party (2016)

Election results

House of Representatives

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Japan's Prime Minister wins his electoral bid. Lorenzo Costantini. European Parliamentary Research Service. 2015-02-02.
  2. Web site: JHashimoto's new national party likely to closely resemble Ishin no To. Eric Johnston. The Japan Times. 2015-09-07.
  3. 維新の党 ― 右派ポピュリズムはリベラルを超えるか. 2015-09-23.
  4. Web site: Archived copy . the-japan-news.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160327143729/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002836914 . 27 March 2016 . dead.
  5. Pekkanen. Robert J.. Pekkanen. Saadia M.. 2015. Japan in 2014: All about Abe. Asian Survey. 55. 1. 103–118. 10.1525/as.2015.55.1.103. 10.1525/as.2015.55.1.103. 156007188 . 0004-4687.
  6. Web site: Hashimoto quits Ishin leadership. Reiji. Yoshida. 23 December 2014. 26 December 2016. Japan Times Online.
  7. Web site: Opposition Innovation Party elects Matsuno as new leader . 19 May 2015 . 14 December 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150520231242/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150519p2g00m0dm003000c.html . 20 May 2015 .
  8. Web site: Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's new party debuts . 31 October 2015 . 14 December 2015.
  9. Web site: Ex-Japan Innovation Party members form new party . 21 December 2015 . 13 January 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160106203531/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20151221_32.html . 6 January 2016 . dead .
  10. Web site: Osaki . Tomohiro . DPJ endorses merger with Ishin no To; new party to form next month . The Japan Times . 2016-02-24 . 2016-12-26.
  11. Web site: DPJ, Japan Innovation Party to merge ahead of Upper House election - AJW by the Asahi Shimbun . 2016-03-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160315082356/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201602240068 . 2016-03-15 .
  12. NHK World News. (March 14, 2016). DPJ, JIP decide on new party name: Minshinto. Web site: DPJ, JIP decide on new party name: Minshinto - News - NHK WORLD - English . 2016-03-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160314231312/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160314_26/ . 2016-03-14 .
  13. Web site: Yoshida . Reiji . Introducing Minshin To, Japan's new main opposition force . The Japan Times . 2016-03-14 . 2016-12-26.
  14. Web site: New opposition party launched with merger of DPJ, smaller party- Nikkei Asian Review . asia.nikkei.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160327210310/http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/New-opposition-party-launched-with-merger-of-DPJ-smaller-party . 27 March 2016 . dead.