View source for Democratic Party of Japan

{{Short description|Japanese political party (1998–2016)}}
{{other uses|Democratic Party (Japan)}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Democratic Party of Japan
| abbreviation     = DPJ
| native_name      = {{nobold|{{Nihongo2|民主党}}<br />{{lang|ja-Latn|Minshutō}}}}
| country          = Japan
| colorcode        = {{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}
| logo             = Democratic Party of Japan Logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| chairman         = 
| leader           = [[Katsuya Okada]]
| secretary_general = [[Yukio Edano]]
| founders         = [[Naoto Kan]]<br/>[[Yukio Hatoyama]]<br/>[[Tsutomu Hata]]
| foundation       = {{start date|1998|4|27|df=y}}
| dissolution      = {{end date|2016|3|27|df=y}}
| merger           = {{ublist
 | [[Democratic Party (Japan, 1996)|Democratic Party (1996)]]
 | [[Good Governance Party]]
 | [[New Fraternity Party]]
 | [[Democratic Reform Party (Japan)|Democratic Reform Party]]
}}
| successor        = [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party (2016)]]
| headquarters     = 1-11-1 [[Nagatachō, Tokyo|Nagata-cho]], [[Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda]], [[Tokyo]] 100-0014
| newspaper        = 
| youth_wing       = 
| membership_year  = 
| membership       = 
| ideology         = [[Liberalism]] ([[Liberalism in Japan|Japanese]])<br />[[Social liberalism]]
| position         = {{Nowrap|[[Centrism|Centre]] to [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]]}}
| national         = 
| international    = [[Alliance of Democrats (political international)|Alliance of Democrats]] (2005–2012)
| colors           = {{colour box|{{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red]]<ref>{{cite news |date=21 October 2017 |script-title=ja:日本に定着するか、政党のカラー |trans-title=Will the colors of political parties settle in Japan? |url=https://r.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO22461210Z11C17A0000000 |language=ja |publisher=[[Nikkei, Inc.]] |access-date=28 May 2020 }}</ref>
| website          = [http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/ www.dpj.or.jp]
}}

The {{Nihongo|'''Democratic Party of Japan'''|民主党|Minshutō}} was a [[Centrism|centrist]]<ref name="Centrist">The Democratic Party of Japan was widely described as centrist:
* {{cite book|author=Ethan Scheiner|title=Democracy Without Competition in Japan: Opposition Failure in a One-Party Dominant State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CwITBmF0-cC&pg=PA43|year=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-84692-9|page=43}}
* {{cite book|author1=David T Johnson|author2=Franklin E Zimring|title=The Next Frontier: National Development, Political Change, and the Death Penalty in Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyIsBaNkfkUC&pg=PA93|year=2009|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-988756-9|page=93}}
* {{cite book|author=Lucien Ellington|title=Japan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fox9YR80V7sC&pg=PA90|year=2009|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-162-6|page=90}}
* {{cite book|author=Patrick Koellner|chapter=The Democratic Party of Japan|editor=Alisa Gaunder|title=Routledge Handbook of Japanese Politics|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gdwEocAa3nYC&pg=PA28|year=2011|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-136-81838-7|page=28}}
* {{cite book|author1=Mark Kesselman|author2=Joel Krieger|author3=William Joseph|title=Introduction to Comparative Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WYTTTy5En_YC&pg=PA221|year=2012|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1-111-83182-0|page=221}}
* {{cite book|author=Jeff Kingston|title=Contemporary Japan: History, Politics, and Social Change since the 1980s|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QFocExFkA1MC&pg=PT132|year=2012|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-31506-4|page=132}}
* {{cite book|author=Christopher W. Hughes|title=Japan's Economic Power and Security: Japan and North Korea|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-4lmAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA16|year=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-63431-6|page=16}}</ref> to [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]],<ref name="Inoguchi2012">{{cite book|author=Takashi Inoguchi|chapter=1945: Post-Second World War Japan|editor1=Benjamin Isakhan|editor2=Stephen Stockwell|title=The Edinburgh Companion to the History of Democracy|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e1elBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA308|year=2012|publisher=Edinburgh University Press|isbn=978-0-7486-4075-1|page=308|quote=The Democratic Party of Japan is a centre-left party, but it contains a sizeable union-based left wing and some members close to the extreme right.}}</ref><ref name="Schreurs2014">{{cite book|author=Miranda Schreurs|chapter=Japan|editor1=Jeffrey Kopstein|editor2=Mark Lichbach|editor3=Stephen E. Hanson|title=Comparative Politics: Interests, Identities, and Institutions in a Changing Global Order|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L2jwAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA192|year=2014|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-99138-4|page=192}}</ref> [[Liberalism|liberal]]<ref>{{cite book|editor=Dennis T. Yasutomo |title=Japan's Civil-Military Diplomacy: The Banks of the Rubicon |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FA6LAwAAQBAJ&q=japan+liberal+DPJ&pg=PT118 |quote= The “liberal” DPJ vowed to undo the damage of the “hawkish” LDP, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. |date=2014 |publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=9781134651931 }}</ref> or [[Social liberalism|social-liberal]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Franičević |first1=Vojmir |last2=Kimura |first2=Hiroshi |year=2003 |title=Globalization, democratization and development: European and Japanese views of change in South East Europe |publisher=Masmedia |isbn=953-157-439-1 |quote=Towards the end of the 1990s the social-liberal Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan, DPJ) consolidated and replaced Shinshinto as a rival of LDP. }}</ref> [[List of political parties in Japan|political party in Japan]] from 1998 to 2016.

The party's origins lie in the previous [[Democratic Party of Japan (1996)|Democratic Party of Japan]], which was founded in September 1996 by politicians of the [[centre-right politics|centre-right]] and [[centre-left politics|centre-left]] with roots in the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] and [[Japan Socialist Party]].<ref name="Uchiyama2010">{{cite book|author=Yu Uchiyama|chapter=Leadership Strategies: Redrawing boundaries among and within parties in Japan|editor=Glenn D. Hook|title=Decoding Boundaries in Contemporary Japan: The Koizumi Administration and Beyond|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y_esAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA125|year=2010|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-84099-9|page=125}}</ref> In April 1998, the previous DPJ merged with splinters of the [[New Frontier Party (Japan)|New Frontier Party]] to create a new party which retained the DPJ name.<ref name="Curtis1999">{{cite book|author=Gerald L. Curtis|title=The Logic of Japanese Politics: Leaders, Institutions, and the Limits of Change|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NHS5Eew3ce0C&pg=PA193|year=1999|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-50254-2|pages=193–194}}</ref> In 2003, the party was joined by the [[Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)|Liberal Party]] of [[Ichirō Ozawa]].<ref name="Schreurs2014"/>

Following the [[2009 Japanese general election|2009 election]], the DPJ became the ruling party in the House of Representatives, defeating the long-dominant [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) and gaining the largest number of seats in both the [[House of Representatives of Japan|House of Representatives]] and the [[House of Councillors]]. The DPJ was ousted from government by the LDP in the [[2012 Japanese general election|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 was beset by internal conflicts and struggled to implement many of its proposed policies, an outcome described by political scientists Phillip Lipscy and Ethan Scheiner as the "paradox of political change without policy change".<ref>Phillip Y. Lipscy and Ethan Scheiner. 2012. "[http://www.stanford.edu/~plipscy/JEASIntroduction.pdf Japan under the DPJ: The Paradox of Political Change without Policy Change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222135931/http://www.stanford.edu/~plipscy/JEASIntroduction.pdf |date=2014-02-22 }}". ''Journal of East Asian Studies'' 12(3): 311–322.</ref> Legislative productivity under the DPJ was particularly low, falling to levels unprecedented in recent Japanese history according to some measures.<ref name="rise and fall">Kenji E. Kushida and Phillip Y. Lipscy. 2013. "[http://www.stanford.edu/~plipscy/kushidalipscydpjintro.pdf The Rise and Fall of the Democratic Party of Japan]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". in Kenji E. Kushida and Phillip Y. Lipscy eds. ''Japan Under the DPJ: The Politics of Transition and Governance''. Stanford: Brookings/Walter H. Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center.</ref> However, the DPJ implemented a number of progressive measures during its time in office such as the provision of free public schooling through high school, increases in child-rearing subsidies,<ref>Japan in Transformation, 1945–2010 (2nd edition) by Jeff Kingston</ref> expanded unemployment insurance coverage,<ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Handbook on East Asian Social Policy|author=Izuhara, M.|date=2013|publisher=Edward Elgar Publishing, Incorporated|isbn=9780857930293|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ufQBAQAAQBAJ|page=446|access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref> extended duration of a housing allowance,<ref name="google2">{{cite book|title=Welfare through Work: Conservative Ideas, Partisan Dynamics, and Social Protection in Japan|author=Miura, M.|date=2012|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=9780801465482|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JeENGnEw3fQC|page=153|access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref> and stricter regulations safeguarding part-time and temporary workers.<ref name="google3">{{cite book|title=Analysing Social Policy Concepts and Language: Comparative and Transnational Perspectives|author1=Béland, D.|author2=Peterson, K.|date=2014|publisher=Policy Press|isbn=9781447306443|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fGFyAwAAQBAJ|page=207|access-date=12 December 2014}}</ref>

On 27 March 2016, the DPJ merged with the [[Japan Innovation Party (2014–2016)|Japan Innovation Party]] and [[Vision of Reform]] to form the [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party]] (''Minshintō''), which in turn merged with the [[Kibō no Tō|Party of Hope]] to form the [[Democratic Party for the People]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/New-opposition-party-launched-with-merger-of-DPJ-smaller-party |title=New opposition party launched with merger of DPJ, smaller party- Nikkei Asian Review |access-date=2016-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327210310/http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/New-opposition-party-launched-with-merger-of-DPJ-smaller-party |archive-date=2016-03-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

It is not to be confused with the now-defunct [[Japan Democratic Party (1954)|Japan Democratic Party]] that merged with the [[Liberal Party (Japan, 1945)|Liberal Party]] in 1955 to form the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]]. It is also different from another [[Democratic Party (Japan, 1947)|Democratic Party]], which was established in 1947 and dissolved in 1950.

==History==
{{See also|Democratic Party of Japan (1996)|l1=the previous Democratic Party of Japan (1996–1998)}}

===Beginnings===
[[File:Democratic Party of Japan headquarters.jpg|thumb|upright|Headquarters of the Democratic Party of Japan]]
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) was formed on 27 April 1998.<ref name=factbox>[https://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE57J0QG20090820 FACTBOX: Key facts about parties competing in Japan election], Reuters, 20 August 2009</ref> It was a merger of four previously independent parties that were opposed to the ruling [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP)—the previous [[Democratic Party of Japan (1996)|Democratic Party of Japan]], the [[Good Governance Party]] (民政党, ''Minseitō''), the [[New Fraternity Party]] (新党友愛, ''Shintō-Yūai''), and the [[Liberalism in Japan|Democratic Reform Party]] (民主改革連合, ''Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengō''). The previous parties ranged in ideology from [[Conservatism|conservative]] to [[social democracy|social-democratic]].<ref name="Uchiyama2010"/> The new party began with ninety-three members of the [[House of Representatives of Japan|House of Representatives]] and thirty-eight members of the [[House of Councilors]]. Moreover, the party officials were elected as well at the party convention for the first time; [[Naoto Kan]], former [[Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)|Health and Welfare Minister]] was appointed as the president of the party and [[Tsutomu Hata]], former [[Prime Minister of Japan|prime minister]] as secretary-general.

On 24 September 2003 the party formally merged with the small, centre-right [[Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)|Liberal Party]] led by [[Ichirō Ozawa]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/about_us/dpj_profile.html |title=The Democratic Party of Japan |access-date=2008-09-06|year=2006|publisher=Democratic Party of Japan}}</ref> in a move largely considered in preparation for the [[2003 Japan general election|2003 general election]] held on 9 November 2003. This move immediately gave the DPJ eight more seats in the House of Councilors.

In the [[2003 Japanese general election|2003 general election]], the DPJ gained a total of 178 seats. This was short of their objectives, but nevertheless a significant demonstration of the new group's strength. Following a [[pension]] scandal, Naoto Kan resigned and was replaced with moderate liberal [[Katsuya Okada]].

In the 2004 House of Councilors elections, the DPJ won a seat more than the ruling Liberal Democrats, but the LDP still maintained its firm majority in total votes. This was the first time since its inception that the LDP had garnered fewer votes than another party.

The 2005 snap parliamentary elections called by [[Junichiro Koizumi]] in response to the rejection of his [[Postal privatization bills]] saw a major setback to the DPJ's plans of obtaining a majority in the Diet. The DPJ leadership, particularly Okada, had staked their reputation on winning the election and driving the LDP from power. When the final results were in, the DPJ had lost 62 seats, mostly to its rival the LDP. Okada resigned the party leadership, fulfilling his campaign promise to do so if the DPJ did not obtain a majority in the Diet. He was replaced by [[Seiji Maehara]] in September 2005.

However, Maehara's term as party leader lasted barely half a year. Although he initially led the party's criticism of the Koizumi administration, particularly in regards to connections between LDP lawmakers and scandal-ridden [[Livedoor]], the revelation that a fake email was used to try and establish this link greatly damaged his credibility. The scandal led to the resignation of Representative [[Hisayasu Nagata]] and of Maehara as party leader on 31 March.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4863480.stm Japan opposition leader resigns], BBC NEWS, 31 March 2006</ref> New elections for party leader were held on 7 April, in which [[Ichirō Ozawa]] was elected president.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4886386.stm Japanese opposition picks leader], BBC NEWS, 7 April 2006</ref> In the [[2007 Japanese House of Councillors election|Upper House election 2007]], the DPJ won 60 out of 121 contested seats, with 49 seats not up for re-election.

===2009–2012 government===
[[File:DPJ 2009830.png|thumb|200px|DPJ winning the [[2009 Japanese general election|2009 general election]]]]
Ozawa resigned as party leader in May 2009 after a fundraising scandal and [[Yukio Hatoyama]] succeeded Ozawa before the [[2009 Japanese general election|August 2009 general election]],<ref name=factbox /> at which the party swept the LDP from power in a massive landslide, winning 308 seats (out of a total of 480 seats), reducing the LDP from 300 to 119 seats<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8229368.stm |title='Major win' for Japan opposition |work=BBC News |date= 2009-08-30|access-date=2009-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=pol_date1&k=2009083101337 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220083756/http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=pol_date1&k=2009083101337 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-20 |title=衆院党派別得票数・率（比例代表） |publisher=(in Japanese) Jiji |date=2009-08-31 }}</ref> – the worst defeat for a sitting government in modern Japanese history.  This was in marked contrast to the closely contested [[1993 Japanese general election|1993 general election]], the only other time the LDP has lost an election. The DPJ's strong majority in the House of Representatives assured that Hatoyama would be the next [[Prime Minister of Japan|prime minister]] to replace [[Tarō Asō]], leader of the LDP. Hatoyama was nominated on September 16 and formally appointed later that day by [[Akihito|Emperor Akihito]] in the [[Tokyo Imperial Palace]] and formed [[Hatoyama Cabinet|his Cabinet]].

However, the DPJ did not have a majority in the House of Councillors, which was not contested at the election, and fell just short of the 320 seats (a two-thirds majority) needed to override the upper chamber's veto power. Hatoyama was thus forced to form a coalition government with the [[Social Democratic Party (Japan)|Social Democratic Party]] and the [[People's New Party]] to ensure their support in the House of Councillors.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20090822p2a00m0na013000c.html |title=Hatoyama says DPJ will form coalition even if party performs well in election |date=2009-08-22 |publisher=Mainichi }}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On 2 June 2010, Hatoyama announced his resignation before a party meeting and officially resigned two days later. He cited breaking a campaign promise to close [[Marine Corps Air Station Futenma|an American military base]] on the island of [[Okinawa Prefecture]] as the main reason for the move. On 28 May 2010, soon after and because of increased tensions after [[ROKS Cheonan sinking|the possible sinking of a Korean ship by North Korea]],<ref>{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127076797 |title=Japan's Leader Concedes To U.S. On Okinawa Base |publisher=NPR |date=2010-05-23 |access-date=2010-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525114037/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127076797 |archive-date=2010-05-25}}</ref> Hatoyama had made a deal with [[U.S. President]] [[Barack Obama]]<ref name="WSJ resignation">{{cite news|last=Hayashi |first=Yuka |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704875604575281292285208862?mod=googlenews_wsj |title=Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Resigns; Search for New Leader Begins |publisher=Wall Street Journal |date= 2 June 2010|access-date=2010-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MCAS Futenma to remain on Okinawa|url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/05/ap_marine_futenma_accord_052710/|publisher=Marine Corps Times|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322203458/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2010/05/ap_marine_futenma_accord_052710/|archive-date=2012-03-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64O5XW20100525 |title=Hatoyama, Obama to talk on Futenma Air Base: report |publisher=Reuters |date= 25 May 2010|access-date=2010-06-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=The Yomiuri Shimbun |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20100531TDY03T01.htm |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20100605134728/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20100531TDY03T01.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-06-05 |title='Obama nod' prompted Fukushima dismissal : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri) |publisher=Yomiuri.co.jp |access-date=2010-06-02 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100527-717938.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAsia |title=Obama, Hatoyama Satisfied With US Airbase Relocation - White House - WSJ.com |publisher=Online.wsj.com |date=2010-05-27 |access-date=2010-06-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100601215552/http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100527-717938.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAsia |archive-date=June 1, 2010 }}</ref> to retain the base for security reasons, but the deal was unpopular in Japan. He also mentioned money scandals involving a top party leader, Ozawa, who resigned as well, in his decision to step down.<ref name="WSJ resignation"/> Hatoyama had been pressured to leave by members of his party after doing poorly in polls in anticipation of the July upper house election.<ref>{{cite news|author=Linda Sieg and Yoko Nishikawa |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65103C20100602 |title=Japan PM quits before election, yen sinks |publisher=Reuters |date= 2 June 2010|access-date=2010-06-02}}</ref> [[Naoto Kan]] succeeded Hatoyama as the next President of DPJ and Prime Minister of Japan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/japan-politics-premier/japan-democrats-pick-heavyweight-kan-as-next-pm-idUSTKZ00644920100604|title=Japan Democrats pick heavyweight Kan as next PM|date=4 June 2010|access-date=18 March 2018|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref>

At the [[2010 Japanese House of Councillors election|July 2010 House of Councillors election]], the DPJ lost ten seats and their coalition majority. Prior to the election Kan raised the issue of an increase to Japan's 5 per cent consumption tax in order to address the country's rising debt. This proposal, together with Ozawa and Hatoyama's scandals, was viewed as one of the causes for the party's poor performance in the election. The divided house meant the government required the cooperation of smaller parties including [[Your Party (Japan)|Your Party]] and the [[Japanese Communist Party|Communist Party]] to ensure the passage of legislation through the upper house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-07-10/japan-votes-to-decide-whether-kan-s-dpj-maintains-control-of-upper-house |title=Kan Election Loss May Impede Effort to Cut Japan Debt |publisher=Bloomberg |last1=Sakamaki |first1=Sachiko |last2=Hirokawa |first2=Takashi |date=12 July 2010 |access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref>

Ozawa [[September 2010 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|challenged Kan's leadership of the DPJ in September 2010]]. Although Ozawa initially had a slight edge among DPJ members of parliament, local rank-and-file party members and activists overwhelmingly supported Kan, and according to opinion polls the wider Japanese public preferred Kan to Ozawa by as much as a 4–1 ratio.<ref name="Reuters1">{{cite news|url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51301920100906|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200404/http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51301920100906|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=Japan public backs PM Kan vs Ozawa by wide margin – poll|publisher=Reuters|date=6 September 2010|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref> In the final vote by DPJ lawmakers Kan won with 206 votes to Ozawa's 200.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100915a1.html|title=Kan cruises to victory in DPJ election|publisher=The Japan Times|date=15 September 2010|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref>

After the leadership challenge, Kan reshuffled his cabinet and removed many prominent members of the pro-Ozawa faction from important posts in the new cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100917x3.html|title=Prime minister makes bold move in shutting out Ozawa's influence|publisher=The Japan Times|date=17 September 2010|access-date=7 June 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623143844/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100917x3.html|archive-date=23 June 2011}}</ref> The cabinet reshuffle also resulted in the promotion of long-time Kan ally [[Yoshito Sengoku]] to Chief Cabinet Secretary, who the LDP labeled as the "second" Prime Minister of the Kan cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101023f1.html|title=Sengoku's growing influence causes a stir|publisher=The Japan Times|date=23 October 2010|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref>

In September 2010, the government intervened to weaken the surging yen by buying [[United States dollar|U.S. dollars]], a move which temporarily relieved Japan's exporters.<ref name="yenintervention1">{{cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0915/Naoto-Kan-government-intervenes-in-currency-market-to-weaken-yen|title=Naoto Kan government intervenes in currency market to weaken yen|publisher=The Christian Science Monitor|date=15 September 2010|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref> The move proved popular with stock brokers, Japanese exporters, and the Japanese public.<ref name="yenintervention1"/> It was the first such move by a Japanese government since 2004.<ref name="yenintervention1"/> Later, in October, after the yen had offset the intervention and had reached a 15-year high, the Kan cabinet approved a stimulus package worth about 5.1 trillion yen ($62 billion) in order to weaken the yen and fight deflation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-25/cabinet-approves-63-billion-stimulus-plan-to-fight-deflation-rising-yen.html|title=Cabinet Approves $63 Billion Stimulus Plan to Fight Deflation, Rising Yen|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=25 October 2010|access-date=7 June 2016|first=Toru|last=Fujioka}}</ref>

===2012–2016 return to opposition and dissolution===
On 24 February 2016, the DPJ announced an agreement to merge with the smaller [[Japan Innovation Party]] (JIP) and [[Vision of Reform]] ahead of the [[2016 Japanese House of Councillors election|Upper House elections]] in the summer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/24/national/politics-diplomacy/dpj-endorses-merger-ishin-no-new-party-form-next-month/|title=DPJ endorses merger with Ishin no To; new party to form next month|first1=Tomohiro|last1=Osaki|first2=Reiji|last2=Yoshida|date=24 February 2016|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201602240068 |title=DPJ, Japan Innovation Party to merge ahead of Upper House election |work=Asahi Shimbun |access-date=2016-03-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315082356/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/politics/AJ201602240068 |archive-date=2016-03-15 }}</ref> with a merger at a special convention agreed for 27 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/29/national/politics-diplomacy/dpj-ishin-merge-march-27-special-convention/|title=DPJ, Ishin to merge March 27 at special convention|date=29 February 2016|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref> On 4 March 2016, the DPJ and JIP asked supporters for suggestions for a name for the new party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/04/national/politics-diplomacy/dpj-ishin-no-invite-entries-new-party-name/|title=DPJ, Ishin no To invite entries for new party name|first=Reiji|last=Yoshida|date=4 March 2016|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref> On 14 March 2016 the name of the new party was announced as ''Minshintō'', having been the most popular choice of possible names polled among voters.<ref>NHK World News. (March 14, 2016). ''DPJ, JIP decide on new party name: Minshinto''.  {{cite web |url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160314_26/ |title=DPJ, JIP decide on new party name: Minshinto – News – NHK WORLD – English |access-date=2016-03-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314231312/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20160314_26/ |archive-date=2016-03-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/03/14/national/politics-diplomacy/introducing-minshin-to-japans-new-main-opposition-force/|title=Introducing Minshin To, Japan's new main opposition force|first=Reiji|last=Yoshida|date=14 March 2016|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Japan Times Online}}</ref> With the addition of Representatives form [[Vision of Reform]], the DPJ and JIP merged to form the [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party]] on 27 March 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002836914 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-03-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328032107/http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002836914 |archive-date=2016-03-28 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002837790|title = The Japan News}}</ref>

The dissolution of the DPJ is mainly attributed to the fact that the reforms that the DPJ advocated for were hard to put into place because of electoral restrictions, economic restrictions, and the fact that the reforms that would reduce the power of the bureaucracy would help deprive the DPJ of the power to implement their other reforms. Other factors that affected the dissolution of the party were the internal conflicts that paralyzed the DPJ and the fact that the DPJ aligned itself with the foreign policy of the LDP.<ref name="rise and fall"/>

==Ideology==
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) called their philosophy {{nihongo|'{{ill|Democratic Centrism|ja|民主中道}}'|民主中道|minshu-chūdō}}, which was determined in the first party convention on 27 April 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E6%B0%91%E4%B8%BB%E5%85%9A%5B%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%5D-140077 |script-title=ja:民主党(日本)(みんしゅとう(にほん))とは |access-date=February 8, 2020 |website=kotobank.jp |language=ja }} (from Japanese ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' )</ref><ref name="philosophy-ja">[http://www.dpj.or.jp/policy/rinen_seisaku/index.html Out Basic Philosophy – Building a free and secure society] on The Democratic Party of Japan's website accessed on May 12, 2010. {{in lang|ja}}</ref> DPJ is generally classified as a [[Centrism|centrist]] party, but it is also classified as a [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]] in the context of Japanese politics in contrast to the LDP.<ref name="Inoguchi2012"/><ref name="Schreurs2014"/>

The DPJ aimed to create a platform broad enough to encompass the views of politicians who had roots in either the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] or [[Japan Socialist Party]].<ref name="Curtis1999"/> Party leader [[Naoto Kan]] compared the DPJ to the [[The Olive Tree (Italy)|Olive Tree]] alliance of former Italian Prime Minister [[Romano Prodi]], and described his view that it needed to be "the party of [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher]] and [[Tony Blair|Blair]]".<ref name="Curtis1999"/> The DPJ had both [[Conservatism|conservative]] and [[Social democracy|social-democratic]] elements.<ref name="Yazawa">{{cite web |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/crisis-of-democracy-in-japan/ |title=The crisis of democracy in Japan |last=Yazawa |first=Shujiro |author-link=:ja:矢澤修次郎 |date=July 16, 2015 |website=openDemocracy |access-date=November 8, 2020 |quote=The party was composed of politicians whose political and ideological backgrounds were so diverse, ranging from conservatives to social democrats, that it was difficult to get a consensus even on basic policies. }}</ref> Because of this position, the DPJ has often been designated as a [[big tent]] party.<ref name="IPS">{{cite news |last=Spremberg |first=Felix |title=How Japan's Left is repeating its unfortunate history |url=https://www.ips-journal.eu/topics/democracy/how-japans-left-is-repeating-its-unfortunate-history-4819/ |access-date=19 November 2021 |work=International Politics & Society Journal |date=25 November 2020|quote=The former main centre-left opposition, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), was Japan’s version of third way politics and served since the mid-1990s as a ‘big tent party’ for a plethora of heterogeneous groups ranging from two socialist parties to liberal and conservative groups.}}</ref>

===View of the status quo===
The DPJ claimed themselves to be revolutionary in that they are against the [[status quo]] and the current governing establishment. The DPJ argued that the bureaucracy and the size of the Japanese government is too large, inefficient, and saturated with cronies and that the Japanese state is too conservative and inflexible. The DPJ wanted 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."<ref name="philosophy">[http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/about_us/philosophy.html Out Basic Philosophy – Building a free and secure society] on The Democratic Party of Japan's website accessed on 17 May 2008.</ref>

===Political standpoint===
{{cquote|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]], [[taxpayer]]s, 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.<ref name="philosophy"/>}}

===Goals===
Democratic Centrism pursued the following five goals.<ref name="philosophy"/>
* Transparent, just and fair society
:: The Democratic Party sought to build a society governed with rules which are [[Transparency (social)|transparent]], [[wikt:just|just]] and [[fair]].
* Free market and inclusive society
:: While the party argued 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 intended to devolve the centralized government powers to citizens, [[market (economics)|market]]s, and local governments so that people of all backgrounds can participate in decision-making.
* Compliance with the three [[Constitution of Japan|constitutional]] principles
:: The Democratic Party proclaimed 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]].<ref name="philosophy" />
* International relations based on self-reliance and mutual coexistence
:: As a member of the global community, the party sought to establish Japan's [[international relations]] in the ''fraternal spirit'' of [[Individualism|self-reliance]] and mutual coexistence to restore the world's trust in the country.<ref name="philosophy" />

===Policy platforms===
The DPJ's policy platforms included the restructuring of civil service, monthly allowance to a family with children (¥26,000 per child), cut in gas tax, [[Nōgyōsha kobetsu shotoku hoshō seido|income support for farmers]], free tuition for public high schools, banning of [[temporary work]] in manufacturing,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/6098808/Japan-election-unemployed-turn-on-the-government.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/6098808/Japan-election-unemployed-turn-on-the-government.html |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Japan election: unemployed turn on the government |date=2009-08-27 |publisher=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Julian | last=Ryall | access-date=1 May 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> raising the minimum-wage to ¥1,000 and halting of increase in sales tax for the next four years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/business/global/04yen.html |title=Opposition Woos Japan's Voters With Costly Vows |work=New York Times |date=2009-08-03 |author=Hiroko Tabuchi |author-link=Hiroko Tabuchi}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE57L08020090822 |title=Japan opposition may score landslide win: media |date=2009-08-21 |publisher=Reuters | first=Chisa | last=Fujioka}}</ref>

The DPJ's stance on nuclear power was that steady steps should be taken towards nuclear power, but not too quickly as to possibly endanger safety.<ref name="ZölzerMeskens2017">{{cite book|last1=Zölzer|first1=Friedo|last2=Meskens|first2=Gaston|title=Ethics of Environmental Health|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dw69DgAAQBAJ&pg=PT140|date=21 April 2017|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-28686-8|page=140}}</ref>

==Structure==
{{update|date=December 2014}}
* Supreme Advisers – [[Yoshihiko Noda]], [[Hirotaka Akamatsu]], [[Takahiro Yokomichi]], [[Satsuki Eda]]
* President – [[Katsuya Okada]]
* Acting President – [[Akira Nagatsuma]], [[Renhō]]
* Vice Presidents:
** [[Toshimi Kitazawa]]
** [[Naoki Tanaka (politician)|Naoki Tanaka]]
** [[Kazuhiro Haraguchi]]
** [[Mieko Kamimoto]]
* Secretary General – [[Yukio Edano]]
* Acting Secretary General – [[Masaharu Nakagawa (House of Representatives)|Masaharu Nakagawa]]
* Chair, Policy Research Committee – [[Goshi Hosono]]
* Acting Chair, Policy Research Committee – [[Takeaki Matsumoto]]
* Chair, Diet Affairs Committee – [[Yoshiaki Takaki]]
* Acting Chair, Diet Affairs Committee – [[Jin Matsubara]]
* Chair, DPJ Caucus, House of Councillors – [[Akira Gunji]]
* Secretary General, DPJ Caucus, House of Councillors – [[Yuichiro Hata]]
* Chair, Diet Affairs Committee, DPJ Caucus, House of Councillors – [[Kazuya Shimba]]
* Chair, Standing Officers Council – [[Takeshi Maeda (politician)|Takeshi Maeda]]
* Chair, Gender Equality Promotion Headquarters – [[Mieko Kamimoto]]
* Chair, Election Campaign Committee – [[Kōichirō Genba]]
* Chair, Administration Committee – [[Shunichi Mizuoka]]
* Chair, Financial Committee – [[Toshio Ogawa]]
* Chair, Organisation Committee – [[Koichi Takemasa]]
* Chair, Public Relations Committee – [[Kumiko Hayashi]]
* Chair, Corporate & External Organisations Committee – [[Minoru Yanagida]]
* Chair, National Rallying and Canvassing Committee – [[Takahiro Kuroiwa]]
* Chair, Women Committee – [[Makiko Kikuta]]
* Chair, Youth Committee – [[Takahiro Kuroiwa]]
* Chair, General Meeting of DPJ Diet Members – [[Masayuki Naoshima]]

==Factions==
The DPJ had some political factions or groups, although they were not as factionalized as the LDP, which has traditionally placed high priority on intra-party factional alignment. The groups were, the most influential to the least influential:
* ''Ryōun-kai'' (lit. 'Transcendent Association'): the second most [[Conservatism|conservative]] faction. Most of its members were from the [[New Party Sakigake]]. Ryoun-kai had about 40 seats in the assembly and was led by [[Seiji Maehara]] and [[Yoshihiko Noda]].<ref name=habatsu>[http://www.asahi.com/politics/update/0515/TKY200905150304.html 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</ref>
* ''Seiken kōyaku wo Jitsugen suru kai'' (lit. 'Association for the Realization of Political Promises'): formed by defectors from LDP and led by former party leader [[Yukio Hatoyama]], had about 30 conservative lawmakers in the Diet. Former name was 'Seiken kotai wo Jitsugen suru kai'.<ref name=habatsu />
* ''Minsha Kyōkai'' [[:ja:民社協会]] ([[Literal translation|lit.]] 'Democratic Socialist Group'): members of the former centrist [[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)|Democratic Socialist Party]] which merged with the DPJ early on. About 25 members, was led by [[Tatsuo Kawabata]].<ref name=habatsu />
* ''Kuni no katachi kenkyūkai'' [[:ja:国の形研究会]] (lit. 'Country Form Research Society'): led by Party President [[Naoto Kan]]. Was a liberal leaning faction with about 20 members.<ref name=habatsu />
* ''Shin seikyoku kondankai'' (lit. 'Panel for a New Political Situation'): the most left-leaning faction, created by members of the former [[Japan Socialist Party]] who felt that the [[Social Democratic Party (Japan)|Social Democratic Party]] was too radical. About 20 seats, led by [[Takahiro Yokomichi]].<ref name=habatsu />

The [[Independent's Club]] was a minor political party which formed a political entity with the DPJ in both chambers of the house.

==Presidents of the Democratic Party of Japan==
The Presidents of Democratic Party of Japan ([[:ja:国民民主党代表|民主党代表]], ''Minshutō Daihyō''), the formal name is {{nihongo|民主党常任幹事会代表|Minshutō Jyōnin-Kanji-Kai Daihyō}}.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! No.
! colspan="2" | President<br /><small>(birth–death)</small>
! Constituency
! Took office
! Left office
! Election results
! colspan="2"|[[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] {{small|(term)}}
|-
|bgcolor="lightblue" colspan="9"|'''Preceding parties: [[Democratic Party (Japan, 1996)|Democratic Party (1996)]], [[New Fraternity Party]], [[Good Governance Party]], & Democratic Reform Party'''
|-
|rowspan="2"|1
|rowspan="2"|[[Naoto Kan]]<br><small>(b. 1946)</small>
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Naoto Kan 20071221.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="2"|Rep for [[Tokyo 18th district|Tokyo 18th]]
|rowspan="2"|27 April 1998
|rowspan="2"|25 September 1999
|rowspan="2" align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|1998|Unopposed}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Jan. 1999|Naoto Kan – 180<br />[[Shigefumi Matsuzawa]] – 51<br />Abstention – 8}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Ryutaro Hashimoto|Hashimoto]] <small>{{nowrap|1996–98}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! style="font-weight:normal" rowspan="2"|[[Keizō Obuchi|Obuchi]] <small>{{nowrap|1998–2000}}</small>
|-
|rowspan="3"|2
|rowspan="3"|[[Yukio Hatoyama]]<br><small>(b. 1947)</small>
|rowspan="3"|[[File:Yukio Hatoyama 20090916.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="3"|Rep for [[Hokkaido 9th district|Hokkaido 9th]]
|rowspan="3"|25 September 1999
|rowspan="3"|10 December 2002
|rowspan="3" align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|{{nowrap|Sep. 1999 1st Round}}|Yukio Hatoyama – 154<br />Naoto Kan – 109<br />[[Takahiro Yokomichi]] – 57}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|{{nowrap|Sep. 1999 2nd Round}}|Yukio Hatoyama – 182<br />Naoto Kan – 130}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|2000|Unopposed walkover}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|{{nowrap|Sep. 2002 1st Round}}|Yukio Hatoyama – 294<br />Naoto Kan – 221<br />Yoshihiko Noda – 182<br />Takahiro Yokomichi – 119}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|{{nowrap|Sep. 2002 2nd Round}}|Yukio Hatoyama – 254<br />Naoto Kan – 242}}}}
| height=20 style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Yoshirō Mori|Mori]] <small>{{nowrap|2000–01}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! style="font-weight:normal" rowspan="5"|[[Junichiro Koizumi|Koizumi]] <small>{{nowrap|2001–06}}</small>
|-
|3
|[[Naoto Kan]]<br><small>(b. 1946)</small>
|[[File:Naoto Kan 20071221.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Tokyo 18th district|Tokyo 18th]]
|10 December 2002
|18 May 2004
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Dec. 2002|Naoto Kan – 104<br />Katsuya Okada – 79}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
|4
|[[Katsuya Okada]]<br><small>(b. 1953)</small>
|[[File:Minister Okada.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Mie 3rd district|Mie 3rd]]
|18 May 2004
|17 September 2005
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|May. 2004|Unopposed}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Oct. 2004|Unopposed walkover}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
|5
|[[Seiji Maehara]]<br><small>(b. 1962)</small>
|[[File:Maehara Crop.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Kyoto 2nd district|Kyoto 2nd]]
|17 September 2005
|7 April 2006
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|2005|Seiji Maehara – 96<br />Naoto Kan – 94<br />Abstention – 3}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
|rowspan="4"|6
|rowspan="4"|[[Ichirō Ozawa]]<br><small>(b. 1942)</small>
|rowspan="4"|[[File:Ichiro Ozawa cropped 2 Yoshitaka Kimoto and Ichiro Ozawa 20010718 colorized (cropped).png|60px]]
|rowspan="4"|Rep for [[Iwate 4th district|Iwate 4th]]
|rowspan="4"|7 April 2006
|rowspan="4"|16 May 2009
|rowspan="4" align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Apr. 2006|Ichirō Ozawa – 119<br />Naoto Kan – 73}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Sep. 2006|Unopposed walkover}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|2008|Unopposed walkover}}}}
| height=20 style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Shinzo Abe|Abe S.]] <small>{{nowrap|2006–07}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Yasuo Fukuda|Fukuda Y.]] <small>{{nowrap|2007–08}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! style="font-weight:normal" rowspan="2"|[[Tarō Asō|Asō]] <small>{{nowrap|2008–09}}</small>
|-
|rowspan="2"|7
|rowspan="2"|[[Yukio Hatoyama]]<br><small>(b. 1947)</small><br>[[File:Emblem of the Prime Minister of Japan.svg|25px]]
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Yukio Hatoyama 20090916.jpg|60px]]
|rowspan="2"|Rep for [[Hokkaido 9th district|Hokkaido 9th]]
|rowspan="2"|16 May 2009
|rowspan="2"|4 June 2010
|rowspan="2" align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[2009 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|2009]]|Yukio Hatoyama – 124<br />Katsuya Okada – 95}}}}
| height=20 style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}" |
| ''Himself'' {{small|2009–10}}
|-
|8
|[[Naoto Kan]]<br><small>(b. 1946)</small><br>[[File:Emblem of the Prime Minister of Japan.svg|25px]]
|[[File:Naoto Kan 20071221.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Tokyo 18th district|Tokyo 18th]]
|4 June 2010
|29 August 2011
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[June 2010 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|Jun. 2010]]|Naoto Kan – 291<br />[[Shinji Tarutoko]] – 129}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[September 2010 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|Sep. 2010]]|Naoto Kan – 721<br />Ichirō Ozawa – 491}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}" |
| ''Himself'' {{small|2010–11}}
|-
|9
|[[Yoshihiko Noda]]<br><small>(b. 1957)</small><br>[[File:Emblem of the Prime Minister of Japan.svg|25px]]
|[[File:Yoshihiko Noda 20110902 (retouched).jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Chiba 4th district|Chiba 4th]]
|29 August 2011
|25 December 2012
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[2011 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|2011 1st Round]]|Banri Kaieda – 143<br />Yoshihiko Noda – 102<br />Seiji Maehara – 74<br />[[Michihiko Kano]] – 52<br />[[Sumio Mabuchi]] −24}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[2011 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|2011 2nd Round]]|Yoshihiko Noda – 215<br />Banri Kaieda – 177}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Sep. 2012|Yoshihiko Noda – 818<br />[[Hirotaka Akamatsu]] – 154<br />[[Kazuhiro Haraguchi]] – 123<br />[[Michihiko Kano]] – 113}}}}
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}" |
| ''Himself'' {{small|2011–12}}
|-
|10
|[[Banri Kaieda]]<br><small>(b. 1949)</small>
|[[File:Banri Kaieda cropped 2 Banri Kaieda 20110620 3.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Tokyo 1st district|Tokyo 1st]]
|25 December 2012
|14 December 2014
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|Dec. 2012|Banri Kaieda – 90 <br /> Sumio Mabuchi – 54}}}}
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal" rowspan="2"|[[Shinzo Abe|Abe S.]] <small>{{nowrap|2012–20}}</small>
|-
|11
|[[Katsuya Okada]]<br><small>(b. 1953)</small>
|[[File:Minister Okada.jpg|60px]]
|Rep for [[Mie 3rd district|Mie 3rd]]
|14 December 2014
|27 March 2016
|align=left|{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[2015 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|2015 1st Round]]|Goshi Hosono – 298<br />Katsuya Okada – 294<br / >Akira Nagatsuma – 168}}}}
{{smalldiv|{{hidden|[[2015 Democratic Party (Japan, 1998) leadership election|2015 2nd Round]]|Katsuya Okada – 133<br / >Goshi Hosono – 120}}}}
|-
|bgcolor="lightblue" colspan="9"|'''Successor party: [[Democratic Party (Japan, 2016)|Democratic Party (2016)]]'''
|}

==Election results==

===General election results===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | Leader
! rowspan=2 | No. of<br/>candidates
! colspan=3 | Seats
! rowspan=2 | Position
! colspan=2 | Constituency votes
! colspan=2 | PR Block votes
! rowspan=2 | Status
|-
! No.
! ±
! Share
! No.
! Share
! No.
! Share
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2000 Japanese general election|2000]]
| [[Yukio Hatoyama]]
| 262
| {{Composition bar|127|480|{{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| 26.4%
| 2nd
| 16,811,732
| 27.61%
| 15,067,990
| 25.18%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2003 Japanese general election|2003]]
| [[Naoto Kan]]
| 277
| {{Composition bar|177|480|{{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{increase}} 50
| 36.8%
| {{steady}} 2nd
| 21,814,154
| 36.66%
| 22,095,636
| 37.39%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2005 Japanese general election|2005]]
| [[Katsuya Okada]]
| 299
| {{Composition bar|113|480|{{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{decrease}} 64
| 23.5%
| {{steady}} 2nd
| 24,804,786
| 36.44%
| 21,036,425
| 31.02%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan=2| [[2009 Japanese general election|2009]]
| rowspan=2| [[Yukio Hatoyama]]
| rowspan=2| 330
| rowspan=2| {{Composition bar|308|480|{{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| rowspan=2| {{increase}} 195
| rowspan=2| 64.1%
| rowspan=2| {{increase}} 1st
| rowspan=2| 33,475,334
| rowspan=2| 47.43%
| rowspan=2| 29,844,799
| rowspan=2| 42.41%
| {{yes2|DPJ-[[People's New Party|PNP]]-[[Social Democratic Party (Japan)|SDP]] coalition<br />(until 2010)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
| {{yes2|DPJ-PNP coalition<br />(after 2010)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2012 Japanese general election|2012]]
| [[Yoshihiko Noda]]
| 267
| {{Composition bar|57|480|{{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{decrease}} 251
| 11.8%
| {{decrease}} 2nd
| 13,598,773
| 22.81%
| 9,628,653
| 16.00%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2014 Japanese general election|2014]]
| [[Banri Kaieda]]
| 198
| {{Composition bar|73|475|{{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{increase}} 16
| 15.3%
| {{steady}} 2nd
| 11,916,849
| 22.51%
| 9,775,991
| 18.33%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|}

===Councillors election results===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Election
! Leader
! # of seats total
! # of seats won
! # of National votes
! % of National vote
! # of Prefectural votes
! % of Prefectural vote
! Majority/Minority
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[1998 Japanese House of Councillors election|1998]]
| [[Naoto Kan]]
| {{Composition bar|47|252|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{Composition bar|27|126|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| 12,209,685
| 21.75%
| 9,063,939
| 16.20%
| {{no2|Minority}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2001 Japanese House of Councillors election|2001]]
| [[Yukio Hatoyama]]
| {{Composition bar|59|247|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{Composition bar|26|121|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| 8,990,524
| 16.42%
| 10,066,552
| 18.53%
| {{no2|Minority}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2004 Japanese House of Councillors election|2004]]
| [[Katsuya Okada]]
| {{Composition bar|82|242|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{Composition bar|50|121|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| 21,137,457
| 37.79%
| 21,931,984
| 39.09%
| {{no2|Minority}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| [[2007 Japanese House of Councillors election|2007]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Ichirō Ozawa]]
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|109|242|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|60|121|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| rowspan="2"| 23,256,247
| rowspan="2"| 39.48%
| rowspan="2"| 24,006,817
| rowspan="2"| 40.45%
| {{partial|Non-governing plurality (until 2009)}}
|-
| {{partial|DPJ–[[Social Democratic Party (Japan)|SDP]]–[[People's New Party|PNP]] governing minority (since 2009)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| [[2010 Japanese House of Councillors election|2010]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Naoto Kan]]
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|106|242|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|44|121|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| rowspan="2"| 18,450,139
| rowspan="2"| 31.56%
| rowspan="2"| 22,756,000
| rowspan="2"| 38.97%
| {{partial|DPJ–PNP governing minority (until 2012)}}
|-
| {{partial|Non-governing plurality (since 2012)}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[2013 Japanese House of Councillors election|2013]]
| [[Banri Kaieda]]
| {{Composition bar|59|242|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| {{Composition bar|17|121|hex={{party color|Democratic Party of Japan}}}}
| 7,268,653
| 13.4%
| 8,646,371
| 16.3%
| {{no2|Minority}}
|}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Democratic Party of Japan politicians]]
* [[Politics of Japan]]
** [[List of political parties in Japan]]
** [[Timeline of liberal parties in Japan]]
*** [[Democratic Socialist Party (Japan)]]
*** [[Social Democratic Party (Japan)]]
*** [[Good Governance Party]]
*** [[Democratic Party of Japan (1996)]]
*** [[Liberalism in Japan|Democratic Reform Party]]
*** [[New Fraternity Party]]
* [[Marutei Tsurunen]]: Japan's first deputy of European origin

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Kenji Kushida and Phillip Lipscy. 2013. [http://fsi.stanford.edu/publications/japan_under_the_dpj_the_politics_of_transition_and_governance/ ''Japan under the DPJ: The Politics of Transition and Governance'']. Stanford: Brookings/Walter H. Shorenstein Asia Pacific Research Center
* Phillip Lipscy and Ethan Scheiner. 2012. "[http://www.stanford.edu/~plipscy/JEASIntroduction.pdf Japan under the DPJ: The Paradox of Political Change without Policy Change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222135931/http://www.stanford.edu/~plipscy/JEASIntroduction.pdf |date=2014-02-22 }}" ''Journal of East Asian Studies'' 12(3): 311–322.
* [http://www.nbr.org/research/activity.aspx?id=168 Japan after Kan: Implications for the DPJ’s Political Future], Q&A with [[Richard J. Samuels]] (MIT) August 2011
* Daniel Sneider, [http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=504 The New Asianism: Japanese Foreign Policy under the Democratic Party of Japan] (''Asia Policy'', July 2011)
* Leif-Eric Easley, Tetsuo Kotani and Aki Mori, [http://www.nbr.org/publications/element.aspx?id=394 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==
{{Commons category|Democratic Party of Japan}}
* [http://www.dpj.or.jp/english/ Democratic Party of Japan]
* {{YouTube|user=dpjchannel}}

{{Democratic Party of Japan}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Party Of Japan}}
[[Category:1998 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Social liberal parties]]
[[Category:Liberal parties in Japan]]
[[Category:Centrist parties in Japan]]
[[Category:Centre-left parties in Asia]]
[[Category:Defunct liberal political parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1998]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in Japan]]