Scene of Risshisha (Collection of Library of Kochi City). From "Risshisha: Sono Katsudo to Kenpo Soan" edited and published by Kochi Liberty and People's Rights Museum

The Risshisha (Self help Society) was a non-governmental political society founded in Tosa (Kochi prefecture) in 1874 (Meiji 7). In February 1877 (Meiji 10), with the outbreak of the Satsuma Rebellion, one of the Society's factions sympathized with the rebellion and plotted to raise troops. Meanwhile, the faction within the Society that was opposed to the armed uprising, including UEKI Emori, YOSHIDA Masaharu, and TAKEUCHI Tsuna, composed the Risshisha's Petition as a an appeal to the Emperor. It criticized the government, citing the Cabinet's despotism and the failures of the military and taxation systems, as well as the failure of its diplomacy. It called for a reduction in land taxes and the abolition of the draft system, and proposed the establishment of a popularly-elected legislature and a constitutional form of government.

The head of Risshisha, KATAOKA Kenkichi, acted as its general representative in submitting the Petition to the Kyoto Anzaisho (Emperor's Temporary Headquarters), but it was rejected a few days later on account of its "insolence". The memorandum attached to the document explains the reasons behind its rejection.