▁the ▁L DP ▁and ▁several ▁opposition ▁parties ▁and ▁was ▁then ▁serving ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁in ▁the ▁L DP , ▁along ▁with ▁other ▁nine ▁young ▁and ▁“ progress ive ” ▁L DP ▁members ▁also ▁broke ▁away ▁from ▁the ▁L DP ▁to ▁start ▁the ▁New ▁Party ▁Har b inger ▁( Sh into ▁Sak ig ake ). ▁ ▁Additionally , ▁the ▁Japan ▁New ▁Party ▁( J NP , ▁N ih on ▁Sh into ), ▁the ▁oldest ▁of ▁the ▁new ▁parties , ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁May ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁by ▁Mor i hi ro ▁H os ok awa , ▁formerly ▁an ▁upper ▁house ▁member ▁from ▁the ▁Tan aka ▁fa ction ▁and ▁governor ▁( 1 9 8 3 – 9 1 ) ▁of ▁K um am oto ▁pre fect ure . ▁ ▁The ▁L DP ' s ▁previous ▁losses ▁of ▁parliament ary ▁majority ▁ ▁The ▁L DP ▁had ▁previously ▁lost ▁its ▁majority ▁in ▁the ▁Lower ▁House ▁three ▁times ▁since ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁( 1 9 7 6 , ▁ 1 9 7 9 , ▁and ▁ 1 9 8 3 ) ▁but ▁by ▁very ▁sl im ▁marg ins . ▁Additionally , ▁the ▁L DP ▁had ▁lost ▁its ▁majority ▁in ▁the ▁House ▁of ▁Coun c ill ors , ▁the ▁upper ▁house ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Diet , ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁the ▁tri enn ial ▁election ▁for ▁half ▁the ▁seats ▁( 3 6 ▁out ▁of ▁ 7 2 ) ▁on ▁July ▁ 2 3 , ▁ 1 9 8 9 ▁( larg ely