Rise of the Liberal Democratic Party and One-Party Dominance (1955–1993)

1. Japan Socialist Party reunifies, shaping two-bloc politics

   Oct 1, 1955Labels: Japan Socialist, Two-bloc politics

   • NDL Archives

2. Conservatives merge to form the LDP

   Nov 15, 1955Labels: Liberal Democratic, Conservative merger

   • Britannica
   • NDL Archives

3. LDP wins 1958 election, strengthening dominance

   May 22, 1958Labels: Liberal Democratic, 1958 election

   • Election Data
   • Britannica

4. Revised U.S.–Japan Security Treaty is signed

   Jan 19, 1960Labels: U S, United States

   • Treaty Summary

5. Security treaty takes effect after mass Anpo protests

   Jun 23, 1960Labels: Anpo protests, Security treaty

   • Treaty Summary

6. Ikeda launches Income Doubling Plan to refocus politics

   Sep 1, 1960Labels: Hayato Ikeda, Income Doubling

   • Plan Overview

7. Tokyo hosts 1964 Olympics, signaling postwar recovery

   Oct 10, 1964Labels: 1964 Olympics, Tokyo

   • Britannica
   • Olympics Data

8. Okinawa reverts to Japan under U.S.–Japan agreement

   May 15, 1972Labels: Okinawa reversion, Eisaku Sat

   • Ryukyu Reference
   • Britannica

9. Japan normalizes diplomatic relations with the PRC

   Sep 29, 1972Labels: Japan PRC, Diplomatic normalization

   • Communiqu
   • U S Historian

10. Tanaka Kakuei is arrested in the Lockheed scandal

    Jul 27, 1976Labels: Kakuei Tanaka, Lockheed scandal

    • New Yorker
    • Tanaka Bio

11. Recruit scandal erupts, widening anti-corruption pressure

    Jan 1, 1988Labels: Recruit scandal, Political fundraising

    • Scandal Summary

12. Japan launches a national consumption tax

    Apr 1, 1989Labels: Consumption tax, Fiscal policy

    • Deseret

13. Hosokawa forms Japan New Party, challenging one-party rule

    May 22, 1992Labels: Morihiro Hosokawa, Japan New

    • Britannica
    • Hosokawa Bio

14. LDP loses its majority in the 1993 election

    Jul 18, 1993Labels: 1993 election, LDP majority

    • IPU Data
    • Election Summary

15. Hosokawa becomes prime minister, ending LDP rule

    Aug 9, 1993Labels: Morihiro Hosokawa, Non-LDP government

    • PM Office
    • Britannica