5. Inukai Tsuyoshi’s assassination meant that the military took charge of Japan – with huge consequences for world peace
The so-called May 15 Incident was a pivotal moment in modern Japanese history. Before that infamous day in 1932, civilians had been in control of the country, with Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi at the helm. Then, with his assassination, the military took the reins of power. Though the Emperor was still the figurehead of Japan, generals were really in control of events, and it was the militaristic government that saw Imperial Japan embark on a series of colonial endeavors, ultimately resulting in the country becoming embroiled in the Second World War.
Born into a prominent Samurai family in 1855, Inukai. After graduating from university, he pursued a career in journalism and then entered politics. He was a classic liberal, opposing the old dominant classes and keen to see Japan follow Britain’s example and become a constitutional monarchy with a fully-democratic parliament. When his political opponents failed to keep the economy under control, Inukai’s chance had come: in late-1932 he was invited to form a government and serve as Prime Minister.
As Prime Minister, he faced an impossible task. While his supporters were keen to see him rein in the growing power of the military, the army and navy charged him with not being patriotic due to his lack of support for their imperial adventures. At the beginning of March 1932, the Japanese Army proclaimed the state of Manchukuo in occupied China. Inukai refused to recognize it diplomatically. In doing so, he had signed his own death warrant. On May 15, he was assassinated in his official residence in Tokyo. His killers were junior naval officers. They also planned to kill Charlie Chaplin, who was a guest of the Prime Minister at the time. However, he was away watching a sumo wrestling match so their hopes of sparking a war with the United States through the murder of the comic actor were thwarted.
Inukai’s assassins were apprehended but only received very light sentences. From then on, the Imperial Japanese Army took control of the country. Its policies became more and more aggressive. Only the two atomic bombs dropped by America in 1945 brought their rule to an end and saw Japan return to being led by a civilian government.