Democratic Party was a right-wing political party in Japan. It was founded in spring 1947 by merging the Progressive Party (Shinpo-tō) of Inukai Takeru

Inukai Takeru

was a Japanese politician and author active in Shōwa period Japan. He was the third son of Prime Minister of Japan Inukai Tsuyoshi.- Biography :Inukai was born in the Ushigome district of Tokyo, and graduated from Tokyo Imperial University with a degree in philosophy...

 with a faction of Liberal Party led by Hitoshi Ashida

Hitoshi Ashida

was a Japanese politician who served as the 47th Prime Minister of Japan from March 10 to October 15, 1948. He was a prominent figure in the immediate postwar political landscape, but was forced to resign his leadership responsibilities after a corruption scandal targeting two of his cabinet...

 and obtained 124 seats in 1947 elections. The party had held seven seats in Tetsu Katayama

Tetsu Katayama

was a Japanese politician and the 46th Prime Minister from May 24, 1947 to March 10, 1948.- Early life :He was born in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, and attended Tokyo Imperial University. Raised in the Christian faith, he was strongly influenced by the Christian Socialism of Abe Isō...

's government in 1947-1948. For some months in 1948, party's leader Ashida was Prime minister.

In March 1948, part of DP members led by Kijūrō Shidehara

Kijuro Shidehara

Baron was a prominent pre–World War II Japanese diplomat and the 44th Prime Minister of Japan from 9 October 1945 to 22 May 1946. He was a leading proponent of pacifism in Japan before and after World War II, and was also the last Japanese prime minister who was a member of the kazoku...

 joined the Liberal Party. In 1949 elections, the DP got 69 seats. The party was finally merged with People's Cooperative Party (Kokumin Kyodoto) to form People's Democratic Party (Kokumin Minshuto) in April 1950.