This article gives an overview of liberalism in Japan. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, proved by having had representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary that parties labelled themselves `liberal`.
In reaction to traditional society a liberal current formed in the nineteenth century. In the twentieth century 'liberal' became gradually a synonym for conservative and the main conservative party is named Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu Minshuto). The Democratic Party (Minshuto) is a left of center liberal, social democratic party. The liberal character of the Liberal League (Jiyu Rengo) is disputed, it is also considered to be conservative party.
1874: Liberals founded the Public Society of Patriots (Aikoku Koto)1881: The Aikoku Koto is continued by the Liberal Party (Jiyu-to)1891: The Jiyuto is renamed into Constitutional Liberal Party (Rikken Jiyuto)1898: The Constitutional Liberal Party merged with the ⇒ Progressive Party into the Constitutional Politics Party (Kenseito)1898: A faction seceded as the ⇒ Constitutional Center Party1900: The party is taken over by the oligarchy and renamed into Constitutional Political Friends Association (Rikken Seiyukai)1882: The Constitutional Progressive Party (Rikken Kaishinto) is formed1896: The party is continued by the 'Progressive Party (Shinpoto)1898: The party merged into the Constitutional Politics Party (Kenseito)1898: This party fell apart and a faction of the Kenseito formed the Authentic Constitutional Party (Kensei Honto), renamed in 1910 into the Constitutional National Party (Rikken Kokuminto)1913: A faction seceded as the ⇒ Constitutional Association of Allies1922: The Constitutional National Party is renamed Reform Club (Kakushin Kurabu)1920s: The Reform Club merged into the Constitutional Association of Political Friendship1913: A faction of the ⇒ Constitutional National Party formed the Constitutional Association of Allies (Rikken Doshikai), renamed Constitutional Association (Kenseikai) in 19161927: The Constitutional Association merged with the ⇒ Authentic Constitutional Party of Political Friendship into the Constitutional Democratic Party (Rikken Minseito)1940: The party is dissolved by the regime1924: A faction of the Constitutional Association of Political Friendship formed the Authentic Constitutional Party of Political Friendship (Seiyu Honto)1927: The party merged into the ⇒ Constitutional Democratic Party1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the Renewal Party (Shinseito)1994: The Renewal Party merged with other factions into the New Frontier Party (Shinshinto)1997: The New Frontier Party fell apart into many parties, among them since 1998 the Liberal Party (Jiyuto), but also the Good Governance Party (Minseito), the New Fraternity Party (Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo)2000: Dissidents of the Liberal Party formed the New Conservative Party (Hoshuto)2003: The Liberal Party merged into the ⇒ Democratic Party of Japan1993: A liberal faction of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (Jiyu-Minshuto) seceded as the New Party Harbinger (Shinto Sakigake)1996: Most members co-found the ⇒ Democratic Party of Japan1998: The party evolved in conservative direction, renamed into Harbinger (Sakigake) and further renamed in 2002 into Green Assembly (Midori No Kaigi)1996: Dissidents from the New Party Harbinger and the Social Democratic Party founded the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto)1998: The party merged with the Good Governance Party (Minseito), the New Fraternity Party (Shinto-Yuai) and the Democratic Reform Party (Minshu-Kaikaku-Rengo) to form a new, enlarged Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto, 民主党)2003: The Liberal Party merged into the party2016: The Democratic Party of Japan merged with Japan Innovation Party and Vision of Reform to form the Democratic Party (Minshinto, 民進党)Itagaki Taisuke - Hamaguchi Osachi