Dōshikai (1960–1962)

The Dōshikai (同志会), often translated as "Comrades Association" or "Like-minded Comrades Association," was a short-lived political party in Japan active from 1960 to 1962. It was formed through a merger of smaller conservative factions within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in an attempt to consolidate power and influence within the party.

The Dōshikai was largely associated with Eisaku Satō, a prominent LDP politician who would later become Prime Minister of Japan. The group aimed to support Satō's ambitions and promote his political agenda, which generally leaned towards a more cautious and pragmatic approach compared to some of the more nationalistic factions within the LDP.

However, the coalition proved unstable due to internal disagreements and shifting power dynamics within the LDP. The Dōshikai ultimately dissolved in 1962, with its members re-integrating into other factions or forming new alliances. While short-lived, the Dōshikai played a significant, albeit temporary, role in the factional politics of the LDP during a crucial period in post-war Japanese history, particularly in the lead-up to Satō's rise to power. Its formation and dissolution reflected the fluidity and complexity of factional alignments within the dominant Liberal Democratic Party.