 Led by Katō Takaaki, the new party was united by its opposition to the policies of the ruling "Rikken Seiyūkai" under Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu.The party was supported financially by the Mitsubishi "zaibatsu," due to family ties with Katō Takaaki.Party leaders included Hamaguchi Osachi and Adachi Kenzō.