Page "Politics of Japan" Paragraph 29

Political parties had begun to revive almost immediately after the occupation began.

Left-wing organizations, such as the Japan Socialist Party and the Japanese Communist Party, quickly reestablished themselves, as did various conservative parties.

The old Rikken Seiyūkai and Rikken Minseito came back as, respectively, the Liberal Party ( Nihon Jiyuto ) and the Japan Progressive Party ( Nihon Shimpoto ).

The first postwar elections were held in 1948 ( women were given the franchise for the first time in 1947 ), and the Liberal Party's vice president, Yoshida Shigeru ( 1878 – 1967 ), became prime minister.

For the 1947 elections, anti-Yoshida forces left the Liberal Party and joined forces with the Progressive Party to establish the new Democratic Party ( Minshuto ).

This divisiveness in conservative ranks gave a plurality to the Japan Socialist Party, which was allowed to form a cabinet, which lasted less than a year.

Thereafter, the socialist party steadily declined in its electoral successes.

After a short period of Democratic Party administration, Yoshida returned in late 1948 and continued to serve as prime minister until 1954.