manchurian-incident

The chapter details the Manchurian Incident of 1931 as a staged military provocation by the Kwantung Army, with Emperor Hirohito tacitly endorsing the unauthorized actions despite their illegality. It highlights the emperor's pragmatic acceptance of military expansion, the weakening of civilian government control amid factionalism and military insubordination, and the subsequent militarization of Japanese policy under Prime Minister Inukai, which strained international relations, particularly with the United States.

Chapter 6 of Herbert P. Bix's 'Hirohito and the Making of Modern Japan' examines Emperor Hirohito's active involvement in political and military affairs during the late 1920s and early 1930s, highlighting his role in political crackdowns, military discipline issues, and responses to international treaties such as the Kellogg-Briand Pact. The chapter also explores the ceremonial protocols reinforcing imperial authority and the complexities of Japan's diplomatic stance amid rising militarism and international tensions, particularly during the Manchurian Incident.

Chapter 7, "The Manchurian Transformation," details the political and military developments surrounding Japan's 1931 invasion and occupation of Manchuria, emphasizing the roles of the imperial court, military figures, and nationalist ideologies in establishing the puppet state of Manchukuo. It explores Japan's withdrawal from the League of Nations, the rise of militarism and nationalism, the legal rationalizations employed to justify aggressive expansion, and the internal repression of political opponents alongside the use of imperial propaganda to sustain the war effort. The chapter also addresses the broader implications for Japan's international relations and regional security, including the Soviet military buildup and Japan's increasing international isolation.