The need for a political steering wheel in the hands of elected politicians was highlighted in 1993, when two major political figures bolted from the LDP with their followers. By doing so, they catalyzed the reformist political movement that resulted in the DPJ, the first credible opposition party that – unlike the Socialists who engaged in mere ritualistic opposition – was prepared to win elections and actually govern rather than merely maintain the façade of government that had become the norm under the LDP.
而日本对一位可以执掌政治方向盘的民选官员的需求也在1993年逐渐凸现，当时两位重要政治人物都脱离自民党另立门户。他们通过此举催化了改革派政治运动，为日本民主党这个第一次出现的真实反对党——不像社会党那样只是装模作样地反对一下——铺平了赢得选举和实际执政的道路，而不是仅仅是维持一个徒有其表的政府——这在自民党统治下已经成为常态了。