RIKKEN SEIYUKAI

English Friends of Constitutional Government the dominant Japanese political party from its inception in 1900 until 1940, when all parties were absorbed into the government-controlled Taisei Yokusankai (Imperial Rule Assistance Association). The Rikken Seiyukai was founded by one of the leading government bureaucrats, Ito Hirobumi, in an attempt to secure his own power base. In some respects, the Rikken Seiyukai was a liberal force and stood for increased parliamentary participation in the Japanese government. The party was supported by the landlord class and zaibatsu business interests. In general the Rikken Seiyukai stood for a more conservative political program than its chief rival, the Minseito (Democratic Party). Both parties steadily lost influence to the military during the 1930s. After 1945, many former members of the Rikken Seiyukai helped organize the Liberal Party.