[10] 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.
Hosokawa became Prime Minister leading a broad coalition, but was soon forced to resign.
The party defended the political reformism,[11][12] rights of consumers[12] and supported decentralization.
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 and Yuriko Koike.