Militarism in Japan

Objectives

• Explain the background that led to the rise of militarism in Japan.

Was the rise of Fascism in Japan inevitable?

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What led to the failure of the democratic government in

Japan?

What led to the rise of Fascism in Japan?

Factors that contributed to the failure of democracy in Japan

Factors that assisted the rise of Fascist factions to gain control of Japan

In a Nutshell

• The 1920s saw the spread of Fascist ideas around the world.

• Fascism grew to be a popular alternative to democracy.

• People began to lose confidence in democratic leaders when they were not able to handle the 1930 Great Depression.

• In Japan, Fascist ideas were strongly influenced by its powerful military.

• Another idea advocated by the Japanese Army officers was Japanese superiority over other Asians.*

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• The term Fascism, was first used by Mussolini in Italy, 1919.

• Fascists believed that the needs of the nation first.

• Power and violence were advocated by the Fascists.

• Fascists also believed that a nation’s goal was to grow strong and expand.

• People began to feel that Fascism gave them a sense of belonging to a great nation.*

The beginnings of The beginnings of FascismFascism

6What led to the What led to the failure of the failure of the democratic democratic

government in government in Japan?Japan?

The Diet’s The Diet’s limited powerlimited power

Corruption Corruption damaged damaged

democracy’s democracy’s reputationreputation

Democratic Democratic leaders failed leaders failed

to solve to solve economic economic problemsproblems

The Diet’s Limited power

• The Diet/Parliament was set up in late 19th century.

• Real power however remained in the hands of the Emperor.

• The Diet did not have the power to make decisions or policies.

• Limited power of the Diet made it possible for the military faction to grow unchecked.*

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Corruption Damaged Democracy’s Reputation• Corruption among the politicians was

common during the 1920s.

• In order to fund election campaigns, many leaders turned to wealthy companies for sponsorship.

• These were able to influence the policies of the government.

• Such close ties led to many rumours of corruption within the government.*

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Democratic Leaders Failed to Solve

Economic Problems

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Democratic leaders failed to solve economic

problems

The farmers’ difficult living conditions

Trade imbalance Great Depression

The workers’ difficult working conditions

• The Wall Street Crash in the USA triggered a world wide economic depression.

• It also led to a fall in Japan’s exports due to protectionism (especially in the USA).

• Due to protectionism, countries such as the USA imposed high taxes on Japanese goods like silk.

• This led to a fall in demand for silk. Silk farmers in Japan suffered the most.

• As economic problems mounted, many farmers joined the Army or patriotic societies.*

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Great Depression 1929Great Depression 1929

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CrashLoss of paper

profits Less demand

Less building of factories and homes

Less bankcredit

Less money in circulation

Less employment

Less production

Lower prices

Less employment Depression

Great Depression 1929Great Depression 1929

12What led to the What led to the rise of Fascism rise of Fascism

in Japan?in Japan?

External External reasonsreasons

Internal Internal reasonsreasons

• Since 1853, American businessmen had taken interest in doing business in the Asia-Pacific region.

• The USA took control of many tiny islands and used them as bases for American trading ships.

• By 1930s, American control spread to the Philippines.

• Japanese militarists believed that the economic and military interests of Japan and the USA would run into conflict over who would control this region.*

13American expansion in American expansion in Asia-Pacific region Asia-Pacific region

threatened Japanese plans threatened Japanese plans to control the regionto control the region

• Japan had fought alongside the Allies during World War I.

• During the Paris Peace Conference, Japanese representatives made a request that the League of Nations formally recognise that all races were equal.

• This was however rejected making Japan feel discriminated.*

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Paris Peace Conference, Paris Peace Conference, 19191919

• This was held between 1921 and 1922 and aimed to reduce naval forces of major naval powers.

• The ratio of warships that were allowed for Japan was lower than that of the USA and Britain.

• Many Japanese felt that this was an unfair treaty aiming at restricting Japanese power.*

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Washington Naval Washington Naval Conference, Conference, 1921-19221921-1922

• This was held in 1930.

• Many Japanese were unhappy that PM Osachi agreed to further limit the number of Japan’s battleships as he wanted to improve ties with China.

• In addition to that, he tried to solve the problems of the Great Depression by reducing spending on the Army.

• He was accused of being too soft and trying to betray Japan.*

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London Disarmament London Disarmament Conference, 1930Conference, 1930

• In 1924, the USA tried to prevent Asian immigration as part of its isolationist policy.

• In California, the California Alien Law ordered that all Asian children attend schools separate from the Americans.

• Such laws angered the Japanese who formed the main bulk of the immigrants.

• They saw such laws as regarding them as being inferior.

• This combined with other factors such as the Great Depression, made many Japanese turn away from democracy.*

17Immigration laws in the Immigration laws in the USA in the mid-1920sUSA in the mid-1920s

• Since 1894, China had been weakened by many internal struggles.

• This however changed in 1927 when the KMT and CCP formed an alliance to eliminate all internal enemies.

• General Chiang gained control of China and demanded an end to all concessions that foreign powers had enjoyed in China.

• Frequent strikes and boycotts of Japanese goods hurt Japan’s economy.

• The Kwantung Army stationed in Manchuria proposed that Japan occupy Manchuria and North China, and this was supported by many Japanese.*

18Resurgence of Chinese Resurgence of Chinese nationalismnationalism

• From the 1930s, the education system of Japan emphasised nationalism, loyalty to the Emperor, self-sacrifice and obedience.

• Japan’s response to the Great Depression and foreign opposition to Japan’s growing empire was the inauguration of the Showa Restoration.

• This movement characterised all things Western in a negative light and stressed the glorification of the Emperor.

• This movement produced youths who were blindly loyal to the nation.

• This further developed Japan’s militarism.*

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The Showa RestorationThe Showa Restoration

• Patriotic societies had been growing since the 1920s in Japan.

• Many of them had close connections with the Army.

• They were extremely nationalistic and wanted Japan to adopt an aggressive foreign policy.

• Some societies such as the Black Dragon Society wanted to eliminate democratic leaders so that Japan would adopt a more aggressive foreign policy.*

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Patriotic societiesPatriotic societies

• The Army and Navy had great influence over the government.

• Since the late 19th century, they had been pressing the government to acquire more colonies like what the Western nations were doing.

• Military successes in Manchuria and parts of China made them even more ambitious to pursue an expansionist policy.

• Leaders who did not support the military ambitions were often the subjects of assassination attempts.*

21Army’s and Navy’s Army’s and Navy’s great Influence over great Influence over

the Governmentthe Government

• 1894–1895 : Sino-Japanese War. Japan gained Taiwan and parts of the Liaodung Peninsula.

• 1904–1905 : Russo-Japanese War. Japan was the first Asian power to defeat an European power.

• 1905 : Japan gain rights to build a railway in Manchuria. It also gained the southern Sakhalin Island.

• 1910 : Japan gained full control of Korea.

• 1914 : Japan joined the Allies in World War I and occupied German territories in Shantung and parts of the Pacific Islands.

• 1915 : Japan issued 21 Demands on China.*

22Army’s and Navy’s great Army’s and Navy’s great influence over the influence over the

governmentgovernment

• In 1930, the Army brought down Hamaguchi’s government. He was shot and wounded. He died a year later of the wounds.

• Hamaguchi’s assassins were left off with a light jail sentence.

• In May 1932, the Army assassinated PM Inukai for criticising the Kwantung Army’s actions in Manchuria.

• Succeeding PMs either felt pressured to support the Kwantung Army or were already strong supporters themselves especially after the Mukden Incident in 1932.*

23Military takeover of Military takeover of JapanJapan

Impact of growth of Fascism in Japan on the World

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For Germany and ItalyJapan started to forge closerties with these Fascist States.

For JapanFor the next 13 years, Japanbecame more aggressive in its foreignpolicy. It disregarded the WashingtonNaval Conference and expandedits Navy.

For the USA, Britain and FranceThese countries were toopreoccupied with the GreatDepression.Furthermore they had a commonenemy in the Communists.They were hence generally morecordial.

For ChinaJapan became bolder towardsChina and took steps to expandFurther into China.

Most importantly, it was the growth of Fascism in Japan that led Japan into World War II.

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What led to the rise of Fascism

in Japan?

Impact of economic problemsImpact of economic problems• Problems at the end of WorldProblems at the end of World War IWar I• 1929 Great Depression1929 Great Depression

Fear of Chinese NationalismFear of Chinese Nationalism• Anti-Japanese protestsAnti-Japanese protests

Unhappiness with former Allied PowersUnhappiness with former Allied Powers• 1919 Versailles Treaty1919 Versailles Treaty• 1921–1922 Washington Naval Conference1921–1922 Washington Naval Conference• Mid-1920s immigration issuesMid-1920s immigration issues

Unhappiness with JapaneseUnhappiness with Japaneseleaders who wanted friendly leaders who wanted friendly ties with former Allied Powersties with former Allied Powers

Failure of democratic governmentFailure of democratic government• Weakness of the Japanese Weakness of the Japanese parliamentparliament• Corrupt politiciansCorrupt politicians• Lacked support of workers Lacked support of workers and farmersand farmers

SummarySummary