ABSTRACT
The decade or two following the promulgation of the constitution and the convocation of the Diet was a period of trial and error in Japanese politics. Both sides, the oligarchy and the opposition parties, endeavored to learn how to fit the Diet into the political framework of the country. The idea of government functioning under a written constitution with the participation of a Diet that was composed of elected representatives was certainly a revolutionary concept. Despite all the theoretical discussions that had taken place before these institutions were adopted, the actual incorporation of these elements into the political life of the society required patience, willingness to compromise, and common sense—qualities that seemed scarce enough on both sides of the political battle line.
