The economic of Japan remained silence in the mid-1920s but there was another big blow to the Japanese economic in the late 1920s. The Wall Street Crash in the United States in 1929 led to the later Great Depression. The worldwide depression made most of the countries adopted a protective tariff. For example, in 1930, the US raised import duties on Japanese goods by 23%.Moreover, trade union were formed among the countries on the American continent and British Common Wealth. Because of these measures, the export of Japanese goods was hugely affected. As a result, unemployment occurred. Once again, the urban workers discontented as they were poor and hard to earn a living.
The poor economic condition of Japan was worsen by a series of natural disasters. For example, in 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake hit the Kanto plain and destroyed the capital Tokyo, Yokohama and the surroundings. People lost home; factories closed. The social welfare system was a failure as the help to the people by the government was inadequate. The government lent loans to the factory owners but the policy created new problems and finally led to the banking crisis in 1927. The natural disasters not only hit the economic, but also exposed the weaknesses, incapability, inefficiency of the government. Common people were disappointed and discontent.
As the above paragraph shows, the shortcomings of the party rules played a part leading to the social discontent. Traditionally, the cabinet was formed by genro or militarists. Due to a number of reasons, the party rules first started in 1918. However, there were weaknesses of the party rules. Firstly, the political parties served the interests of a small group of leaders, such as zaibatsu and landowning classes. In order to earn the financial support from the zaibatsu, the political parties promised the zaibatsu that there would be benefits, such as contract from government, lower taxes, for them if the party came to power. The Seiyukai was nicknamed as ‘Mitsui Cabinet’ and the Minseito was known as ‘Mitsubishi Cabinet’. On the other hand, the interests of the common people were totally ignored. The government tried to check popular social movements like labour activities. The discontent and disbelieve to the party government from common people can be imagined.
In the field of foreign policy, the ‘Shidehara Policy’ disappointed the ultra-nationalists and militarists. Since 1890s, the Japanese government adopted an aggressive policy. In fact, they won and benefited from the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) and First World War (1914-1918). However, ‘Shidehara Policy’, which was about international cooperation and economic peaceful expansion, was adopted after the First World War. For example, in the Washington Conference (1921) and London Conference (1930), the number of Japanese warships was confined. And the policy towards China was a peaceful and helpful one during the 1920s. However, in the eyes of the ultra-nationalists and militarists, the policy was weak and humiliation. Due to the 1889 constitution, the militarists had the privilege to speak directly to the Tenno and could stop the cabinet. The discontented and disappointed militarists were looking forward to regain the power.
There were a few new ideology in Japan in the 1920s and they had an impact on the social instability. The success of the Bolsheviks revolution in Russia stimulated the rise of communism and left-wing societies in Japan. They stood out the demand from the government more political rights and effective social welfare measures. The poor economic conditions made the left-wing societies much more popular. The conservatives in Japan feared the communism most and asked the government adopted some regressive measures. In order to resist, the movements and activities of the left wing societies grew more radical.
The successes of Nazis and Fascists in Europe in 1920s stimulated the growth of nationalist organizations. In 1920s, the disappointed soldiers military officers and radical intellectuals formed some radical, extreme rightist, nationalist society, such as the Great Japan Society or the Cherry Society. The societies organized crimes, terrorist activities, and spread the radical thoughts. Either the left-wings society or the right-wings society held some radical movements and it was no doubt that they brought instable to Japan.
As shown, nearly every class disappointed and discontented with the party rules. Some thought there was no different between a party government and a militarists’ government. Therefore they looked for change and during the change, social instability was a necessary outcome. There were several consequences due to the social instability.
First of all, the militarists, who were disappointed and discontented with the party government, again came to power. On 15 May 1932, the party government prime minister Inukai was assassinated and a few government buildings were attacked by a group of young officials belonged to the Control Faction. Though it was suppressed finally, the assassins were all pardoned by the Emperor. The May15 Incident was the symbol of the end of party rule and the rise of militarists again.
The international relationships with other countries were worsen. A much more aggressive foreign policy was adopted by the militarists. The militarists were not satisfied with and abandoned the “Shidehara Policy” which was about international cooperation and peaceful economic expansion. For example, they were eager to expand to Manchuria, which they had already occupied in 1932, and China. Moreover, the Treaty of Washington and Treaty of London were violated by them. As a result, Japan withdrew from League of Nations in 1933. Agreements were reached with Germany, which also adopted an aggressive expansion policy in Europe by Japan in 1936 and later formed the Axis with Germany and Italy. There were plans like “New Order in East Asia” and “Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”. Clearly, they would not follow the Shidehara Policy anymore. The aggressive policy finally led to the start of the Pacific War which Japan was against the Allies.
The social discontent and instability were relatively little and weak in 1930s while compare with the situations in 1920s. It was because the common people concentrated on wars rather than their own lives. The economic of Japan became better again as the factories were busy for producing arms. Men were moved to Manchuria and other places as soldiers and the problem of overpopulation were solved.
The Allied Occupation during 1945-1952 were one of the consequences of the social instability in 1920s and 1930s as well as the results of the rise of militarists in 1930s. Because of a number of reasons, the Japanese finally lost the Pacific Wars in 1945, which was the first serious military defeat that Modern Japan suffered. They were asked to surround unconditionally and were occupied by the Allies in the following years. The Allies, mainly the USA help the Japan to rebuilt, reform and made sure they were not harmful to the international peace in the future.
As shown, there were a number of internal and external reasons led to the social instability in Japan during the 1920s and early 1930s. It is fair to say the economic ones played a large extent as they directly harmed the life of the commons. The consequences of the social instability during the 1920s and early 1930s were significant. The most significant one was the rise of the militarists. The other consequences, such as the start of Pacific War, the Allied Occupation, were mainly the result of the rise of militarists.
