How did political parties challenge Japan’s early Meiji governments in the Diet?

In the early Meiji period, political parties challenged the government by seeking to increase their own power and patronage, specifically pushing for cabinets that were responsible to the lower house of the Diet rather than solely to the emperor.1

The government, led by figures such as Itō Hirobumi, Yamagata Aritomo, and Matsukata Masayoshi, initially maintained that they represented the emperor and should remain independent of party influence. However, the parties utilized their constitutional authority—particularly the power to approve the national budget—to obstruct government demands.12

This tension led to frequent legislative gridlock, which the government often attempted to resolve through coercion, bribery, or the dissolution of the lower house. Over time, the relationship evolved as oligarchs and party leaders found common ground, often exchanging cabinet seats for legislative support. This pragmatic cooperation eventually led to the formation of political parties by oligarchs themselves, such as Itō’s Rikken Seiyūkai, to better manage the political landscape and secure institutional stability.12