Aikokusha

The Aikokusha (愛国社, "Society of Patriots") was a political party in Meiji-period Japan.

The Aikokusha was formed in February 1875 by Itagaki Taisuke, as part a liberal political federation to associate his Risshisha with the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. It was disbanded the same year, when Ōkubo Toshimichi promised Itagaki that the government would draft a constitution.

When no constitution had appeared by September 1878, Itagaki revived the Aikokusha and renamed it the League for the Establishment of a National Assembly. Its primary purpose was to petition the government to establish a national assembly. It was renamed Liberal Party, which Itagaki founded in October 1881.^[1]

The Aikokusha should not be confused with the Aikoku Kōtō, or with various later ultranationalist movements with similar names.

See also

• List of liberal parties
• Liberal democracy
• Liberalism in Japan

References

1. Introduction to Japanese Politics. M.E. Sharpe. 15 May 2009. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-7656-2742-1. Retrieved 8 May 2016.

Further reading

• Richard Sims (2001). Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868–2000. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0-312-23915-7.