Founders of the Social Democratic Party: (L to R) Abe Iso'o, KAWAKAMI Kiyoshi, KOTOKU Shusui, KINOSHITA Naoe, KATAYAMA Sen, NISHIKAWA Kojiro From supplement volume of "Kotoku Shusui Zenshu"

On 18 May 1901 (Meiji 34), the Social Democratic Party was created, with ABE Iso'o, KATAYAMA Sen, NISHIKAWA Kojiro, KINOSHITA Naoe, et al., at its core. The Party advocated an eight-article "program of ideals," including the equality of humankind, total disarmament, and the public ownership of land and capital. It also had a twenty-eight article "program of action" advocating the abolition of the House of Peers, the establishment of universal suffrage, and the elimination of the Public Peace Police Law. The publication of their policies in newspapers, needless to say, shocked the Government.

This document is a copy of the notification of the Party's formation found among documents relating to socialists in Japan. In contrast to the popular perception that the Party was banned immediately on the same day that it had been founded, it shows that the order to abolish the Party did not actually go out until 20 May two days after its formation.