Japanese Militarism - Blood on the Railway - Extra History - Part 3

Summary

This 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

00:00

🚂 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.

05:01

🌐 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.

10:01

📱 Transition to Ting Mobile Advertisement

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Keywords

💡Manchuria

Manchuria is a historical region in Northeast Asia, which is central to the video's narrative as it sets the stage for the political and military events that unfold. In the script, Manchuria is depicted as a contested territory, significant for its strategic location and natural resources, which becomes a focal point for Japanese military ambitions and the subsequent conflict.

💡Shangzolin

Shangzolin, also known as Zhang Zuolin, was a Chinese warlord and a central figure in the script. He is portrayed as a former bandit who became the master of Manchuria and the dictator of the Republic of China, before being ousted by nationalist forces. His assassination, orchestrated by Japanese military factions, is a pivotal event that illustrates the complex power dynamics and the role of militarism in shaping political outcomes.

💡Nationalist Generalissimo

The term 'Nationalist Generalissimo' refers to a high-ranking military leader, specifically Chiang Kai-shek in the historical context of the video. He led the Northern Expedition, which forced Shangzolin out of the capital, Beijing. This term exemplifies the military and political struggles within China during the period and the impact of these struggles on regional and national governance.

💡Factionalism

Factionalism within the Japanese military is a key theme in the video, highlighting the internal divisions and differing views on territorial expansion and governance. The script mentions the Imperial Way Faction and the Control Faction, each with distinct ideologies and strategies for Japan's military and political future. Factionalism is crucial for understanding the complex motivations behind Japan's actions and the eventual direction of its militaristic policies.

💡Imperial Way Faction

The Imperial Way Faction was a radical group within the Japanese military, advocating for the abolition of civilian government and the restoration of the emperor as the sole political power. They are depicted in the script as idealizing an imaginary past of Japan's glory, seeking a return to a revered emperor and loyal samurai, free from the perceived corruptions of modernization and western influence.

💡Control Faction

The Control Faction, as described in the script, was another significant faction within the Japanese military that also supported military expansion into Manchuria and China. However, unlike the Imperial Way Faction, they aimed to work within the existing system and believed in modernization and industry. Their strategy was to strengthen Japan's position for a potential conflict with the Soviet Union, reflecting the diverse approaches to militaristic expansion within the military.

💡Zaibatsu

Zaibatsu refers to the large corporations in Japan that had significant influence over the economy and politics of the time. In the script, they are portrayed as being closely linked to political parties and candidates, and are seen by the military factions as corrupt and westernized entities that have undermined traditional Japanese values and the emperor's power.

💡Quantum Army

The Quantum Army, or Kwantung Army, was a Japanese military force stationed in Manchuria to protect Japanese interests, as mentioned in the script. It played a critical role in the events leading to the assassination of Shangzolin and the subsequent escalation of conflict in the region. The army's actions and the political repercussions it caused highlight the military's growing autonomy and influence over civilian governance.

💡Manchurian Incident

The Manchurian Incident, also known as the Mukden Incident, is a historical event that the script describes in detail. It involved the bombing of the South Manchuria Railway, which was used as a pretext by the Japanese military to invade Manchuria and establish control. This incident is a prime example of the military's unilateral actions and the beginning of Japan's expansionist policies in Asia.

💡Great Depression

The Great Depression had a profound impact on Japan's economy, as referenced in the script. It led to a decline in agricultural and textile exports, causing economic hardship and social unrest. The script illustrates how the economic crisis exacerbated existing political tensions and contributed to the rise of militarism and the perception that the civilian government had failed.

💡Minsuto

Minsuto, or the Minseitō, was a political party in power in Japan during the period covered by the script. The party's policies, particularly regarding foreign affairs and economic management, are criticized in the script for worsening the economic situation and failing to address the country's challenges. The script also mentions the assassination attempt on the Minsuto Prime Minister, reflecting the growing radicalism and political violence of the time.

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]

thanks so much to ting mobile for

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

okay now how best to respectfully

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militarism to a fun and quirky ad read

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[Music]

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