Empire of Japan

===Early Shōwa (1926–1930)===
[[File:Emperor Shōwa Army 1938-1-8.jpg|thumb|[[Hirohito|Emperor Shōwa]] during an army inspection on January 8, 1938]]{{Expand section|Article 11 of the [[Meiji Constitution]] and how the military had/gained influence in the civilian cabinet|date=April 2021|small=no}}{{More citations needed section|date=March 2024}}{{Main|Shōwa period}}

====Rise of militarism and its social organisations====
{{See also|Japanese militarism}}

Important institutional links existed between the party in government ([[Kōdōha]]) and military and political organizations, such as the [[Imperial Young Federation]] and the "Political Department" of the [[Kempeitai]]. Amongst the himitsu kessha (secret societies), the [[Black Dragon Society|Kokuryu-kai]] and Kokka Shakai Shugi Gakumei (National Socialist League) also had close ties to the government. The [[Tonarigumi]] (residents committee) groups, the Nation Service Society (national government trade union), and [[Imperial Farmers Association]] were all allied as well. Other organizations and groups related with the government in wartime were the [[Double Leaf Society]], [[Kokuhonsha]], [[Imperial Rule Assistance Association|Taisei Yokusankai]], [[Imperial Youth Corps]], [[Police services of the Empire of Japan|Keishichō]] (to 1945), Shintoist Rites Research Council, [[Treaty Faction]], [[Fleet Faction]], and [[Volunteer Fighting Corps]].

====Nationalism and decline of democracy====
{{Main|Japanese nationalism|Statism in Shōwa Japan|Imperial Way Faction|May 15 Incident|February 26 Incident}}
{{Further|Imperial Rule Assistance Association}}

[[Sadao Araki]] was an important figurehead and founder of the Army party and the most important militarist thinker in his time. His first ideological works date from his leadership of the Kōdōha (Imperial Benevolent Rule or Action Group), opposed by the [[Tōseiha]] (Control Group) led by General [[Kazushige Ugaki]]. He linked the ancient (''[[bushido]]'' code) and contemporary local and European fascist ideals (see [[Statism in Shōwa Japan]]), to form the ideological basis of the movement (Shōwa nationalism).

[[File:226 Police HQ Rebels.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Rebel troops assembling at police headquarters during the [[February 26 incident|February 26 Incident]]]]

From September 1931, the Japanese were becoming more locked into the course that would lead them into the Second World War, with Araki leading the way. [[Totalitarianism]], [[militarism]], and [[expansionism]] were to become the rule, with fewer voices able to speak against it. In a September 23 news conference, Araki first mentioned the philosophy of "Kōdōha" (The [[Imperial Way Faction]]). The concept of Kodo linked the Emperor, the people, land, and morality as indivisible. This led to the creation of a "new" Shinto and increased [[Emperor worship]].

On February 26, 1936, a coup d'état was attempted (the [[February 26 Incident]]). Launched by the ultranationalist Kōdōha faction with the military, it ultimately failed due to the intervention of the Emperor. Kōdōha members were purged from the top military positions and the Tōseiha faction gained dominance. However, both factions believed in expansionism, a strong military, and a coming war. Furthermore, Kōdōha members, while removed from the military, still had political influence within the government.

The state was being transformed to serve the Army and the Emperor. Symbolic katana swords came back into fashion as the martial embodiment of these beliefs, and the [[Nambu pistol]] became its contemporary equivalent, with the implicit message that the Army doctrine of close combat would prevail. The final objective, as envisioned by Army thinkers such as Sadao Araki and right-wing line followers, was a return to the old Shogunate system, but in the form of a contemporary 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 very similar to a führer or duce, though with the power less nakedly held. On the other hand, the traditionalist Navy militarists defended the Emperor and a constitutional monarchy with a significant religious aspect.

A third point of view was supported by [[Prince Chichibu]], a brother of [[Emperor Shōwa]], who repeatedly counseled him to implement a ''direct imperial rule'', even if that meant suspending the constitution.<ref>[[Herbert Bix]], ''[[Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan]]'', 2001, p. 284</ref>

With the launching of the [[Taisei Yokusankai|Imperial Rule Assistance Association]] in 1940 by Prime Minister [[Fumimaro Konoe]], Japan would turn to a form of government that resembled totalitarianism. This unique style of government, very similar to [[fascism]], was known as "Shōwa Statism".{{cn|date=March 2024}}

In the early twentieth century, a distinctive style of architecture was developed for the empire. Now referred to as [[Imperial Crown Style]] (帝冠様式, ''teikan yōshiki''), before the end of World War II, it was originally referred to as ''Emperor's Crown Amalgamate Style'', and sometimes ''Emperor's Crown Style'' (帝冠式, Teikanshiki). The style is identified by Japanese-style roofing on top of [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] styled buildings; and can have a centrally elevated structure with a pyramidal dome. The prototype for this style was developed by architect [[Shimoda Kikutaro]] in his proposal for the Imperial Diet Building (present National Diet Building) in 1920 – although his proposal was ultimately rejected. Outside of the Japanese mainland, in places like [[Taiwan]] and [[Korea]], Imperial Crown Style architecture often included regional architectural elements.<ref>{{cite book |author=Francis Chia-Hui Lin |title=Heteroglossic Asia: The Transformation of Urban Taiwan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BYIcBgAAQBAJ&pg=PT85 |date=January 9, 2015 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-317-62637-4 |pages=85–}}</ref>

Overall, during the 1920s, Japan changed its direction toward a democratic system of government. However, [[parliamentary government]] was not rooted deeply enough to withstand the economic and political pressures of the 1930s, during which military leaders became increasingly influential. These shifts in power were made possible by the ambiguity and imprecision of the Meiji Constitution, particularly as regarded the position of the Emperor in relation to the constitution.

====Economic factors====
[[File:Bank run during the Showa Financial Crisis.JPG|thumb|upright|A bank run during the [[Shōwa financial crisis]], March 1927]]

During the 1920s, the whole global economy was dubbed as "a decade of global uncertainty". At the same time, the ''[[zaibatsu]]'' trading groups (principally [[Mitsubishi]], [[Mitsui]], [[Sumitomo]], and [[Yasuda zaibatsu|Yasuda]]) looked towards great future expansion. Their main concern was a shortage of raw materials. Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe combined social concerns with the needs of capital, and planned for expansion. Their economic growth was stimulated by certain domestic policies and it can be seen in the steady and progressive increase of materials such as in the iron, steel and chemical industry.{{sfn|Nish|2002|p=78}}

The main goals of Japan's expansionism were acquisition and protection of spheres of influence, maintenance of territorial integrity, acquisition of raw materials, and access to Asian markets. Western nations, notably the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, had for long exhibited great interest in the commercial opportunities in China and other parts of Asia. These opportunities had attracted Western investment because of the availability of raw materials for both domestic production and re-export to Asia. Japan desired these opportunities in planning the development of the [[Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere]].

The [[Great Depression]], just as in many other countries, hindered Japan's economic growth. The Japanese Empire's main problem lay in that rapid industrial expansion had turned the country into a major manufacturing and industrial power that required raw materials; however, these had to be obtained from overseas, as there was a critical lack of natural resources on the home islands.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Japan needed to import raw materials such as iron, rubber, and oil to maintain strong economic growth. Most of these resources came from the United States. The Japanese felt that acquiring resource-rich territories would establish economic self-sufficiency and independence, and they also hoped to jump-start the nation's economy in the midst of the depression. As a result, Japan set its sights on East Asia, specifically Manchuria with its many resources; Japan needed these resources to continue its economic development and maintain national integrity.