Japanese Militarism - Blood on the Railway - Extra History - Part 3
Summary
TLDRThis historical narrative delves into the complex factionalism within Japan's military and political spheres during the early 20th century. It details the assassination of Chinese warlord Chang Tso-lin, orchestrated by Japanese military officers, and the subsequent impact on Japan's domestic and international standing. The script explores the ideological rifts between the Imperial Way and Control factions, their disdain for civilian government, and the escalation of militaristic actions leading to the invasion of Manchuria. It also touches on the economic hardships faced by Japan, the radicalization of its population, and the political assassinations that further destabilized the nation, setting the stage for a military coup.
Takeaways
- 😀 The script narrates a historical account of the assassination of Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin in 1928, orchestrated by Japanese military officers.
- 🏰 It discusses the complex factionalism within the Japanese military during the early 20th century, particularly the differences between the Imperial Way Faction and the Control Faction.
- 🌏 The script highlights the Japanese military's interest in territorial expansion, with the navy favoring expansion southward and the army focusing on Manchuria for strategic and resource reasons.
- 💥 The assassination of Zhang Zuolin was part of a plot by junior officers to either install a more compliant warlord or provoke a Japanese invasion of Manchuria.
- 🔍 The script describes the consequences of the failed plot, including the tarnishing of Japan's international image and internal political repercussions within the Japanese government.
- 🌾 The Great Depression had a severe impact on Japan's economy, leading to radicalization among the population and increased support for the military as an institution.
- 🗳️ The political party in power, the Minseitō, suffered due to worsening financial policies and perceived failures in foreign policy, which further fueled radical sentiments.
- 🚫 The signing of the London Naval Treaty of 1930 was seen as a betrayal by the navy and contributed to the growing discontent with the civilian government.
- 🔧 The script mentions the historical context of political violence being excused in Japan if the motives were considered patriotic, leading to a culture of impunity for certain actions.
- 🎆 The 'Cherry Blossom Society' and other groups attempted coups and instigations of martial law, indicating a growing trend of military intervention in politics.
- 🛤️ The 'Mukden Incident' of 1931 is depicted as a fabricated event used to justify Japanese military aggression and the start of a new war, illustrating the manipulation of events for political ends.
Q & A
What significant event occurred on June 4th, 1928, involving a train in Manchuria?
-On June 4th, 1928, a train carrying Chinese warlord Zhang Zuolin was bombed. This resulted in the death of two of his generals and left Zhang mortally wounded, an act orchestrated by a faction within the Japanese army.
Who were the two main factions within the Japanese military during the period discussed in the script?
-The two main factions within the Japanese military were the Imperial Way Faction, which advocated for the restoration of the emperor as the sole political power, and the Control Faction, which aimed to work within the current system but also supported military expansion into Manchuria and China.
What was the primary goal of the Japanese navy's territorial expansion plans?
-The primary goal of the Japanese navy's territorial expansion plans was to expand south into China and Southeast Asia to counter a possible naval war with the United States.
What was the Japanese army's strategy for territorial expansion, as opposed to the navy's?
-The Japanese army believed in dominating Manchuria to create a buffer against the Soviet Union and a unified China, and to allow Japan to directly extract natural resources.
What was the South Manchuria Railway's significance to Japan after the Russo-Japanese War?
-The South Manchuria Railway, acquired by Japan after the Russo-Japanese War, provided Japan access to the raw materials it needed from China and Mongolia, and the corridor around the railway was heavily developed by the zaibatsu for Japanese interests.
What was the intended outcome of the assassination of Zhang Zuolin by the junior officers of the Japanese army?
-The assassination was intended to either install a more competent warlord or provoke a full Japanese invasion to take direct control of Manchuria.
What was the impact of the Great Depression on Japan's economy?
-The Great Depression caused a dramatic fall in prices for agricultural and textile exports, particularly silks, which were vital for Japan's economy. This led to oversupply problems and widespread starvation in the countryside.
What political party was in power in Japan during the period of the script, and what was its stance on military budgets?
-The Minseitō party was in power during this period and was known for cutting military budgets, which further radicalized the population and increased support for the military.
What was the significance of the London Naval Treaty of 1930 for the Japanese navy?
-The London Naval Treaty of 1930 was seen by the Japanese navy as undermining Japan's maritime defense and usurping the emperor's power as commander-in-chief.
What was the 'Cherry Blossom Society' and what was their failed attempt in March 1931?
-The Cherry Blossom Society was a group of junior officers who attempted to spark riots to instigate martial law and pave the way for a coup in March 1931, but their plan was poorly organized and failed.
What event marked the beginning of a new war in September 1931, and how was it orchestrated?
-The Mukden Incident on September 18, 1931, marked the beginning of a new war. It was orchestrated by a group of Japanese officers who planned a rail bombing to attract Chinese troops and then invade in retaliation.
Outlines
🚂 Assassination of Warlord Chang and Factions within the Japanese Army
The script opens with the assassination of Chinese warlord Shangzolin on June 4th, 1928, aboard a train in Manchuria. Shangzolin, a former bandit and dictator of China, had been ousted by nationalist forces and was returning to Manchuria. The explosion that killed him and his generals was orchestrated by Japanese military allies, illustrating the complex factionalism within the Japanese army. The narrative then delves into the ideological divide between the Imperial Way faction, advocating for a return to a revered emperor and samurai past, and the Control faction, which sought modernization and territorial expansion into Manchuria and China. The assassination plot was a failed attempt by junior officers to either install a more compliant warlord or provoke a Japanese invasion, reflecting the military's desire for more direct control in Manchuria.
🌐 Economic Struggles and the Rise of Militarism in Japan
This paragraph discusses the political and economic turmoil in Japan following the Great Depression, which exacerbated existing issues and led to a loss of public faith in the civilian government. The Minsito party's policies were seen as ineffective, and the signing of the London Naval Treaty of 1930 further alienated the military. The narrative describes how the civilian government was perceived as corrupt and beholden to the zaibatsu, large corporations, while the military was increasingly viewed as Japan's last pure institution. It also highlights the rise of radicalism and the belief that the military could restore Japan's glory. The script mentions several failed coup attempts and assassinations, including the 1931 South Manchuria Railway bombing, which was a false flag operation to justify a Japanese invasion of Manchuria, leading to a new war and a military coup in Tokyo.
📱 Transition to Ting Mobile Advertisement
The script transitions from the serious topic of Japanese militarism to a light-hearted advertisement for Ting Mobile. The ad emphasizes the cost-saving benefits of Ting's customizable plans, which can significantly reduce phone bills without compromising coverage or service quality. The advertisement features a testimonial from a customer who has saved over $775 in ten months, highlighting the potential savings for families. The ad invites viewers to check their phone's compatibility and switch to Ting for a lower monthly bill, better coverage, and award-winning customer service, all without contracts.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Manchuria
💡Shangzolin
💡Nationalist Generalissimo
💡Factionalism
💡Imperial Way Faction
💡Control Faction
💡Zaibatsu
💡Quantum Army
💡Manchurian Incident
💡Great Depression
💡Minsuto
Highlights
On June 4th, 1928, Chinese warlord Shangzolin was assassinated in a train bombing orchestrated by his Japanese allies.
The Japanese military had different factions with varying views on territorial expansion, primarily focusing on Manchuria or Southeast Asia.
The Imperial Way Faction advocated for the abolition of civilian government and restoration of the emperor's sole political power.
The Control Faction aimed for military expansion into Manchuria and China but also supported modernization and industry.
Factions within the military despised civilian government for its perceived corruption and westernization.
A sub-faction believed an international crisis could lead to military control, serving the country and emperor.
The assassination of Shangzolin backfired, damaging Japan's international image and not leading to the desired invasion.
The South Manchuria Railway was a strategic asset for Japan, providing access to raw materials from China and Mongolia.
The Great Depression severely impacted Japan's economy, leading to political radicalization and a loss of faith in civilian government.
The Minsito party's policies worsened the economic situation and led to public anger towards their foreign policy.
The signing of the London Naval Treaty of 1930 was seen as a betrayal by the navy and a challenge to the emperor's power.
Political violence was often excused in Japan if the motives were considered patriotic or in the national interest.
The Cherry Blossom Society's failed coup attempt in 1931 was covered up, with no consequences for the conspirators.
The Mukden Incident in 1931 used a staged rail bombing to justify Japanese military aggression in Manchuria.
The military's actions in Manchuria led to a coup in Tokyo, further undermining civilian government.
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Transcripts
manchuria june 4th 1928 5 20 am a train
speeds through the darkness in the last
few minutes before the dawn inside sits
chinese warlord shangzolin a former
bandit he is master of manchuria and
until last month the dictator of the
republic of china but he's running now
ousted when the nationalist
generalissimo shanghai sheck and his
northern expansion forced him out of the
capital humbled he returns to the
territory he squeezed to financial
collapse intent on fulfilling his dream
of holding beijing for the first time in
months chang is safe his men guard this
railway apart from the portion where it
crosses the southern manchurian railroad
controlled by his ally japan and he can
see the crossing bridge quickly
approaching soon he'll be in his capital
and plotting his comeback
an explosion on the tracks rips the
train car nearly in half two of chang's
generals die in front of him and he
himself is mortally wounded the grisly
work of a bomb planted by his allies in
the japanese army
[Music]
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helping this historic tale come through
loud and clear
now you might have noticed for a series
on japanese militarism so far we've
mostly talked about civilian politics
and there's a good reason for that
because to understand how the tales
started to wag the dog in japanese
government we first have to really
understand the dog and while we spent
last episode talking about political
parties and factionalism today we're
going to be talking about more
factionalism because every organization
we discuss in this series the military
included was just a russian doll of
factions for example the japanese army
and navy had fundamentally different
versions of territorial expansion the
navy wanted to expand south into china
and southeast asia as a way to counter a
possible naval war with the united
states while the army by contrast
thought the key was to dominate
manchuria which would give it a buffer
against both the soviet union and the
increasingly unified china and allow
japan to directly extract natural
resources it otherwise had to gain
through foreign trade but even within
the army there were also factions for
instance a radical group known as the
imperial way faction mostly made up of
junior officers like lieutenants
captains and colonels from the
countryside preached an abolishment of
civilian government and a restoration of
the emperor as the sole political power
they wanted japan to go back to the
period of its glory with a revered
emperor and loyal samurai and without
the corruptions of party politics big
corporations industrialization and
commercialism now if you've seen our
other series on the sengokujidai and the
end of the samurai you realize this
period never really existed they were
hearkening back to an imaginary past
their rivals were the control faction
who wanted to work within the current
system but like the imperial way also
saw military expansion into manchuria
and china as the solution to japan's
economic political trade and population
difficulties but they also believed in
more modernization and industry than the
imperial way did and largely strived to
get japan in a position to preemptively
strike and defeat the soviet union but
both of these factions detested civilian
government which they saw as westernized
corrupt and beholden to the zaibatsu the
large corporations that backed parties
and candidates however it should be
noted that the control faction also
believed the zaibatsu were a key
ingredient in japan's war machine of
these groups a small sub-faction
believed that if they could force an
international crisis and get the
military into combat then they could
take the reins away from the civilian
leaders this they believed would serve
both country and emperor and most of
those plots centered on an area that was
then called manchuria a term we're going
to use for clarity's sake but just know
that name has some baggage attached to
it that we'll definitely discuss in our
lives episode anyway in 1905 one of the
spoils japan had acquired during the
russo-japanese war was the south
manchuria railway cutting through
northeastern china control of this
railway had given japan access to the
many raw materials it needed to import
from china and mongolia and the corridor
around the rails had been developed
heavily by the zaibatsu with factories
and towns for japanese workers plus a
large japanese force the quantum army
guarded these interests against chinese
warlords and local bandits but the
militarist factions wanted more they
wanted all of manchuria which is where
chang's olyn comes in see the quantum
army wanted to split governance of
manchuria with him but he seemed poised
to either open manchuria to trade with
the us and britain or else lose control
to the russian-backed shang who might
set up a soviet puppet state
so a group of junior officers decided to
assassinate him and either install a
more competent warlord or provoke a full
japanese invasion and take direct
control but the plot backfired they
never told their senior officers about
it and the quantum army simply wasn't
ready to invade plus when it leaked that
the japanese army officers had planted
the bomb the civilian government was
furious and japan's image tarnished on
the world stage then chang's son came to
power and in retaliation handed
manchuria to shang the military for
their part stonewalled the prime
minister's investigation into the
explosion and when the prime minister
reported this to emperor hirohito a few
careless displeased words from the
monarch meant it was the prime minister
who ended up resigning the quantum army
had essentially proved it could act
unilaterally and without approval or
oversight of the civilian government and
suffer zero consequences and to hirohito
who had not actually wanted the prime
minister to resign it was a sign that he
shouldn't insert himself into politics
meanwhile the economy took a dive japan
had barely clawed its way out a
financial panic when the great
depression laid it low the country
survived on agricultural and textile
exports particularly silks and now
prices for those goods fell dramatically
so to keep in business factories tried
to make up for this by producing more
leading to a oversupply problem all
while families starved in the
countryside the liberal party in power
the minsito took deep political damage
as well a successor of the ken sakai
their financial policies only worsened
the situation this in turn radicalized
large segments of the population who
primed by school curriculums and
military service bought into arguments
that civilian government had failed and
been corrupted by the zaibatsu the
military voters increasingly thought was
japan's last pure institution the
minsito became a further target of rage
due to its foreign policy they backed
diplomatic engagement with the united
states which had just banned all asian
immigrants angering the japanese public
along with non-engagement in china they
also cut military budgets but the last
straw was the signing of the london
naval treaty of 1930 which the navy
claimed undermined japan's maritime
defense and usurped the emperor's power
as commander-in-chief calls for radical
action proliferated which was
increasingly dangerous as japan had a
long history of authorities excusing
political violence if it was spontaneous
and the attacker's motives were
considered sincere and as we saw with
chiang's assassination those in power
were hesitant to punish bad actors if
they claimed patriotic motives or said
they acted to protect the emperor and
further the national interest in
november of 1930 an ultra-nationalist
belonging to an anti-communist group
shot and wounded the minsato prime
minister at tokyo station not far from
where hara had been killed the
conservative sayukai party then used the
wounded prime minister's inability to
come into the diet as pretext for
claiming he couldn't govern the prime
minister died the next year then in
march of 1931 a group of junior officers
called the cherry blossom society so
named because they said the life of a
soldier was fleeting like a cherry
blossom tried to spark riots that would
instigate martial law paving the way for
a coup but said riots were badly
organized and failed to avoid
repercussions the general who they'd
planned to make prime minister hushed
the incident up and again no one was
punished but that was mere prelude to
another plot a rail bombing just like
back in 1928
september 18 1931 south manchuria
railway quietly the lieutenant lays
bundles of blasting powder by the train
tracks the plan devised by a colonel and
lieutenant colonel is this blow the
railway attract chinese troops from a
nearby barracks blame the blast on them
and invade in retaliation he backs off
hears the train coming and detonates
unaware the train speeds toward the
damaged area of track hits it sways
and continues on never knowing it past
the epicenter of a new and bloody war
the explosives it turns out were too far
from the tracks to cause much damage but
that doesn't matter and the charade goes
on
the next day japanese artillery fires on
the chinese garrison in retaliation and
500 soldiers cross into chinese
territory suddenly as planned japan is
at war and in tokyo the military coup
will come within weeks
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militarism to a fun and quirky ad read
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[Music]
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