Japan Innovation Party (2014–2016)

The Japan Innovation Party (維新の党, Ishin no Tō, lit.'Party of Restoration') 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).[6]

Japan Innovation Party
維新の党
FoundersKenji Eda
Tōru Hashimoto
Founded1 August 2014 (2014-08-01)
Dissolved27 March 2016 (2016-03-27)
Merger of
Merged intoDemocratic Party
IdeologyConservatism[1]
Neoliberalism[2]
Right-wing populism[3]
Political positionCentre-right[A][4]
Colors
  •   Blue (official)
  •   Lime green (customary)
Website
ishinnotoh.jp

^ A: The party was sometimes regarded as centrist[5] or right-wing[3].

History

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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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

In October 2015 a faction aligned with Hashimoto split from the party to form the Initiatives from Osaka.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12][13] 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.[14][15] On 27 March 2016, the DPJ, Vision of Reform, JIP and other minor parties merged to form the new Democratic Party.[16]

Presidents of JIP

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No. Name Photo Took office Left office
Preceding parties: Restoration Party & Unity Party
1 Co-leadership
Tōru Hashimoto & Kenji Eda
   
21 September 2014 23 December 2014
2 Kenji Eda
 
23 December 2014 17 May 2015
3 Yorihisa Matsuno
 
19 May 2015 27 March 2016
Successor parties: Initiatives from Osaka & Democratic Party (2016)

Election results

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House of Representatives

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Election Leader Constituency Party list Total Position Status
Votes % Seats Votes % Seats
2014 Kenji Eda 4,319,646 8.16
11 / 295
8,382,699 15.72
30 / 180
41 / 475
3rd Opposition

References

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  1. ^ Lorenzo Costantini (2015-02-02). "Japan's Prime Minister wins his electoral bid". European Parliamentary Research Service.
  2. ^ Eric Johnston (2015-09-07). "JHashimoto's new national party likely to closely resemble Ishin no To". The Japan Times.
  3. ^ a b "維新の党 ― 右派ポピュリズムはリベラルを超えるか" (PDF). 2015-09-23. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^
  5. ^ "政党が左右に寄って、センター不在で軽く絶望". 選挙ドットコム (in Japanese). 2015-09-30. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". the-japan-news.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ Pekkanen, Robert J.; Pekkanen, Saadia M. (2015). "Japan in 2014: All about Abe". Asian Survey. 55 (1): 103–118. doi:10.1525/as.2015.55.1.103. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 10.1525/as.2015.55.1.103. S2CID 156007188.
  8. ^ Yoshida, Reiji (23 December 2014). "Hashimoto quits Ishin leadership". Retrieved 26 December 2016 – via Japan Times Online.
  9. ^ "Opposition Innovation Party elects Matsuno as new leader". 19 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's new party debuts". 31 October 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Ex-Japan Innovation Party members form new party". 21 December 2015. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  12. ^ Osaki, Tomohiro (2016-02-24). "DPJ endorses merger with Ishin no To; new party to form next month". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  13. ^ "DPJ, Japan Innovation Party to merge ahead of Upper House election - AJW by the Asahi Shimbun". Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  14. ^ NHK World News. (March 14, 2016). DPJ, JIP decide on new party name: Minshinto. "DPJ, JIP decide on new party name: Minshinto - News - NHK WORLD - English". Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  15. ^ Yoshida, Reiji (2016-03-14). "Introducing Minshin To, Japan's new main opposition force". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  16. ^ "New opposition party launched with merger of DPJ, smaller party- Nikkei Asian Review". asia.nikkei.com. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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