Militarism

Political weaknesses of the government (internal/external)

• Corruption: bribery w/ the elderly living in the village, 15000 cases of violation of the Election Law (1924)

• Political instability: (1918-1932) 11 cases of Cabinet reshuffle in 14 years

• Weakness of government policies: Inukai Tsuyoshi was against the establishment of Manzhouguo and sparked off mass criticism→ was assassinated by Brotherhood of Blood League (the assailant got 350000 signatures in blood to plead for a lenient sentence)

Collusion w/ zaibatsu and failure to solve economic problems (internal)

• Party politicians colluding w/ zaibatsu to get political donations for election: (1930) the share of Mitsui, Mitsubishi, and Sumitomo in the mining industry and transportation reached 63.3%

• Inability to solve economic problems: (1923) Great Kanto Earthquake, (1927) Showa Financial Crisis, (1929) Great Depression

Poor diplomatic policies (internal)

• (1930) London Naval Conference: Japan reluctantly accepted the 10:10:7 ratio of light cruisers

  →Osachi Hamaguchi signed the London Naval Treaty and got assassinated by Aikokusha

→the public supported territorial expansions to strive for national glory

Rise of extreme nationalism (internal)

• (1890) Imperial Rescript on Education: intense brainwashing on Japanese nationalism

• setting up extreme nationalist organizations, e.g. Aikokusha, Black Dragon Society, Sakura Society, Brotherhood of the Blood League→backed invasions of China for achieving Pan-Asianism and removal of corrupt government officials through assassination, e.g. May 15 Incident

→party politicians dared not to challenge militarists; almost all Prime Ministers were generals/ genro

Serious economic problems (external)

• Japan lost its economic advantage once foreign powers returned to Chinese market, resumed production and export trade after WW1

• (1923) Great Kanto Earthquake

• (1927) Showa Financial Crisis

• (1929) Great Depression: economic protectionism imposed by Western countries→ Japan's exports fell by 50%, 3 million unemployed, Japan could not import foreign necessities

Excessive power of the militarists (internal/traditional)

• (before Meiji Period) Japan was ruled by Tokugawa Shogunate

• (since Meiji Period) Emperor granted militarists superior power because of their contribution to Anti-Shogunate Movement

• e.g. direct access to the Emperor, Military Ministers to be Active-Duty Officers Law

• (1913) Abolition of Military Ministers to be Active-Duty Officers Law

• (1928) unauthorized assassination of Zhang Zuolin by Kwantung Army→ military was not influenced by Cabinet

• (1936) Military Ministers to be Active-Duty Officers Law was restored and militarists had full control of the government and Cabinet→almost members of Cabinet were militarists

Western discrimination against Japan (external)

Since 1st Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, western powers could feel the growing threat of Japan

→adopted racially exclusive policies against Japan

• (1921-1922) Washington Conference

• (1924) Immigration Act

• (1930) London Naval Conference

→ anti-foreign sentiment

Political instability and military control of the government (impact on Japan)

Continuous coups

• May 15 Incident

• February 26 Incident

→ party politicians dared not to challenge militarists and the position of Prime Minister was taken by generals and the Genro

→ (1940) militarists set up the Imperial Rule Assistance Association to replace all political parties

Wrecked Japan's economy (impact on Japan)

• (1938-1944) National Mobilization Law

  →allocation of excessive resources for military uses and increase in military production, e.g. Mitsubishi, Kawasaki, and Nissan produced a large number of military vehicles, planes, and chemical products

  →Japan was short of different materials and experienced devaluation and inflation (issued large amounts of bonds and legal tender to cover military expenses)

• bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2 important cities engaged in various economic activities) → Japan was economically strained

• (1945) Central Bank owed debts equivalent to 204% of GDP