04/07/23
1
Fascist Japan
What is Fascism? Japan before 1930s The beginnings of Fascist Japan in 1930s What were the external factors that contributed to the rise of
Fascism in Japan What were the internal factors that contributed to the rise of
Fascism in Japan
2
04/07/23
04/07/23www.brainybetty.com
3
4
Mussolini (Italy) Hitler (Germany) Franco (Spain)
Extreme nationalism A totalitarian system of government A one-party state Economic self-sufficiency (autarky) Military strength and violence
04/07/23
5
Japan
04/07/23
7
04/07/23
8
Tokugawa (Edo) Period 1603–1868 Unification and centralization Social class system
Meiji Period 1868–1912 “The opening of Japan” European/ US forced Japan to open up
ports to foreign trade in 1853 The drive for Modernization
Taisho Period (1912- 1926)
Showa Period (1926- 1989)
The government of more than 250 years had been overthrown.
Closed to the western world for about 2 ½ centuries
Japanese society and technological advances progressed very slowly
04/07/23www.brainybetty.com
10
1853: Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s ‘Black ships’ defied the shogun and sailed directly to the bay of Japan
o Japan was a convenient refueling stop on the San Francisco to Shanghai route
o Industrial Revolution in the West required new markets
o Used guns to threaten the Japanese
04/07/23
11
Time of confusion and instability
Japanese leaders and foreigners were assassinated
By the end of the 15th Tokugawa shogun, Yoshinobu (1837-1913) resigned and the rule came to an end.
04/07/23
12
The new leaders of Meiji Period were now convinced that Japan had to modernize itself
Adopt western technologies, system and knowledge
The Meiji restoration “Enlightened Rule’
Culture and Education Fashion Government and Society Army
However, to keep Japan from being vulnerable to the threat of Western colonisation…
Most impt aim: growth of national identity to unite the country
Nationalism led to the increase in Japan’s military power
a strong military tradition that imitated the Samurai’s code of behavior
They were proud to be Japanese (extreme nationalist)
They felt that Japan must be independent, superior to other countries and rule over them.
04/07/23
17
A Samurai
Samurais
Code of Conduct for Samurais
The Meiji period came to an end with the death of the Emperor in 1912.
Taisho period (1912-1926): short period under democratic rule, rise in the influence of military
Showa period (1926- 1989): Emperor Hirohito
Emperor as a leading figure that actually had no power.
21
1868 – 1912
Meiji Period
1912– 1926
Taisho Period
1926 – 1989
Showa Period
Height of Japanese militarism
Modernisation of Japan
Democratization of Japan
04/07/23
23
General Hideki Tōjō
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
JAPANESE MILITARY
Japanese Diet (Democratic Govt)
From Democracy to FascismAuthoritarian Regimes: Japan
*SEQ Examinable
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Reasons for Failure of Japanese Democracy (Diet)
Limited powers of Diet
Corruption Could not solve
economic problems
Taisho Emperor - son of the Meiji Emperor. His reign was known as the era of Taisho Democracy (Reigned from 1912 – 1926)
The Diet’s Limited Power
2 houses House of Peers –
members of imperial family, Japanese nobles who’re nominated by Emperor
House of Representatives – Elected by Japanese pple. Emperor can dissolve house.
The Imperial Diet in session
The Diet’s Limited Power
However, real power was with Emperor, prime minister, army & navy ministers
Japan had no democratic tradition Emperor usually appointed ministers who
were loyal to him – many of these were old & conservative.
Many saw civilian politicians as weak & soft, esp. in Jp foreign policy
The Japanese Government
Prime Minister
CABINET
DIET (Japanese Parliament)
- Emperor had power to dissolve the Diet.
- Military generals had more power than the cabinet => Veto power
- PM and cabinet appointed by the Emperor
- Diet did not have powers to make decisions
Diet had little power toPush through with its decisionsOvershadowed by the Emperor and military
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Corruption
Zaibatsus (wealthy companies) were supporting & bankrolling politicians & their election campaigns
Had a lot of influence in the govt. Could influence law-making in their favour. Close ties between zaibatsu and democratic
leaders led to rumours of corruption Diet was unable to gain support of ordinary
Japanese
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Economic Problems
Rice farmers had little land & had to pay high rental
Workers also had to put up with low wages, long hours & harsh working conditions
Japanese rice farmers faced very harsh working conditions
Economic Problems
Trade imbalance– had to import more raw materials to manufacture goods and more food for the increasing population. This caused Japan to spend more than it earned
Money needed for imports
Money earned from exporting goods to the west
Great Depression
West stopped buying goods from Japan
Japanese exports suffered= no income
High unemployment & inflation
Japanese began to blame the democratic govt.
Japanese silk farmers feeding silk worms – silk was Japan’s major export in the early 1900s.
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Showa Restoration – education emphasized intense nationalism & anti-foreign sentiments
Also focused on blind loyalty to the emperor.
Showa Emperor or more commonly known by his name, Hirohito. (Reigned 1926 – 1989)
New education policies From the 1890s, the
education system of Japan emphasized nationalism, loyalty to the Emperor, self-sacrifice and obedience
The movement produced youths who were blindly loyal to the Emperor and nation
They were taught to believe in militarism and an aggressive foreign policy
Defending Japan’s
Economic Interests Strong
&Brave
Stand up to western powers
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Patriotic Societies
Ultra-nationalistic organisations
Pushed for aggressive foreign policy & militarism
Believed Japan’s destiny was to “go forth, conquer & rule!”
Many of these societies worked against the civilian govt whom they believed were soft
The rising sun flag of Imperial Japan. A symbol of Japanese aggression & imperialism
Black Dragon Society
Cherry Blossom Society
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Increasing Military support
Military had been successful in battles since 1895.
Made military very influential
People saw military action as the answer to their probs, also saw civilian govt as weak
Military were soon acting independently from civilian govt.
Sino Japanese War 1894-95 Gained Liaodong Peninsula & Taiwan
Military Takeover of Japan
PM Hamaguchi wanted to reduce naval arms, reduce military budget and improve ties with China betray Japan! (wounded in assassination)
PM Ki Inukai was also assassinated by army in 1932
His murderers served light sentences
Succeeding PMs felt increasingly pressured by military’s ambitions.
By the mid 1930s, Japan had become a military controlled government.
Internal factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Showa Restoration
Loyalty Movement/ Campaign
Patriotic Societies
Failure of democracyMilitary’s influence
Limited powers of Diet
Corrupt politicians
Could not solve economic problems
Failure to meet the needs of peasants and workersFailure to solve trade imbalance
Successes in wars (Korea, WWI, Sino-Jap, Russo- Jap)
Strong public support
Democratic leaders were assassinatedGreat Depression
caused sufferings and led to the support of Fascist ideas
Japan’s power in East Asia grew in the first 30 years of the 20th century.
However, it began to gather “enemies” and as it began to modernise, Japan’s eye for raw materials become bigger and bigger…
04/07/23
57
Russo Japanese War (1905- 1945)
China-First Sino-Japanese war (1894-95)-Second Sino-Japanese war (1937- 1945)-Relationship rarely friendly-Japan wanted to obtain as much resources from China as possible before it became too strong (rise of Chinese Nationalism)-Wanted to replace China as Asia’s no.1 power
USA-Japan became a threat to USA’s trade and investments in China-American control over Hawaii and Philippines threaten Japanese military and economic interests.-Washington Naval Conference (1921)Japanese received unfavorable naval ratio. USA (5): Britain (5): Japan (3)-Strict immigration laws (1920s)-Protectionism: imposed high taxes for Japanese (foreign) goods
Britain, France and LON-Japan joined Br. And Fr. Against Germany in WWI 1914- 1918-During PPC (1919), LON refused to acknowledge the equality of races
Korea colonised by Japan 1905- 1945
Asia- a land area rich in raw materials
Germany-After WWI, the Kaiser abdicated and Germany came under the rule of the provisional government (democracy) however… was it popular?
Japan and the world in the early 20th century
External factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Economic competition in the Asia-pacific region
Washington Naval Conference
Immigration laws
Tax policies
Paris Peace Conference
Gain colonies in China before it became strong under united Nationalist government
Worsening foreign relationsRise of Chinese
NationalismNeed to remove obstacle
to solution
Need to be more superior, gain status
Need to solveover-popn
prob
Need to gain markets and raw materials
Need to gain markets and raw materials
Worsening Foreign Relations
Competition with America over Asia and Pacific islands
American control over Hawaii and Philippines threaten Japanese military and economic interests
Competition over the Pacific Islands strained Japanese relations with America.
Need to remove threat
USA
Japan
Asia ???
Worsening Foreign Relations
LON refused to acknowledge the equality of races during Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Washington Naval Conference (1921) – Japan received unfavourable naval ratio USA (5) : Britain (5) : Japan (3)
The Imperial Navy resented being treated as a 2nd rate power, especially when it had defeated the Russians & Chinese in naval battles.
They felt that it was a deliberate attempt by the USA to restrict Japanese power and growth
Need to be more superior, gain status
Worsening Foreign Relations Strict American immigration laws
(1920s) due to isolationist and protectionist policy: forbade entry of all Asian immigrants
No American citizenship, no land also made Japanese feel inferior
By the early 1900s, many Japanese immigrants or issei had flocked to America in search of a better life
Why were the Japanese angry?
Japan needs to ease its population growth… so…
Japanese Military’s Reaction?
Need to solveover-population problem
Worsening Foreign Relations
USA imposed high import taxes to protect its industries, making Japanese goods very expensive in the USA and hurting the Japanese economy badly.
Need to gain more markets and raw materials
External – Rise of Chinese Nationalism Japan defeated China in 1894-95 Sino-
Japanese War Since then, exploited China’s weakness TOV awarded Shantung Peninsula to Japan
– sparked off May 4th Movt & anti-Japanese sentiments
Saw China’s vast resources as answer to economic problems
Wanted to replace China as Asia’s no. 1 power
Chinese protestors take to the streets in outrage over Japanese seizure of Shantung.
Rise of Chinese Nationalism
The foreign powers helping themselves to a piece of ChinaThe giant
killer
External – Rise of Chinese Nationalism 1920s: KMT (Nationalist) vs. CCP
(Communist) 1927: KMT joins CCP to fight
warlords and end all special concessions given to the Westerners and Japanese
They demonstrated and boycotted Japanese goods
The Japanese army stationed in Manchuria proposed that Japan occupy Manchuria and North China before China became too strong
Chiang Kai Shek (leader of KMT)
Need to gain more markets and raw materials
1911 Revolution
Qing/Manchu Rule
KMT Rule
Foreign powers
External factors that contributed to the
Rise of Fascism in Japan
Economic competition in the Asia-pacific region
Washington Naval Conference
Immigration laws
Tax policies
Paris Peace Conference
Gain colonies in China before it became strong under united Nationalist government
Worsening foreign relationsRise of Chinese
Nationalism
Need to remove threat
Need to be more superior, gain status
Need to solveover-popn
prob
Need to gain markets and raw materials
Need to gain markets and raw materials
The Manchurian ‘Incident’ (18 September 1931)
• What happened? Japanese soldiers patrolling the Japanese-owned railway line near Mukden heard an explosion and gunfire Believing they were under attack by Chinese, they called for backup and began firing back Large scale fighting broke out
• Many people believed that the explosion in the Manchurian ‘Incident’ was deliberately set by the Japanese to give them an excuse to ‘fight back’ and seize control of Manchuria
Manchukuo
• By end of January 1932, Japan was in control of south Manchuria and large parts of northern China – renamed Manchukuo
• Announced as an ‘independent’ state Not belonging to China, USSR or Japan However, its leader Pu Yi was chosen by the Japanese
• Only Italy and Germany recognised Japan’s control of Manchukuo
Pushed Japan into closer ties with these fascist countries
Political power
• In 1932, Prime Minister Inukai was assassinated for openly disagreeing with the army
• From this point on, the military was more open in its control of the government
• More assassinations took place to remove undesirable threats to military power
• The army, with the emperor at the head as a puppet, was in charge
Summary
Effects of Japanese Fascism by 1939
Every Exam Question
Step 1: Address the Question
Step 2: Provide Evidence
Step 3: Explain
Every Exam Question
SEQ homework
Do you agree that the impact of the Great Depression was the most important reason for the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931? Explain your answer.