Imperial Way Faction: Encyclopedia II - Imperial Way Faction - Origins of the movement

Imperial Way Faction - Origins of the movement

Imperial Way Faction - Political environment

The origins of this party in the 1920s saw the last of the old-style samurai officers going and a new radical breed taking their place in the Japanese military. Officer groups, such as the Double Leaf Society, which were secret societies themselves and with ties to the other secret groups, were formed with the fanatical beliefs of ultranationalism and the need for a purge of the Choshu elements of the army. The Army became divided between the Kodaha (Imperial Benevolent Rule or Action Group) led by Colonel (later General) Sadao Araki and the Toseiha (Control Group) led by General Kazushige Ugaki. The groups later merged and incorporated ideas from right-wing, fascist and right socialist ideologies and political philosophies. Influences were Kita Ikki and Nakano Seigo, amongst others. It drew on the secret political societies of the 1920s. Together, both groups formed a political movement to gain power by democratic elections, or if necessary, by force.

After friction with the civilian government, the Army became more isolated and more of a power unto itself. The government had a better control over the Imperial Japanese Navy, but the grip was weakening, too. Faced with the limits imposed by the Washington Armaments Conference of 1921, the Navy was split into two factions, the Fleet Faction and the Treaty Faction. The latter group prevailed in the beginning, and in the process won a public relations victory. During the 1920s, the civilian government largely managed to keep the radicals in the military in check.

Osachi Hamaguchi replaced Tanaka Giichi as Prime Minister in 1928 and formed a new cabinet. Initial public confidence bolstered Hamaguchi's government and allowed him to successfully challenge the military radicals and get the London Naval Conference of 1930 treaty ratified. That was the last pre-war instance of true civilian government, and real challenge to the military radicals. Hamaguchi was the target of an assassination attempt on November 14, 1930. The assassin was Tomeo Sagoya, a member of the Aikoku-sha (Love of Country Association), yet another ultranationalist secret sect. Hamaguchi survived but was hospitalized for several months. He returned to his post in March 1931 but resigned a month later.

Following the war, a peace movement developed in Japan; the militarists might have begun to lose their power. Several events conspired, however, to destroy any hopes of ousting them. A major influence was the way in which the United States acted, and came to be perceived in Japan: America grew to become Japan's clear rival during this period. The USA opposed Japan's territorial acquisitions, and any geo-political moves Japan would make; while pursuing her own emerging colonial aspirations. Relations, already soured, continued a gradual but steady decline with each year.

Factional strife continued until December 25, 1926 when the weak Emperor Taisho died. Crown Prince Hirohito took over the throne. The Great Depression saw unchecked military plots. The target was the overt colonization of Manchuria and other key parts of China. Shortly the Kwantung Army took matters into its own hands, and moved through Manchuria.

Imperial Way Faction - Japanese military politics

The Kodoha faction, later a real party, was a political wing of the Imperial Armed forces. The real idea of the Army militarists, in the Right-socialist and right-wing line, was a return to the old Shogunate system, but in the form of a modern Military Shogunate. In such a government the Emperor would once more be a figurehead (as in the Edo period). Real power would fall to a leader, in fact very similar to a Führer or Duce, though with the power less nakedly held. On the other hand, the Navy militarists defended the Emperor and a monarchial constitution. For them the religious aspect was significant.

From 1905 and victory in the Russo-Japanese War, the Army and Navy had high confidence in their ability to roll back the Western great powers, given only time and resources. From that point of view, democratic institutions existed on tolerance.

The actual position of the Showa Emperor has been much discussed. He was most important as nationalist symbol, taking its place in the constructed State Shintoism. Subjects believed him to be the supreme leader, with power to promote or dismiss in central government. While the popular image was that he was well and effectively advised, as well as holding power, a group of fictional advisers and non-military aristocrats, without real function, constituted those nearest the Throne. The military men operated at a little distance.

Imperial Way Faction - Industrialists and militarism

At same time, the capitalist groups or zaibatsu (principally Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sumitomo, Yasuda) could see themselves as the Krupps of the future. Raw materials were a major concern. Fumimaro Konoye synthesised pressing social concerns, and the needs of capital, as a planned expansionist mission.

The seeds of World War Two which were long in germinating were planted in the mid 19th century. In hindsight, the reasons for the war were largely economic. The seizure or protection of spheres of influence, the maintenance of territorial integrity, the acquisition of raw materials as well as Asian markets for the commercial opportunities they presented were all reasons which would eventually account for so much loss of life and national treasure.

Western nations, notably Great Britain, France, and the United States, had for more than one hundred years prior to the outbreak of hostilities exhibited great interest in the commercial opportunities in China and other parts of Asia. These opportunities had attracted Western investment for the exploitation of raw materials for the manufacture of products not only for domestic consumption but for export of finished goods back to the Orient

These opportunities were eyed covetously by Japan through what was to become known as the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere.

Once outright war was joined, the Domei Tsushin Press Agency would celebrate the quality of Japan's armaments. Mitsubishi and the others had taken the measure of the "white barbarians".

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Origins of the movement", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki