VI. The World Wars and the Interwar Period, 1914–1945 > H. East Asia, 1902–1945 > 5. Japan, 1914–1945 > 1926–89
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1926–89
 
The SHWA PERIOD was the longest reign in Japanese history. After a few more years of the liberalism and internationalism of the Taish period, a sudden and sharp militaristic and imperialistic reaction set in after the Manchurian Incident (Sept. 18, 1931). There was a partial repudiation of popular intellectual and cultural aspects of Western civilization and a revival of older Japanese ideologies. Politicians lost their influence, and the army and, to a lesser extent, the navy became the dominant forces in the government, with the farming populace more often than not supporting the military against the urban bourgeoisie and the large economic combines or zaibatsu. Under this leadership, the nation embarked on a daring program of territorial expansion on the continent. Meanwhile, Japanese industry was growing rapidly, and Japanese manufactured goods began to flood the world market.  1
 
1927, April 17
 
The Wakatsuki cabinet fell, and Tanaka Giichi (1863–1929), leader of the Seiykai, became prime minister, pursuing an “activist” policy toward China.  2
 
May–June
 
Japanese troops intervened in Shandong to block the northern advance of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army upon Beijing in the Northern Expedition.  3
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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