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Before the Meiji era, samurai military forces were run by local daimyo and thus did not obey a central government. In the Meiji era, a modern army and navy were established which swore loyalty solely to the Emperor.

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Before 1868, Japan was organised in a strict social hierarchy as shown above. In theory, Japan was ruled by an Emperor, but, in practice, power was exercised by a military government known as the shogunate.

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The Emperor was a figurehead only and had little real power and influence. The shogun – the military leader of Japan had real power and was the actual ruler of Japan during this period.

The daimyo were the powerful lords who owned large amounts of land or ruled over a particular area. The daimyo had their own samurai warriors, collected taxes, maintained law and order, and provided military service to the shogun when required.

The samurai were a special and privileged warrior caste (like knights in medieval Europe) who were loyal to and fought for the daimyo lords. Their code of conduct did not permit surrender and did not respect those who did.

Peasants were farmers who worked the land and produced agricultural goods. Peasants were tied to the land and had responsibilities to the daimyo, including paying taxes and providing labour. Their social status was relatively low, and they had limited rights and mobility.

Artisans were skilled craftsmen who produced various goods, including pottery, textiles, and metalwork. They played a crucial role in the economy and society by providing necessary goods and services.

Merchants were involved in trade and commerce, buying, and selling goods for profit. They were considered the lowest class because they produced nothing on their own, and their wealth was derived from commerce rather than from land ownership or military skill.

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JAPAN’S ISOLATION FROM THE WORLD: TOKUGAWA SHOGUNS CLOSED JAPAN TO FOREIGN INFLUENCE

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JAPAN’S ISOLATION FROM THE WORLD: TOKUGAWA SHOGUNS CLOSED JAPAN TO FOREIGN INFLUENCE

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The shogun rulers were worried that the spread of Christianity, promoted by European missionaries and traders who arrived on their shore, would undermine their power, and promote foreign ideas and religion.

They outlawed the Christian religion and expelled most foreigners and all priests.

They also had serious concerns regarding the growing influence of Western powers who had begun to compete with one another to gain power in neighbouring Asian countries.

In its efforts to close Japan off from damaging foreign influence, the Tokugawa shogunate prohibited trade with Western nations and prevented Japanese merchants from trading abroad.

With the Closed Country Order (Sakoku Edict), Japan was effectively cut off from Western nations for the next 200 years.

Some countries, including the Netherlands, Korea, and China, were still allowed to trade with Japan, but could only do so on an artificial island near Nagasaki.

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COMMODORE PERRY AND THE ‘BLACK SHIPS’ OPENED JAPAN - END OF JAPANESE ISOLATION (FIRST TURNING POINT) 

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COMMODORE PERRY AND THE ‘BLACK SHIPS’ OPENED JAPAN - END OF JAPANESE ISOLATION (FIRST TURNING POINT) 

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- When the Japanese heard what the British did to China (in the Opium War) and how China was forced to endure unequal treaties, Japan knew the West would soon come to Japan. Japanese fears were realised in the summer of 1853. American President Millard Fillmore wanted to open ports of trade, wanted better treatment of shipwrecked sailors, and wanted to open foreign relations between the two countries.
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-The American request was delivered by Commodore Perry of the US Navy who sailed into Edo (Tokyo) harbour on 8 July 1953 with four warships which were referred to by the Japanese as ‘the four black ships of evil’.
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Perry returned to Japan once more in 1854, more heavily armed this time. He ordered his fleet to fire cannons to impress upon the Japanese that resistance was useless, as the United States had far greater force at its disposal.

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The Japanese got the message. The Japanese government of the Tokugawa realised that their country was in no position to defend itself against a foreign power, and Japan could not keep its policy of isolation without risking war.
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Intimidated by Perry’s ‘Black Ships’, and mindful of what had happened to China when it resisted the West and was forced to sign a series of humiliating treaties, The Tokugawa shogunate finally agreed to the Treaty of Kanagawa in March 1854, which opened up two of Japan’s ports to US trade and granted the US the position of ‘most-favoured-nation’.

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Thus, Japan’s policy of isolation, which had lasted for over 200 years, was finally ended. The US followed up the 1854 treaty with other treaties further opening up Japan to US trade. In 1858, Japan’s government signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the US. Japan was gradually pressured into signing similar treaties with other Western nations. Following the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, similar treaties were soon signed with Britain, France and Russia. These soon became known as the ‘unequal treaties’ – in particular, as they granted extraterritorial rights to the citizens of the countries signing the treaties.
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These led to much nationalist unhappiness in Japan.

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Significance of the Tokugawa Shogunate Period in in shaping the conditions that led to the eventual rise of militarism in Japan:

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Significance of the Tokugawa Shogunate Period in in shaping the conditions that led to the eventual rise of militarism in Japan:

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- Japan was ruled through a strict social hierarchy:The strict social hierarchy of the shogunate placed the samurai at the top of others, like the peasants, artisans and merchants. This reinforced the privileged position and sense of superiority that the samurai class had. This hierarchy created a deep loyalty among the samurai to their lords and a strong identification with their warrior role. Japan's isolation period allowed the samurai class to focus on preserving and refining their martial skills, adherence to The philosophy of bushido, which emphasized loyalty, honor, self-discipline, and self-sacrifice.bushido, and the cultivation of traditional values.

-Japan's self-imposed isolation from the world:The Tokugawa Shogunate implemented isolationist policies known as sakoku, which restricted foreign trade and contact. This isolation limited Japan's exposure to external influences, contributing to a sense of self-reliance and nationalistic pride.

-Japan was forced to open up by the United States - FIRST TURNING POINT OF JAPAN'S HISTORY:The arrival of Commodore Perry and his expedition in 1853 ended Japan's isolation and exposed the weaknesses of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The shogunate's surrender to the American demands without putting up significant resistance was seen as a national humiliation, fueling a desire for revenge and a determination to strengthen Japan's military power.

-Unequal Treaties signed with Western powers: The subsequent signing of unequal treaties with Western powers further deepened the humiliation and resentment among the Japanese people. These treaties imposed unfair terms and granted extraterritorial rights to foreigners, undermining Japan's sovereignty and instilling a desire for a strong military to regain national pride.

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The Meiji period ended in 1912 with the death of Emperor Meiji. The new period between 1912 and 1926 was named Taisho after the new Emperor Yoshihito, also known as Emperor Taisho. While Japan continued its political and economic modernisation during the Taisho era, it was not as politically stable as it was in the early 1900s.

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In 1868, the Shogun lost his power, and a 15-year-old Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito) took control of the government. With this, the Meiji period started.

The Meiji period was an era of modernisation in Japan with major political, economic, and social changes. By the end of the nineteenth century, Japan had a new political system with a parliament and a constitution, a modern army and navy, and growing industries.

One of the main aims of the new government was to preserve its independence and prevent a repeat of its encounter with the United States or to be in the same position as several other Asian nations that came even further under the control of Western powers. European nations had seized huge territories across Asia, which they ruled as colonies. The once-mighty empire of China was forced to offer European powers special trade privileges.

Japan's rulers were determined to keep their country from becoming a colony of the West. The best way to do this, they believed, was to adopt Western science and technology and to make Japan strong. It needed to catch up with the rest of the world after more than 200 years of isolation. In 1871, the Meiji government sent academics and other officials to the United States and Europe to learn how the Western nations ran their governments, economies, and armed forces.

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The Meiji period was known as the Meiji Restoration because it was a period that restored the political power of the Emperor, who became known as the Meiji or “enlightened” Emperor. The Emperor was now regarded as the divine leader of the nation of Japan and was to be regarded as the descendent of the sun goddess and thereby treated as a ‘living god’.

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Japan industrialised its economy during the Meiji period. Having been largely closed to international exchange until the arrival of a fleet of American warships in 1853, Japan possessed virtually no modern industries, infrastructure, or institutions at the beginning of the Meiji Period.

The backwardness of the economy from the Shogunate period meant that the Meiji government bore the responsibility of creating a modern state.  It purchased western technologies and equipment, employed skilled foreign labour, and founded schools, research institutes, and model factories throughout the country.

The Meiji government quickly modernised the economy by creating industries like textiles, railways, shipyards, glass, and armaments. They chose these industries for multiple reasons: to promote the domestic production of basic goods, earn foreign currency, facilitate trade, expand political control, and enhance military strength.

However, some of these government-owned businesses were not profitable and even drained the country’s resources. To solve this problem, Finance Minister, Matsukata Masayoshi, sold them off to private businesses. These family-owned private businesses became very rich. They expanded their businesses into different industries. Financed by their own banks, these huge conglomerates (companies) took on the name zaibatsu.

By the 1930s, the four-leading zaibatsu in Japan were Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Yasuda. These leading zaibatsu grew to become so rich and powerful that they were able to influence politics in Japan and even the military.

Japan also began to open up. It engaged in foreign trade and started to export (sell overseas) goods to the rest of the world, mainly textiles such as silk.

The impact of these modernisation and industrialisation efforts was that on the eve of the first world war, Japan had won a colonial empire through military conquest, adopted the gold standard, and flooded world markets with merchandise carried by domestic-built steamships.

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POLITICAL CHANGE - JAPAN BECAME A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

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POLITICAL CHANGE - JAPAN BECAME A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY

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During the Meiji period, Japan’s leaders sought to create a constitution that would define Japan as a capable, modern nation deserving of Western respect while preserving its own power. In 1889, Japan underwent a government reorganisation and adopted a constitutional monarchy. This form of government involves a monarch, usually a king or queen, who assumes the role of a ceremonial head of state within the boundaries defined by a written or unwritten constitution.

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The Meiji period also saw transformation in Japanese society.

Cities grew and many Japanese left the countryside:

For example, Tokyo’s population rose from about 600,000 in 1873 to about two million in 1913.

Many new city dwellers were young people who had migrated from the countryside for work.

Traditional values from the countryside came into conflict with modern values from the city:

Although those who moved to the city remained connected to their families, many living in the countryside began to observe a divide in terms of values and attitudes.

The people living in the countryside tended to hold on to more traditional views compared to city dwellers.

The social hierarchy in Japan also began to change:

The samurai were no longer an elite class. They were replaced by the new national army and navy made up of civilian conscripts.

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Japan adopted a Western-style curriculum with vocational schools to support its industrialisation efforts.

The education system and media reinforced Japanese loyalty to the Emperor, the state, family and community. It also encouraged nationalistic feelings among the Japanese.

Some of the ideas taught included:

Japan was powerful because it was never colonised by Western powers.

The military should be praised for how it protected Japan from its enemies and its military successes during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War.

Japan's economic modernisation in the early 1900s led to stability and unity.

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MEIJI PERIOD - FIRST STAGES OF IMPERIALIST EXPANSION

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MEIJI PERIOD - FIRST STAGES OF IMPERIALIST EXPANSION

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Although the Meiji Restoration had largely been due to nationalist hatred of Western influence and the ‘unequal treaties’ they had imposed on Japan, it soon became clear that the new Japan had imperialist ambitions of its own regarding its neighbours in Asia and the Far East.

Imperialism means seeking to expand a nation's power and influence over other territories by acquiring colonies or exerting control over foreign lands.

Japan’s first target was Korea.

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In 1894-95 Japan went to war with China over Korea. The modern and well-trained Japanese army and navy inflicted defeats over the less-advanced Chinese forces. This forced China to seek peace in 1895. The Treaty of Shimonoseki of April 1895 resulted in Chinese recognition of Korean independence and saw Japan obtaining various territories, including Formosa (now known as Taiwan) and the Liaodong Peninsula in Manchuria. China also had to sign a commercial treaty with Japan, as well as granting some manufacturing rights to Japanese firms.

Japan’s victory in this war produced strong nationalistic sentiments amongst the Japanese. It was seen as confirmation of Japan’s superiority over China, cementing its status as a ‘higher civilisation’. This also signalled a new period in Japanese history and confirmed the popular belief that Japan was now equal to the Western powers, living up to the Meiji slogan of Fukoku Kyohei or ‘Enrich the country, strengthen the military’.

However, the victory led to new tensions. Russia – which also had expansionist plans on both Korea and Manchuria – persuaded France and Germany to join it in forcing Japan to give up some of its mainland gains in China. This Triple Intervention forced Japan to give up the Liaodong (Liaodung) Peninsula, in return for financial compensation. Russia then took the Liaodong Peninsula for itself, while Germany secured control over Shandong Province. France and Great Britain took advantage of weakened China to seize port cities on various pretexts and to expand their spheres of influence.

The military success of the Sino–Japanese War, the gaining of land and the frustration at having to give up some land to Western powers, encouraged the growth of nationalism and also militarism in Japan. It reinforced the idea that a strong military was necessary for Japan to be successful as a world power and to defend itself against other Western powers. From then on, Japanese foreign policy became more nationalistic and aggressive.

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In 1904-05, a war broke out between Russia and Japan over their clash of interests in Korea and Manchuria. Once again, Japan’s military and naval forces proved superior. It was successful in its land battles, although with great loss of life; however, it was the war at sea that was decisive. The Russian fleet sailed halfway around the world from its base in the Baltic Sea to Vladivostok. When it arrived in the Tsushima Strait, it was destroyed by Admiral Togo and the new Japanese fleet.

In 1905, Russia accepted the offer of the US – which had its own interests in the region – to mediate peace. This was a spectacular victory for Japan, for it was the first time an Asian power defeated a major European power.

The Russians were forced to accept the Treaty of Portsmouth:

Japan replaced Russia as the key power in Manchuria by acquiring South Sakhalin, the leasehold over the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur, as well as control over the South Manchurian Railway.

Russia also recognised Japanese interests in Korea.

In 1910, Japan annexed Korea completely and made it a part of the Japanese empire. Japan had now become a major power in the region.

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Significance of the Meiji Period in shaping the conditions that led to the eventual rise of militarism in Japan (Summary) : 

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Significance of the Meiji Period in shaping the conditions that led to the eventual rise of militarism in Japan (Summary) : 

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Modernisation and Industrialisation of Japan:
The Meiji leaders recognised the importance of modernising Japan to compete with Western powers. They embarked on an ambitious program of industrialisation, adopting Western technology, infrastructure, and institutions. While this modernisation helped Japan become an impressive economic and military power, it also created a sense of national pride and the belief that Japan should become a major world power.

Independence of the military from government authority:
Despite the constitutional framework, the military enjoyed a considerable degree of independence and influence within Japan's constitutional monarchy. The Japanese Army and Navy had their own chains of command and operated with considerable autonomy, often pursuing their own agendas. This independence from direct government control created a power dynamic in which the military had the ability to exert significant influence over political decision-making. They had the power to influence government appointments and policies that aligned with their own interests.

Imperial Expansionism:
Japan's modernisation efforts coincided with the global trend of imperialism, with Western powers exerting dominance over weaker nations. In the late 19th century, Japan sought to secure resources, territory, and regional influence. It engaged in successful military campaigns against China (First Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895) and Russia (Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905). The Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was a significant event that showcased Japan's military prowess and its ability to defeat a major European power. These victories not only boosted Japan's confidence but also fueled nationalist sentiments and the belief in the effectiveness of military force.

Growing resentment towards the Western Powers' unequal treatment of Japan:
The Triple Intervention of 1895, where Russia, Germany, and France forced Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula to China after the First Sino-Japanese War, marked a turning point. It revealed the limitations of Japan's power and exposed the unequal treatment it faced from the Western powers, leading to growing resentment and a desire for more power. This fueled nationalist sentiments among the Japanese, who believed that Japan needed to build a stronger military to assert itself on the international stage and protect its interests.

Education System and Promotion of Nationalistic Feelings:
The education system played a crucial role in promoting nationalism and instilling a sense of pride and loyalty among the Japanese population. The curriculum celebrated Japan's uniqueness, its resistance to Western colonisation, and its military successes, such as the victories in the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War. By glorifying Japan's military achievements, the education system contributed to the growth of militaristic sentiments and the belief in Japan's superiority.

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Emperor Taisho was sickly and thus too weak to exercise his authority over Japan’s government or fully control the military.  He was rarely seen in public. The Genro, who were respected statesmen that had advised the Emperor, had mostly left the government due to old age and could not support the Emperor to unify the government. Without a strong Emperor or the Genro to unify the government, the government was divided between the civilian politicians and the military, and both groups could not see eye to eye. The civilian politicians within the Cabinet and the Diet were also divided because of party politics and rivalry.

The Taisho era began with the Taisho political crisis from 1912 to 1913 over whether the military or political parties should dominate the cabinet. During this time, Japan experienced political instability and changes. The Japanese people desired increased democracy and a greater role in government decision-making. This desire for a more active voice challenged the authority of the Genro, who had been the traditional rulers during the previous Meiji period.

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After the war ended, Japan began to face economic problems. Japanese imports (buying overseas which cost Japanese money) increased and exports (selling Japanese goods overseas to earn money) decreased at this time. Overseas competition resurfaced. Inflation hit the public hard as it made goods very expensive. For example, the price of rice increased by 174%. To make matters worse, there was high unemployment. Due to the decline in overseas demand for Japanese goods, large companies dismissed thousands of workers. These economic problems resulted in growing resentment among the Japanese towards the civilian government.

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In 1926, Emperor Taisho died and Emperor Showa (Hirohito) came into power. Many of Japan's political, economical and social problems continued and worsened under his rule which resulted the beginning of Showa period to be a period of economic depression and Japan's militaristic aggression in Asia

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In the 1920s, Japan had many small banks which were focused on a small number of borrowers whom they loaned large amounts of money to and the borrowers tended to be from the same few industries.

After WW1, many industries the bank loaned to didn't do well financially and hence the banks had difficulty collecting loans. To make matters worse, the new loans that most Japanese banks issued in 1923 were to companies that were not stable. By 1927, Japan fell into a financial crisis as people tried to withdraw their deposits as the bank didn't have enough money due to bad debts. This caused over 20 banks to collapse

By early 1929, most banks were stable again and were making profits again after introduction of new policies to stabilise banks. However, after the crisis returned after the great depression in 1929 when the Wall Street Crash

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To strengthen Japan’s economy, the government continued to support the wealthy zaibatsu. While this built cooperation and trust between the government and big businesses, it also resulted in wealth being concentrated in the hands of the big businesses while workers and peasants continued to live in poverty. The gap between the rich and the poor widened.

During this period, urban (town) society was particularly influenced by Western culture and customs. Sophisticated city residents disliked rural (countryside) residents who were considered to be ignorant and poor people. Equally, the rural residents disliked the city residents who were thought to be corrupt and disrespectful of Japanese culture and traditions. Although literacy was improving across both rural and urban groups because of compulsory elementary education (primary school), those who lived in towns and cities had better access to secondary and higher education.

In the countryside, the richest landlords, who made up about 2 to 3% of the Japanese population, did not work on the farms themselves but lived on rent collected from tenant farmers. These landlords lived in luxury and engaged in leisure activities, such as visiting hot spring inns, which was in sharp contrast to the poverty of the tenant farmers.

When farmers and workers tried to organise themselves politically, they were crushed by the police. This increased dissatisfaction with a political system that seemed to be closely associated with the zaibatsu and the landlords.

Later in the 1930s, ultranationalists found support in the countryside whose conservative and highly traditional residents rejected Western cultural and political influences

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Traditionalist groups also started to worry that Japan was losing its identity. One common complaint was that young women were abandoning their traditional roles in their families. During the 1920s, many young women found jobs in cafes and restaurants in the cities. Others worked in Japan’s expanding silk mills and factories. Conditions were hard but wages were reasonable. Many young women found greater independence than before. Some also became more active in politics. This was seen by some as a threat to traditional Japanese society and values. These women were accused of serving their own interests instead of the needs of their families.

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Japan was not self-sufficient enough in coal, iron, oil, tin or rubber and demands for Japanese exports like silk fell drastically. This caused Japan's economy to fall by 20% between 1929 to 1931. In addition, as the depression worsened, many countries reduced their import and imposed taxes on foreign goods to protect their own industries.

Furthermore, Japan's population was growing rapidly during this period, at a rate if approximately 1 million per year, which caused overcrowding and it proved increasingly difficult to feed Japan's expanding population. As a lot of Japan was mountainous, the amount of fertile agricultural land was limited. By 1920s, there was a considerable hardship on civillians

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Farmers
- Japan's export fell during the Great Depression so people were not able to purchase farmers' produce and caused a sharp decline in farmers' income from 1929 to 1931.
- Tenant farmers tried to get landowners to reduce their rent but they refused and tried to evict those who could not pay rent. Tenant farmers formed unions, organised protest meetings and pursued legal action against landowners

Small Business owners
- Many business faced difficulties attracting customers as many people could not afford the products anymore and many business were forced to be shut down. Many owners joined protest movements out of frustration

Unemployment
-Caused mass unemployment in Japan as businesses collapsed. Workers protested against their wealthy employers and sometimes resorted to violent demonstrations

Fear of Communism
-Rise in unemployment made people turn to communism and were attracted by the message of communist agitators who criticised the state or even called for a revolution

-Government was scared of communism as communist Russia was close to Japan and they could help spread communism

Growing Distrust in Government
-Civilians felt betrayed by government as they felt that the government prioritised the interest of elites such as banks, landowners and zaibatsu. Felt that the government were either working together with the zaibatsu or were receiving money and benefits from them

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Rise of military influence in the Government

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Rise of military influence in the Government

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Civilian politicians held a strong position in the Government in the 1920s but started losing trust of the people and the military grew in prominence and popularity with its victories. This further strengthened the military which started to act on its own and disregarded the Prime Minister. Eventually the military gained greater control of the government.

The military felt that politicians and zaibatsu prioritised their own interests over serving Japan and many of the officers in the military came from families who were impacted by the economic conditions in 1920s. Felt that the government no longer respected the military and favoured the zaibatsu more because of the cut in military budget

London Naval Conference
- The navy and military in Japan were discontented with the civilian government. In 1922, Japan signed agreements at the Washington Naval Conference to limit warship construction. Japan's allowed number of warships was lower compared to Western powers so the military felt betrayed by the civilian leaders who agreed to unfavorable disarmament terms. In 1930, the London Naval Conference was held to review the treaty. Japan's request to build more warships was rejected by the Western powers during the conference. Japan was forced to sign the London Naval Treaty of 1930.

- Ministers in the Cabinet who disagreed with the treaty were removed from their positions. The government reluctantly signed the treaty, acknowledging Japan's unpreparedness to confront Western powers. The press and navy commanders in Japan presented the treaty as a government betrayal, leading to a decline in public trust in the democratic government.

Manchuria
-The Kwantung Army was created 1906 to protect Japan's assets in Manchuria as it was considered a solution to Japan's alck of natural resources, as it possessed valuable assets like coal and iron. From 1916, various warlords in China ruled different regions, engaging in power struggles. Initially, Manchuria's warlord, Zhang Zuolin, maintained friendly relations with Japan and the Kwantung Army. However, Zhang's inability to protect Japan's interests in Manchuria increasingly frustrated the Kwantung Army.

Assasination of Zhang Zuolin
-In 1928 the Kwantung Army killed Zhang Zuolin because they wanted a more cooperative leader and they tried to blame the Chinese Warlords to encourage the Japanese Government to let them take control of Manchuria but the Emperor told the PM to discipline army. The military was unwilling to punish the perpetrator as they could weaken the prestige of the army

-PM was forced to resign the as he was unabe to implement the emperor's wishes and therefore as early as 1929, the military could do whatever they wanted without consequences. This showed that the emperor couldn't control the military and demonstrated

Mukden incident and the invasion of Manchuria
Radical elements within the Japanese military, particularly in the Kwantung Army, became more ambitious and believed that Japan should colonize Manchuria for its fertile lands. They aimed to create a society where Japanese citizens worked for the Emperor rather than personal gain. Many high-ranking military commanders shared these views. The economic difficulties following the Great Depression increased the importance of Manchuria to Japan due to its resources. The Kwantung Army officers devised a plan to seize Manchuria against their own government's policies. They orchestrated an incident in September 1931 by blowing up railway tracks in Mukden and falsely blaming the Chinese government, using it as an excuse to take control of Manchuria. Despite orders to stop, the Kwantung Army continued their advance and gained control of most of the region. They established an independent government called "Manchukuo" under the puppet rule of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. The Japanese government's position weakened, and public support for the Kwantung Army's actions made it difficult for them to regain control. The government eventually had to accept the conquest due to embarrassment and pressure. This incident highlighted the military's significant influence over Japan's foreign policy and the loss of control by the civilian government.

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Growing opposition of the civilian government 

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Growing opposition of the civilian government 

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As Japan's economy worsened more people because ultranationalistic and anti-democratic activities began to grow and they were against the civilian politicians and the zaibatsu whom they regarded as self-serving for not helping the poor during the Great Depression while politicians and the zaibatsu lived in luxury cities. One group was the Showa Restoration Faction as it wanted to remove all aspect of democratic government and restore direct rule to the Emperor and there were other extremist groups like the League of Blood.

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Instability in Japan which the government could not control

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Instability in Japan which the government could not control

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In November 1930 a right-wing fanatic killed PM Hamaguchi Osachi and in February and March 1932, the League of Blood killed the former Finance Minister and the director of the Mitsui zaibatsu corperation. These assasination amde the civilians scared and caused them to drop their opposition against the miliatry

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A turning point in Japan's move from Democracy and party government towards the militaristic extremism

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A turning point in Japan's move from Democracy and party government towards the militaristic extremism

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On May 15, 1932, a group of naval officers and activists assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, who had opposed the military's actions in Manchuria and refused to recognize the state of Manchukuo. They also attacked various targets, including a bank, party headquarters, and power stations, in an attempted overthrow of the democratic government. However, the public did not rise up in support. The conspirators were arrested, and their trial revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the ruling political parties. As a result, the May 15th Incident increased the army's influence and further undermined the democratic government in Japan. Party government effectively ended, and military influence grew rapidly in both domestic and foreign policies. Despite holding the majority in the Diet, the Seiyukai party was unable to form a new Cabinet after discussions with military leaders. Ultimately, on May 26, 1932, the Emperor appointed a navy admiral as the new Prime Minister, forming a Cabinet where the majority were military officers. This marked the beginning of militarist rule in Japan.