Sizeable section of the Japanese people did not have faith in the representative institutions and believed in direct action. This resulted in the founding of a number of ultra nationalistic secret societies which carried on terroristic activities and virulent propaganda against their opponents.

1. Lack of Faith in Representative Institutions.

Sizeable section of the Japanese people did not have faith in the representative institutions and believed in direct action. This resulted in the founding of a number of ultra nationalistic secret societies which carried on terroristic activities and virulent propaganda against their opponents.

These reactionary societies looked to the armed forces for leadership because the army officers who represented the lower classes, could better champion the cause of peasants and members of other lower classes. Further, these army officers were highly resentful of the political and economic domination of the businessmen. They also did not have faith in capitalist and favoured radical programme to better the economic status of the underprivileged peasantry.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

2. Past Tradition.

The century old Japanese tradition of docile obe­dience to the authoritarian rule also greatly contributed to the growth of the ultra-nationalism and authoritarianism.

In fact some of the Japanese found themselves ill at least under the liberal system. As one writer has observed, ‘Without the strong influence surviving from the feudal past, it seems improbable that the reaction of the 1930’s would have occurred at all.”

He further asserted that in the early 1930’s the blatant militarism, fanatical nationalism and anti-liberal and anti-democratic prejudices of the younger anny and the navy officers and other reactionary groups swept over Japan in sudden reversal of the dominant trends of the preceding decade.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

The Parliamentary coalition of the bureaucrats, big businessmen and politicians with more or less active support from the urban middle class, had been the first successor of Meiji oligarchy. Now it was pushed aside by the militarists with the noisy backing of ultra-nationalistic socie­ties and tacit support of the rural population.”

3. Impact of Depression.

The economic depression of 1929 and the resultant collapse of international trade also contributed to the growth of militarism in Japan. As a result of the depression protective tariffs were introduced by various countries.

This seriously affected the trade and prosperity of Japan because she was dependent on other countries for raw-materials as well as the consumption of her products.