THE RADICALIZATION OF JAPAN’S POLICY IN THE SHOWA PERIOD ON THE EVE OF THE MANCHURIAN INCIDENT OF 1931

Abstract

After Emperor Taisho died in 1926, he was replaced on the throne by his son Hirohito, who took the motto of the reign ‘Showa’ (昭和, Enlightened World). The Showa period (1926–1989) was the longest era in Japanese history. The article deals with the four offices of 1927–1931 on the eve of the Manchurian incident of 1931 These are the offices of Tanaka Giichi (April 20, 1927 — July 2, 1929), Hamaguchi Osachi (July 2, 1929 — April 14, 1931), Wakatsuki Reijiro (April 14 — December 13, 1931), and Inukai Tsuyoshi (December 13, 1931 — May 16, 1932). The Inukai cabinet became the last “party” cabinet. The political situation in the country has changed significantly, and Japan entered a new political era, when in the period from 1932 to 1945 the cabinet was headed mainly by the military. The Manchurian incident of 1931, as well as the events that followed, marked the beginning of the capture of Manchuria by Japan and the foreshadowing of World War II. Japan occupied the northeastern part of China and restored the power of the Manchu Qing dynasty in the newly formed state of Manchukuo. In fact, Manchukuo did not play an independent role in the international arena and in domestic politics, any restrictions on the development of Japanese enterprises disappeared, all the resources of Manchuria were now open for use by Japan. Manchukuo was completely controlled by Japan, completely followed its policy and became a springboard for Japan to attack China.