Episode 15 - The Homefront

In this episode of the History of Japan podcast, Isaac Meyer discusses the internal changes in Japan after the Russo-Japanese War that led to military governance, extremist international policy, and ultimately, war. He challenges the common explanation of fanatical military officers seizing control, arguing it's an oversimplification. Post-Russo-Japanese War, the military's prestige was low, and political life was dominated by the Meiji Restoration's old guard and rising business elites. By the 1920s, Japan was on a democratic course, but the impact of World War I and the Great Depression shifted public opinion, creating an environment where the military, allied with bureaucrats, could seize control. The assassination of Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi marked the end of civilian rule, with the military finding popular support through propaganda that offered solutions to economic problems and scapegoated the West.