Shimpotō

Shimpotō (Progressive Party) (進歩党, Shimpotō) was a short-lived political party in Meiji period Japan.

The Shimpotō was founded by Ōkuma Shigenobu in March 1896, as a merger of the Rikken Kaishintō and minor political parties to offset a temporary alliance between Ōkuma's rival, Itō Hirobumi and the Jiyuto.

In June 1898, the Shimpotō merged with the Jiyutō to form the Kenseitō.

References

• Sims, Richard (2001). Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868-2000. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-312-23915-7.