A major proponent of representative government is…

A major proponent of representative government is Itagaki Taisuke (1837-1919), a powerful leader of Tosa forces who had resigned from his Council of State position over the Korean affair in 1873.

Itagaki seeks peaceful rather than rebellious means to gain a voice in government.

He starts a school and a movement aimed at establishing a constitutional monarchy and a legislative assembly.

Itagaki and others write the Tosa Memorial in 1874, criticizing the unbridled power of the oligarchy and calling for the immediate establishment of representative government.

Dissatisfied with the pace of reform after having rejoined the Council of State in 1875, Itagaki organizes his followers and other democratic proponents into the nationwide Aikokusha (Society of Patriots) to push for representative government in 1878.

In 1881, in an action for which he is best known, Itagaki helps found the Jiyuto (Liberal Party), which favors French political doctrines.

In 1882 Okuma establishes the Rikken Kaishinto (Constitutional Progressive Party), which calls for a British-style constitutional democracy.

In response, government bureaucrats, local government officials, and other conservatives establish the Rikken Teiseito (Imperial Rule Party), a pro-government party, in 1882.

Numerous political demonstrations follow, some of them violent, resulting in further government restrictions.

The restrictions hinder the political parties and lead to divisiveness within and among them.

The Jiyiito, which had opposed the Kaishinto, is disbanded in 1884, and Okuma resigns as Kaishinto president.