Former Former Japanese liberalism (自由主義 or リベラリズム)[note 1] formed in the nineteenth century as a reaction against traditional society.
This article is limited to liberal (リベラル) parties with substantial support, proved by having had representation in parliament.
Liberals in Japan are generally considered united by one major factor: their opposition to changing the post-World War II constitution forbidding the creation of a national military.
Japan's previous liberal party, the DPJ, was led by moderates of both the right-wing LDP and left-wing JSP.
[8] As the LDP becomes an increasingly solid conservative party, and the socialist movement that led the traditional anti-LDP camp has lost control in Japan's opposition political camp, gradually shifting from the centre-right "liberal" in the European and Australian sense of the past to the centre-left "liberal" in the American sense.