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|position = ]<ref>Kabashima, I. & Steel, G. (2010). ''Changing Politics in Japan''. Cornell University Press, pp. 138–9.</ref>/]<ref name="JapanShiftsLeft">, AFP,</ref> | |position = ]<ref>Kabashima, I. & Steel, G. (2010). ''Changing Politics in Japan''. Cornell University Press, pp. 138–9.</ref>/]<ref name="JapanShiftsLeft">, AFP,</ref> | ||
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Revision as of 10:51, 3 January 2013
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Democratic Party of Japan" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Democratic Party of Japan | |
---|---|
Democratic Party Logo | |
President | Banri Kaieda |
Secretary-General | Azuma Koshiishi |
Spokesperson | Yoshiaki Takaki |
Councilors leader | Azuma Koshiishi |
Representatives leader | Banri Kaieda |
Founded | 8 January 1998 (1998-01-08) |
Merger of | |
Preceded by | Democratic Party of Japan (1996-1998) |
Headquarters | 1-11-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan |
Membership (2012) | 326,974 |
Ideology | Liberalism, Social liberalism, Third way |
Political position | Centre/Centre-left |
International affiliation | Alliance of Democrats |
Colors | Red and black (informally) |
Councillors | 92 / 242 |
Representatives | 57 / 480 |
Prefectural assembly members | 455 / 2,725 |
Municipal assembly members | 1,074 / 32,070 |
Website | |
www.dpj.or.jp | |
The Democratic Party of Japan (民主党, Minshutō) is a Centre-left political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. After the 2009 election the DPJ became the ruling party in the House of Representatives, defeating the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and gaining the largest number of seats in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
After winning a landslide victory in 2009, it was ousted from government by the LDP in the 2012 general election. It retained 57 seats in the lower house, and still had 88 seats in the upper house. During its time in office, the DPJ implemented a number of progressive measures such as the provision of free public schooling through high school and increases in child-rearing subsidies.
It is not to be confused with the now-defunct Japan Democratic Party that merged with the Liberal Party in 1955 to form the Liberal Democratic Party. It is also different from the Democratic Party, which was established in 1947 and dissolved in 1950.
History
Main article: History of the Democratic Party of Japan See also: the previous Democratic Party of Japan (1996-1998)Philosophy
The Democratic Party call their philosophy Democratic Centrism (ja:民主中道, minshu-chūdō), which was determined in the first party convention on April 27, 1998.
View of the status quo
The Democratic Party claim themselves to be revolutionary in that they are against the status quo and the current governing establishment. The Democratic Party argue that the bureaucracy of the Japanese government size is too large, inefficient, and saturated with cronies and that the Japanese state is too conservative and stiff. The Democratic Party wants to "overthrow the ancient régime locked in old thinking and vested interests, solve the problems at hand, and create a new, flexible, affluent society which values people's individuality and vitality."
Political standpoint
We stand for those who have been excluded by the structure of vested interests, those who work hard and pay taxes, and for people who strive for independence despite difficult circumstances. In other words, we represent citizens, taxpayers, and consumers. We do not seek a panacea either in the free market or in the welfare state. Rather, we shall build a new road of the democratic center toward a society in which self-reliant individuals can mutually coexist and the government's role is limited to building the necessary systems.
Goals
Democratic Centrism pursues the following five goals.
- Transparent, just and fair society
- The Democratic Party seek to build a society governed with rules which are transparent, just and fair.
- Free market and inclusive society
- While the party argue that the free market system should "permeate" economic life, they also aim for an inclusive society which guarantees security, safety, and fair and equal opportunity for each individual.
- Decentralized and participatory society
- The party intend to devolve the centralized government powers to citizens, markets, and local governments so that people of all backgrounds can participate in decision-making.
- Compliance with the three constitutional principles
- The Democratic Party proclaim to hold the values in the meaning of the constitution to "embody the fundamental principles of the Constitution": popular sovereignty, respect for fundamental human rights, and pacifism.
- International relations based on self-reliance and mutual coexistence
- As a member of the global community, the party seek to establish Japan's international relations in the fraternal spirit of self-reliance and mutual coexistence to restore the world's trust in the country.
Policy platforms
The DPJ's policy platforms include the restructuring of civil service, monthly allowance to a family with children (¥26,000 per child), cut in gas tax, income support for farmers, free tuition for public high schools, banning of temporary work in manufacturing, raising the minimum-wage to ¥1,000 and halting of increase in sales tax for the next four years.
Structure
- Supreme Advisers - Tsutomu Hata, Kozo Watanabe, Naoto Kan, Katsuya Okada, Satsuki Eda, Hirohisa Fujii
- President - Banri Kaieda
- Vice Presidents:
- Secretary General - Azuma Koshiishi
- Acting Secretary General - Sinji Tarutoko
- Deputy Secretary General - Jun Azumi
- Chair, Policy Research Committee - Seiji Maehara
- Chair, Diet Affairs Committee - Hirofumi Hirano
- Chair, DPJ Caucus, House of Councillors - Azuma Koshiishi
- Secretary General, DPJ Caucus, House of Councillors - Kenji Hirata
- Chair, Diet Affairs Committee, DPJ Caucus,House of Councillors - Yuichiro Hata
- Chair, Administration Committee - Naoki Tanaka
- Chair, Election Campaign Committee - Yoshiaki Takaki
- Chair, Financial Committee - Koichi Takemasa
- Chair, Organisation Committee - Shinichiro Hurumoto
- Chair, Public Relations Committee - Tadashi Hirono
- Chair, Corporate & External Organisations Committee - Shuji Ikemoto
- Chair, National Rallying and Canvassing Committee - Yosuke Kondo
- Chair, Standing Officers Council - Kansei Nakano
Factions
The DPJ has some political factions or groups, although they are not as factionalized as the LDP, which has traditionally placed high priority on intra-party factional alignment. The groups are, from the most influential to the least influential:
- Ryōun-kai: the second most conservative faction. Most of its members are from The Sakigake Party. Ryoun-kai has about 40 seats in the assembly and is led by Seiji Maehara and Yoshihiko Noda.
- Seiken kōyaku wo Jitsugen suru kai: formed by defectors from LDP and led by former party leader Yukio Hatoyama, has about conservative 30 lawmakers in the Diet. Former name is 'Seiken kotai wo Jitsugen suru kai'.
- Minsha Kyōkai: members of the former centrist Democratic Socialist Party which merged with the DPJ early on. About 25 members, led by Tatsuo Kawabata.
- Kuni no katachi kenkyūkai: led by Party President Naoto Kan. Is a liberal leaning faction. About 20 members.
- Shin seikyoku kondankai: the most left-leaning faction, created by members of the former Japan Socialist Party who felt the Social Democratic Party was too radical. About 20 seats, led by Takahiro Yokomichi.
The Independent’s Club is a minor political party which forms a political entity with the DPJ in both chambers of the house.
Presidents of DPJ
The Presidents of Democratic Party of Japan (ja:民主党代表, Minshutō Daihyō), the formal name is 民主党常任幹事会代表 (Minshutō Jyōnin-Kanji-Kai Daihyō).
No. | Name | Term of office | Image | Election results | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took Office | Left Office | ||||
1 | Naoto Kan 菅 直人 Kan Naoto |
27 April 1998 | 18 January 1999 | unchallenged | |
18 January 1999 | 25 September 1999 | Naoto Kan - 180 Shigefumi Matsuzawa - 51 Abstention - 8 | |||
2 | Yukio Hatoyama 鳩山 由紀夫 Hatoyama Yukio |
25 September 1999 | 9 September 2000 | Yukio Hatoyama - 182 Naoto Kan - 130 | |
9 September 2000 | 23 September 2002 | walkover | |||
23 September 2002 | 10 December 2002 | Yukio Hatoyama - 254 Naoto Kan - 242 | |||
3 | Naoto Kan 菅 直人 Kan Naoto |
10 December 2002 | 18 May 2004 | Naoto Kan - 104 Katsuya Okada - 79 | |
4 | Katsuya Okada 岡田 克也 Okada Katsuya |
18 May 2004 | 13 September 2004 | unchallenged | |
13 September 2004 | 17 September 2005 | walkover | |||
5 | Seiji Maehara 前原 誠司 Maehara Seiji |
17 September 2005 | 7 April 2006 | Seiji Maehara - 96 Naoto Kan - 94 Abstention - 3 | |
6 | Ichirō Ozawa 小沢 一郎 Ozawa Ichirō |
7 April 2006 | 12 September 2006 | Ichirō Ozawa - 119 Naoto Kan - 73 | |
12 September 2006 | 21 September 2008 | walkover | |||
21 September 2008 | 16 May 2009 | walkover | |||
7 | Yukio Hatoyama 鳩山 由紀夫 Hatoyama Yukio |
16 May 2009 | 4 June 2010 | see election 2009 Yukio Hatoyama - 124 Katsuya Okada - 95 | |
8 | Naoto Kan 菅 直人 Kan Naoto |
4 June 2010 | 14 September 2010 | see election Jun 2010 Naoto Kan - 291 Shinji Tarutoko - 129 | |
14 September 2010 | 29 August 2011 | see election Sep 2010 Naoto Kan - 721 Ichirō Ozawa - 491 | |||
9 | Yoshihiko Noda 野田 佳彦 Noda Yoshihiko |
29 August 2011 | 21 September 2012 | see election 2011 Yoshihiko Noda - 215 Banri Kaieda - 177 | |
21 September 2012 | 25 December 2012 | Yoshihiko Noda - 818 Hirotaka Akamatsu - 154 Kazuhiro Haraguchi - 123 Michihiko Kano - 113 | |||
10 | Banri Kaieda 海江田 万里 Kaieda Banri |
25 December 2012 | Incumbent | Banri Kaieda - 90 Sumio Mabuchi-54 |
Election results
All-time highest values are bolded
General election results
Election | Leader | # of candidates | # of seats won | # of PR Block votes | % of PR Block vote | # of Constituency votes | % of Constituency vote |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Yukio Hatoyama | 262 | 127 | 15,067,990 | 25.18% | 16,811,732 | 27.61% |
2003 | Naoto Kan | 277 | 177 | 22,095,636 | 37.39% | 21,814,154 | 36.66% |
2005 | Katsuya Okada | 299 | 113 | 21,036,425 | 31.02% | 24,804,786 | 36.44% |
2009 | Yukio Hatoyama | 330 | 308 | 29,844,799 | 42.41% | 33,475,334 | 47.43% |
2012 | Yoshihiko Noda | 267 | 57 | 9,268,653 | 15.49% | 13,598,773 | 22.81% |
Councillors election results
Election | Leader | # of seats total | # of seats won | # of PR Block votes | % of PR Block vote | # of Constituency votes | % of Constituency vote |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Naoto Kan | 47 | 27 | 12,209,685 | 21.75% | 9,063,939 | 16.20% |
2001 | Yukio Hatoyama | 59 | 33 | 8,990,524 | 16.42% | 10,066,552 | 18.53% |
2004 | Katsuya Okada | 82 | 50 | 21,137,457 | 37.79% | 21,931,984 | 39.09% |
2007 | Ichirō Ozawa | 109 | 60 | 23,256,247 | 39.48% | 24,006,817 | 40.45% |
2010 | Naoto Kan | 106 | 44 | 18,450,139 | 31.56% | 22,756,000 | 38.97% |
See also
- Politics of Japan
- Marutei Tsurunen: Japan's first deputy of European origin
References
- Kabashima, I. & Steel, G. (2010). Changing Politics in Japan. Cornell University Press, pp. 138–9.
- US reaches out as Japan shifts left, AFP,
- Political Parties, International Organizations and Individuals joining the Alliance of Democrats, Alliance of Democrats
- ^ Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications: Prefectural and local assembly members and governors/mayors by political party as of December 31, 2011
- Japan in Transformation, 1945-2010 (2nd edition) by Jeff Kingston
- Out Basic Philosophy - Building a free and secure society on The Democratic Party of Japan's website accessed on May 12, 2010.Template:Ja
- ^ Out Basic Philosophy - Building a free and secure society on The Democratic Party of Japan's website accessed on 17 May 2008.
- Ryall, Julian (2009-08-27). "Japan election: unemployed turn on the government". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- Hiroko Tabuchi (2009-08-03). "Opposition Woos Japan's Voters With Costly Vows". New York Times.
- Fujioka, Chisa (2009-08-21). "Japan opposition may score landslide win: media". Reuters.
- ^ 民主代表選 鳩山氏が優位、岡田氏は参院に照準, Asahi Shimbun, 16 May 2009
Further reading
- Japan after Kan: Implications for the DPJ’s Political Future, Q&A with Richard J. Samuels (MIT) August 2011
- Daniel Sneider, The New Asianism: Japanese Foreign Policy under the Democratic Party of Japan (Asia Policy, July 2011)
- Leif-Eric Easley, Tetsuo Kotani and Aki Mori, Electing a New Japanese Security Policy? Examining Foreign Policy Visions within the Democratic Party of Japan (Asia Policy, August 2009)
- Linus Hagström (2010) The Democratic Party of Japan’s Security Policy and Japanese Politics of Constitutional Revision: A Cloud over Article 9? Australian Journal of International Affairs 64 (5): 512–28.
External links
- Democratic Party of Japan Template:En icon
- Democratic Party of Japan Template:Jp icon
- Democratic Party of Japan on Facebook
- Democratic Party of Japan on Twitter
- Democratic Party of Japan's channel on YouTube
Political parties in Japan | |||||
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Bracketed numbers indicate numbers of seats in the House of Representatives (Lower House) of the National Diet | |||||
Officially recognized political parties |
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Political organizations with seats in the National Diet |
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