The Japanese now has a movement similar to the U.S. tea-party movement, but in their country, there is a real political party to vote for.

The party is called "Minna no Tō," which means "Everyone's Party" in English, although I have usually seen it referred to as "Your Party." The party is a new one—founded less than a year ago by politicians who left the Liberal Democratic Party.

The party stands for lower taxes, less regulation, aid to small businesses, and less government intervention.

In the election held this past Sunday, Your Party garnered ten seats in the upper house in parliament (still well below the main parties' numbers).

Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe stated after the vote that his group would not join the ruling coalition: "I think the prime minister should gracefully step down—a political gesture that would be in line with the results of the election."

"Forming a coalition is out of the question," Watanabe said. "Your Party is all about agenda, and we can't cooperate with a party with a different agenda. But we can coordinate in areas where our agendas are consistent."

Source: The Japan Times—http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20100713a2.html