Japan New Party
The Japan New Party was a Japanese political party that existed briefly from 1992 to 1994.
The party, considered liberal, was founded by Morihiro Hosokawa, a former Diet member and Kumamoto Prefecture governor, who left the Liberal Democratic Party to protest corruption scandals. In 1992, the party elected four members to the House of Councillors, including Hosokawa. Although this was a disappointing result for them, in 1993 they were able to capitalize on voter dissatisfaction with the LDP, electing a total of 35 members. Hosokawa became Prime Minister leading a broad coalition, but was soon forced to resign.
The party defended the political reformism, rights of consumers and supported decentralization.
By 1994, the Japan New Party dissolved, its members flowing into the New Frontier Party.
Several Diet members who've become prominent in other parties were first elected for the Japan New Party, including Yoshihiko Noda, Seiji Maehara, Yukio Edano, Toshimitsu Motegi, Yuriko Koike and Takashi Kawamura.