The Taishô Era: Japan's Struggle for Democracy
I. Taishô (1912-26) Political Crisis (Taishô seihen)
A. Yoshihito, the Taishô Emperor (1879-1926)
1. reign of emperor increasingly symbolic
2. Prince Hirohito named regent in 1921
B. late-1912 PM Saionji Kinmochi (1849-1940)
1. Imperial Army minister resigned
2. Army refused to supply a new candidate
3. Saionji's downfall---forced to resign
C. Katsura Tarô (1848-1913) succeeded Saionji
1. ex-Chôshû samurai protege of Yamagata Aritomo
2. 1901-12 Saionji & Katsura alternated as PM
3. Previous achievements & policies
a. Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902)
b. Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)
c. Annexation of Korea (1910)
d. Oppressive stance towards leftist groups
i. High Treason Incident of 1910 (taigyaku jiken)
ii. Kôtoku Shôsui & 24 others executed for plot to assassinate
Emperor
Meiji
e. recognized as a genrô "elder statesman"
4. Navy demanded expanded budget for new battleships
5. Katsura: Imperial Edict demanding a Naval Minister
D. Movement for the Protection of Constitutional Government (kensei yôgo
undô)
1. anti-hanbatsu--esp Chôshû's dominance
2. Feb. 10, 1913 massive demonstrations against Katsura
3. Katsura died shortly after his cabinet fell
E. PM: Yamamoto Gonnohyôe (1852-1933) ex-Satsuma
II. "Taishô demokurashii"
A. Relative decline of genrô "elder statesmen"
1. Itô Hirobumi (1909)
2. Yamagata Aritomo (1922)
B. Theories of Democracy, Imperial System
1. Yoshino Sakuzô (1878-1933)Tôdai Prof of Politics
a. minshu shugi "democracy" or "popular soverignty"
irrelevant to Japan since sovereignty resides in the people
b. minpon shugi Yoshino's term for democracy--makes people the
basic concern
c. urged limitation of non-constitutional entities like Privy Council,
Army, etc.
2. Minobe Tatsukichi (1873-1948) Tôdai Law
a. tennô kikan setsu or "Organ Theory"
i. sovereignty belongs to the state
ii. emperor is highest organ of state
b. 1935 Minobe attacked for lese majesty, his writings banned; 1936 attempted
assassination
3. Hozumi Yatsuka (1860-1912)--traditional view
C. First Party Cabinet--Hara Kei (1856-1921)
1. Itô founded Seiyûkai (Friends of Constitutional Govt Party)
in 1900
2. Hara rose as a "party functionary;" not from Satcho
3. 1914 leader of Seiyûkai
4. inflation--1918 Rice Riots: Hara-Seiyûkai cabinet
5. Korean Independence Movement, leftists suppressed
6. Nov. 1921 murdered by an ultranationalist over alleged corruption in
his cabinet (Washington
Conference 1922)
D. Universal Manhood Suffrage
1. Universal Suffrage League (1897-1911) claimed extension of vote would
enhance international
standing
2. Kenseikai "Constitutional Govt. Party"
a. founded by supporters of Katsura Tarô in 1913 after the Taishô
Pol. Crisis
b. 1925 Kenseikai Universal Suffrage bill passed
i. all males over 25--no tax qualification
ii. electorate increased from 3 to 25 million
c. Peace Preservation Law of 1925
E. Left-Wing Movements--Socialism, Communism, Labor Unions
F. International Cooperation
1. WWI and the Allied Effort
a. Aug. 23, 1914 Japan declared war on Germany
b. occup. Shandong, Marshalls, Marianas, Carolines
c. economic boon--armaments supplied to Europe
2. Twenty-One Demands presented to China in Jan. 1915
5 Categories: I-IV recognized Japan's special rights and privileges
in German concessions, Manchuria, Iron mines in N. China. Category V would
have placed Japanese "advisors" at all levels of Chinese administration--politics,
economy, military, police; Japanese own land where built hospitals, schools,
etc.; arms purchased from japan only; Japan does the RR construction for
China coast, ie. ALL SPECIAL POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND TERITORIAL PRIVILIGES.
a. transfer of German rights to Japan
b. extension of leases in South Manchuria, Mongolia
c. Japanese political, military, economic advisors
The 21 Demands leaked to press and Chinese and world stunned = National
Day of Humiliation!
3. Treaty of Versailles (1919) racial equality clause
a. Shandong and other German possessions given
b. catalyzed May 4th Movement in Beijing
4. Washington Naval Limitation Treaty (Feb. 1922)
A. Four Power (Pacific) Treaty--U.S., U.K., France and Japan
i. to replace Anglo-Japanese Alliance
ii. to guarantee each others rights and possessions in the Pacific
B. 5 Power Naval Arms Limitation Treaty --add Italy
i. 5:5:3 ratio in naval tonnage for US/Brt/Jpn (US,UK are 2-ocean
navies)
ii. No new UK bases east of HK, No new US bases West of Pearl Harbor
so Japan gets security in home waters
iii. Chinese sovereignty restored to Shandong peninsula in exchange
for economic privileges
iv. non-intervention Chinese domestic afairs
C. 9 Power Treaty includes Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy and China
i. respect for Chinese territorial integrity
ii. no fishing in Chinese troubled waters
iii. to US meant old Open Door philsosphy
iv. to Japan, meant special privileges are recognized by this treaty
So the same treaty meant different things to the signatories.
5. London Naval Conference (1930)