Aikokusha

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

Society of Patriots
Leader	Itagaki Taisuke
Founded	February 1875
Dissolved	1875
Ideology	Liberalism Constitutionalism
Politics of Japan Political parties Elections

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.