History 175 (2008)
Unit II - Lecture 6

Japan's Roaring 20s and Taisho Democracy

IDs:  Taishō Democracy 
        Seiyūkai
        Washington System
        21 Demands
        Tanaka Giichi

I. Introduction: World War I & Versailles
A.  World War I
          1. Anglo-Japanese Alliance
          2. 21 Demands (January 18, 1915)
                - 5 Groups
          3. Japan at Versailles : 
                - China:  Shandong (Qingdao)
                - Class C Mandates: Micronesia: 
                              + Caroline,
                              +Mariana,
                              + Marshal Islands   
B. Rise of Militarism
          1. Tipping the Balance
                - Power Vacuum
                - Washington System
                              + 5:5:3:1.75:1.75 ratio

II. Taisho Japan
A. Taishō Emperor (r. 1912-1926)
                - Showa (1926-1989)
                - Hirohito

B. New Social Forces & Democratic Challenges
    1. "Popular Parties"
           - Seiyūkai
           - Kenseikai (Minseitō)
   2. World War I
           - Economic benefits
           - Labor & Industry
    3. Challenging the Established Order
           - Roaring 20s

C. Understanding the "Taishō Democracy"
    1. Conservative Response:  Seiyūkai
    2. Liberal Alternative:  Kenseikai (Minseitō)

D. Period of Diplomatic Autonomy and Growing Extremism
1. Tanaka Giichi (1864-1929)
          - Zhang Zuolin (Chang Tso-lin)
          - Tanaka Memorial (1927)
          - Manchurian Incident

III. Depression (1929)
A. Japan's Depression
    1.Rural Japan
          - 1930 = glut
          - 1931 = failures

B. Who to Blame?
    1. Party leaders?
          - International Economic Order
          - New Alternative?
          - Lackeys of the Zaibatsu?
          - Off the Gold Standard (too late)