Japan Socialist Party
Japan Socialist Party 日本社会党 Nihon Shakai-tō | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader |
|
| Founded | 2 November 1945 |
| Dissolved | 19 January 1996 |
| Succeeded by | Social Democratic Party |
| Headquarters | Social & Cultural Center 1-8-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
| Newspaper | Shakai Shimpō |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| International affiliation | Socialist International |
| Colors | Blue |
| Party flag | |
 | |
The Japan Socialist Party (日本社会党, Nihon Shakai-tō, often shortened to JSP) was a major socialist and left-wing political party in Japan.[1]
It was active from 1945 until 1996 and was the main opposition party to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for most of its existence.
History
[change | change source]Foundation
[change | change source]The party was founded on 2 November 1945 by members of pre-war socialist and labour parties.[2]
In the 1947 Japanese general election, the JSP became the largest party and formed a coalition government with Tetsu Katayama as Prime Minister.[1]
Split and reunification
[change | change source]The party split in 1951 into the Left Socialist Party and Right Socialist Party. They reunited in 1955. In the same year, the conservative parties merged to form the LDP.[2]
Later period
[change | change source]The party suffered from internal divisions. In 1960, its chairman Inejiro Asanuma was assassinated by a right-wing youth during a televised election debate. This event shocked the nation and weakened the party.[3]
In the 1970s and 1980s, the JSP performed well in many local elections. In 1986, Takako Doi became the first woman to lead a major Japanese political party. Under her leadership, the JSP had a strong result in the 1990 election.
In 1994, JSP leader Tomiichi Murayama became Prime Minister in a coalition government with the LDP. The party was renamed the Social Democratic Party in 1996.[4]
Ideology
[change | change source]The JSP supported socialism, progressivism, and pacifism. It strongly defended Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution. The party had both moderate democratic socialist and more radical revolutionary socialism factions.[1][4]
References
[change | change source]- 1 2 3 Akito Okada, ed. (2022). Japan's School Curriculum for The 2020s: Politics, Policy, and Pedagogy. Springer Nature. p. 14. ISBN 9789811920769.
Generally speaking, the LDP is a conservative party spanning the right-wing, while the JSP was a left-wing, progressive party.
- 1 2 ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典の解説 [The Encyclopædia Britannica: Micropædia's explanation]. kotobank.jp (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ↑ Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674984424.
- 1 2 "Social Democratic Party of Japan". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
Bibliography
[change | change source]- Cole, Allan; Totten, George; Uyehara, Cecil (1966). Socialist Parties In Postwar Japan. Yale University Press.
- Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0674984424.