Rikken Doshikai's Ceremony of inauguration, December 23, 1913 (Taisho 2) From "Kenseikaishi"

The documents shown here are the Declaration of the Rikken Doshikai (Association of Believers of Constitutional Government) as proclaimed on 7 February 1913 (Taisho 2), along with the draft of General Principles and Platform adopted at the convention of February 24. KATSURA Taro had aimed to establish a grand political party to unite the nation to cope with Japan's difficult domestic and foreign problems, especially in the wake of the 1911 Revolution (inspired by Sun Yat-sen) in China, although the movement became moribund with KATSURA's death at age 65 on 10 October 1913 (Taisho 2), the Rikken Doshikai ended up becoming one of Japan's major political parties along with the Rikken Seiyukai (Association of Constitutional Government).

The outline of the Rikken Doshikai's General Principles and Platform reflects Katsura's political beliefs, as well as those of the people who had gathered under him. They also incorporated the views of faction members of the Kokuminto (the successor to the Kensei Honto) that had broken away to join the Rikken Doshikai, including OISHI Masami, KONO Hironaka, SHIMADA Saburo, TAKETOMI Tokitoshi, and MINOURA Katsundo. They advocated the adoption of "responsible government". They also called for the retrenchment of governmental spending, a new policy vis-à-vis China, establishment of a colonial policy, elimination of the rich-poor gap through social policies, privatization of public enterprises, and a method for reshuffling parliamentary vice-ministers.