The 1930s: the Manchurian Incident and Japanese politics

The Manchurian Incident of 1931 was a clash between Chinese nationalism and Japanese imperialism.  It led to a drastic change of the political orientations of the Japanese state, and began what later would be called the "15 years" war between Japan and China.  It looked like a single-handed feat by the Kwantung Army, whose aggressions in China contrasted with a passive stance of the Japanese government.

Imperialism and the rise of conservatism/nativism:

Q: Explain the scene on p.405.  How could Captain Kawamoto of the Kwantung Army start a war on China on his own? 

Q: How do you explain the position of the Japanese government on the Manchurian Incident?

Q: What were the main reasons for the right wing's backlash against party governments and big businesses? Who were they? What were their chief means to achieve their goals?

 

Japanese politics after the Manchurian Incident:

Q: How to explain the government's response to the right wing resurgence in its own reform?

Q: how was the Feb.26 incident put down and what did the incident say about the dynamics (e.g. right vs. left and moderate) of Japanese politics?