Election of the chairman of the Japanese New Progressive Party

The election of the chairman of the Japanese New Progressive Party ( Japanese 新 進 党 党 首選 挙 , Shinshintō tōshu bekyo ) decided on the chairman ( tōshu ) of the largest opposition party in Japan from 1994 to 1997 , the New Progress Party (NFP).

It took place three times, each time with a different procedure: In the first election shortly before the party was founded in December 1994, only the members of the future party voted in the national parliament . In December 1995, nationwide primary elections were held among members and registered supporters (for a fee of 1,000 yen ). In the third election in December 1997 - a few days before the party's final dissolution - the members of the national parliament, NFP candidates for the next election to the national house of representatives and delegations from the NFP prefectural associations elected the party chairman.

Results

date	Eligible voters	Election winner	be right	More candidates	be right
0Dec 8, 1994	214 national MPs	Toshiki Kaifu ( Liberal Reform Association )	131	Tsutomu Hata ( Renewal Party ) Takashi Yonezawa ( Democratic Socialist Party )	52 31
Dec 28, 1995	490,000 party members 1.5 million registered followers	Ichirō Ozawa	1,120,012	Tsutomu Hata	566.998
Dec 18, 1997	174 national delegates 174 prefecture delegates 68 candidates for the national parliament	Ichirō Ozawa	230	Michihiko Kano	182

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Sam Jameson: Former Premier to Lead Japan's Newest Party. In: Los Angeles Times . December 9, 1994, accessed November 7, 2012 . 
2. ^ Hillary E. MacGregor: Veteran Kingmaker to Lead Japan's Opposition. Ichiro Ozawa defeats rival 2 to 1 in nationwide New Frontier Party primary. Victory makes him top contender for next prime minister. In: Los Angeles Times . December 28, 1995, accessed November 7, 2012 . 
3. ^ Ozawa wins re-election as Shinshinto president. In: The Japan Times . December 18, 1997, accessed November 7, 2012 .