The Showa Restoration

Patriotic Societies
Armys & Navys Great Influence over the Government
Military Take-over of Japan

8. American Expansion in the Asia-Pacific Region Threatened

Japanese Plans to Control the Region
9. Worsening Relations with the West:
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Washington Naval Conference, 1921-1922
London Disarmament Conference, 1930
10. Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid-1920s
11. Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

What led to the

failure of the
democratic
government in
Japan
External Reasons
for the Rise of
the Military

4.
5.
6.
7.

Internal
Reasons
for the
Rise of the
Military

Reasons for the Rise of Militarism in Japan:

1. The Diets Limited Power
2. Corruption Damaged Democracys Reputation
3. Democratic Leaders Failed to Solve Economic Problems
The farmers difficult living conditions
The workers difficult living conditions
Trade Imbalance
Great Depression 1929

1. The Diets Limited Power:

The Diet had limited power and could not make important decisions but
the Army and Navy were more powerful than the rest of the Diet and
had direct access to the Emperor. They also had veto power, so that they
could veto any policies which were unfavourable to them, including
recommended cuts to the military budget by the Diet. The Democratic
Government in Japan thus failed because it was powerless and was unable
to command the clout carried by the military with the Emperor and were
unable to do anything to curb the militarys growing power.
2. Corruption Damaged Democracys Reputation:
As the election campaigns of democratic leaders were financed by
Zaibatsus, many people believed rumours that democratic politicians were
corrupt because over the years some Zaibatsus had been able to make
the government pass laws to benefit their companies. While some of
these rumours were true, some were made up by political rivals. At Diet
meetings, these accusations would continue and fights would break out.
As a result, the Democratic Government failed because the Japanese
people did not support them as they thought they were corrupt and did
nothing but fight during Diet meetings instead of helping the people.
3. Democratic Leaders Failed to Solve Economic Problems:
Democratic leaders were unable to solve the problems of farmers who
suffered because they could not make profits from their small fields.
Tenant farmers also suffered from high rentals and low productivity.
Workers in Japan also suffered from poor working conditions and felt
that the government did not care about them.
Japan also suffered from a trade imbalance due to its lack of raw
materials and had to import food to feed the Japanese people. After the
Wall Street Crash, many Japanese became unemployed because factories
shut down due to a fall in demand for goods. Japanese farmers who had
always grown fewer crops in order to concentrate on producing silk for
the factories were badly hit by the drop in demand for silk.

Due to their failure to solve the problems of the farmers and workers,
the Democratic Government was not supported by the people.
Furthermore, the economic crisis which followed painted the Democratic

Government in a bad light as it was powerless to make any decisions that

could save the country. Coupled with a lack of faith in its abilities, the
Democratic Governments failure of solve all these problems lost it
valuable support and steered the Japanese people to the arms of the
military.
Economic Disaster after the Wall Street Crash (WSC)
After the WSC, many Japanese became unemployed because factories
shut down due to a fall in demand for goods. As a result of falling
unemployment, there was great suffering. As the democratic government
had been unable to solve their problems, they gave their support to the
military who promised effective solutions to their problems. Japanese
farmers who had always grown fewer crops in order to concentrate on
producing silk for the factories were badly hit by the drop in demand for
silk. Hit by a drought and with low production, the farmers made less
money. As a result, many suffering farmers saw democracy as a failure as
it could not do anything to help them. They joined the army and patriotic
societies and agreed with their stand on national reconstruction, military
strength and respect for authority, giving the military movement added
strength in numbers.
4. Patriotic Societies
A growing number of patriotic societies associated with the Army and
the Navy were formed in Japan. These societies and their members were
extremely nationalistic and believed in Japans superiority. They also
believed in adopting an aggressive foreign policy. These societies led to
the rise of militarism in Japan because many people who were
disillusioned with the democratic government and its failure to solve the
nations problems, joined the patriotic societies and gave them their
support.
5. Showa Restoration
The Showa Restoration, which emphasized nationalism, loyalty to the
Emperor, self-sacrifice and obedience, was Japans response to the Great
Depression and foreign opposition of Japans growing empire. The
movement rejected Western influences and produced youths who were
blindly loyal to the Emperor and Japan. These youths also believed in
militarism and an aggressive foreign policy which led to a rise in support

for militarism which was seen as a solution to end the economic problems
associated with the Great Depression.
6. Armys & Navys Great Influence over the Government
Due to the limited power of the Diet, the military could wield
considerable power and had considerable influence over political
decisions. Having this influence allowed the military access to large
budgets from the government. Furthermore, the Japanese Army had
been successful in World War I and as a result, was popular and gained
considerable support. The Japanese Army also made use of their
influence to assassinate leaders who opposed them , gaining even more
power through fear.
7. Military Take-over of Japan
The military assassinated two Prime Ministers between the years of 1930
and 1932 when they criticized the actions of the military. The murderers
were also let off with very light punishments. By 1932, the government
began to closely follow the aims of the Army as they felt pressured
to support the Japanese armys actions. This enabled the military to
rise as they were able to gain some form of support from the
Japanese government.
8. American Expansion in the Asia-Pacific Region Threatened Japanese
Plans to Control the Region
The Americans began to expand in the Asia-Pacific region and Japanese
militarists believed that Japanese and American economic and military
interests would bring them into conflict over who would control the AsiaPacific region. This belief in a potential threat led to a rise in militarism
as Japanese militarists believed that conflict would take place between
the two countries.
9. Worsening Relations between the West and Japan
Due to their military success before and during World War I, the
Japanese believed that they should be treated on equal terms with the
Western nations. However, the Japanese were disappointed with the
absence of a racial equality clause in the League of Nations. At the same
time, Japan was very angry with the Washington Naval Conference
because they could only build 3 warships for every 5 warships Britain and

the USA could build. The Japanese were angry that they were being
discriminated against and not respected for their military achievement.
As these agreements were presided upon by the democratic government,
they were seen as weak. The democratic government was seen as having
betrayed Japan and being too soft in handling relations with the West.
This gave the military faction a cause to rally discontented Japanese who
were already unhappy with the government for having been unable to
solve their economic problems.
10.

Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid-1920s

Due to its isolationist and protectionism policy, the USA tried to
prevent Asian immigration. It forbade the entry of all Asians except
Filipinos. There were also restrictions placed on existing Asian
migrants in the USA. These policies angered the Japanese who saw
them as discriminatory. Coupled with the problems caused by the
Great Depression, many Japanese turned away from Democracy and
supported an expansion of Japans empire.

11.

Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

Previously, Japan had benefitted from a weakly ruled China and
managed to obtain many concessions and territories in North China.
However, when a united front was formed by the KMT and CCP to
fight the warlords, they gained control of China and the Chinese
demanded an end to all special concessions to foreign powers.
Strikes, demonstrations and boycotts of Japanese goods hurt
Japanese interests in China and Manchuria. As it was feared that a
stronger China would harm Japanese military ambitions in the area,
the Kwangtung Army (Japanese Army in Manchuria) urged an
occupation of Manchuria before the Chinese grew stronger. This was
supported by many Japanese and gave a rise to militarism in Japan.

Fascist Japan: Impact of Militarism on the Japanese people

Positive Impact:
Providing Work

o Employed people by expanding

Controlling of Women
o Women who were working

building programmes

lived in special flats so that

generating much needed jobs

they could be monitored and

and helping Japan recover

controlled

economically from the Great

Depression.

Controlling Workers
o While trade unions were not

o One year of military service

banned, various workers

took young men off

groups were provided but all

unemployment for one year,

they did was to work towards

reducing the strain and

brain-washing them and

allowing them to contribute

turning them into obedient

financially towards their

workers willing to work for

families.

the common good of the

country. This did not solve the

earlier problems of poor

o Women were given the

opportunity to work adding

working conditions faced by

much needed workforce to

the workers. Instead, it

the economy and helping

taught the workers to put

Japan recover economically

their right second and the

from the Great Depression.

nation first, making them

accept the poor conditions

Controlling Education

instead of fighting them so

o Japanese children were given

that the country could

progress.

6 years of compulsory free

schooling allowing the
Japanese nation to educate
children and generate talent.

Controlling the Opposition

o Peace Preservation Law

This also relieved the financial

allowed the government to

burden of Japanese families

arrest and imprison people

who might not have sent their

who were a danger to the

children to school. The free

government or who were

education also equipped the

critical of the government

children with the necessary

suppressing political freedom

basic skills to contribute to

and allowing the military to

the economy in the future.

gain more power and act

unopposed.
o People who were critical of
the government also lost their
jobs which suppressed the

peoples freedom even more.

Controlling Education
o Infused military training and
brainwashed the children with
traditional ideas of selfsacrifice and total obedience

allowing the Japanese military

to have a ready supply of
patriotic soldiers willing to lay
their lives down and sacrifice
themselves for the good of
Japan and to help build the
country into an empire.