In the April 1946 Japanese elections, women had the right to vote for the first time. 39 women were elected to office.
After WWII, the Imperial Rule Assistance Association caucus broke up and three major political parties emerged:
Liberal Party – right-wing, founded in 1945 by former members of Seiyukai Party
Progressive Party – founded in 1945 by 273 members of parliament (89 former Rikken Minseitō members and 46 former Rikken Seiyūkai); many had been elected with the backing of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association in the 1942 elections
Socialist Party -organized in 1945 by three of the main non-communist, socialist groups from the prewar period
