Japanese Militarism - Drawing the Knife - Extra History - Part 1

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Tokyo Station, November 4th 1921. Hara Takashi is a symbol of the new Japan. He was born into a minor Samurai family and opted to be classed as a commoner. He worked to become the first commoner and first Christian Prime Minister of Japan. Watching as Japan stepped into a role among the world nations but none of his achievements for himself or his country could save him from the knife being drawn for his assassination.
--- Missed an episode of our Japanese Militarism Series? ---
Part 1 - Drawing the Knife: • Japanese Militarism - ...
Part 2 - Taisho Democracy: • Japanese Militarism - ...
Part 3 - Blood on the Railway: • Japanese Militarism - ...
Part 4 - Government by Assassination: • Japanese Militarism - ...
Part 5 - Marco... Polo...: • Japanese Militarism - ...
Lies - • Japanese Militarism - ...
Music - • ♫ "Paranoia" - Japanes...
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#ExtraHistory #JapaneseMilitarism #History

[@extrahistory]

Use code EXTRACREDITS14 for up to 14 FREE MEALS + 3 Free Gifts across 5 HelloFresh boxes plus free shipping at bit.ly/3Dxzc1A !

[@Jakethesnake2007]

Ok

[@LegoCookieDoggie]

Oh I see right through why this is being revisted now...*points at Arceus Legends release date*

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

ooh SMR (south manchurian railways) was a 3' 6" Cape Gauge Railway that used Locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCo)

[@Freebird1006]

Have y'all looked into Hello Fresh's union busting by chance? Been a long time fan and by all means get that bag but it's be cool if y'all could potentially drop them as a sponsor

[@carlosmedina1281]

Yeah no Hello Fresh are scum

[@mosesmm5473]

I would PAY to see a series focused on this period of Japanese history since everyone can agree that Japan catching up with the western world is such a short amount of time is nothing to sneeze at, so seeing internal problems and how the people dealt with them would be a treat. Also, love your videos

[@viktorberzinsky4781]

The Taisho period and the lead up to Imperial Japan are understudied in the west. Their importance cannot be understated.

[@ccggenius]

what a coincidence, that's basically EXACTLY how their patreon works...

[@kaltaron1284]

If you can, take a look at Japan in Paradox's Victoria II. IMHO it's a very good representation of what happened. Japan may have been medieval in many aspects but actual education was pretty high compared to more "civilized" countries like Russia which meant that there was a large pool of people to build an advanced nation from. They were also lucky that they weren't strategically important at the time so most major powers focused on China which gave Japan much needed time.

[@cramw139]

Watch the legend of korra

[@poop696969poop]

Kings and Generals has a short series on the lead up to the Pacific War - with 2 or 3 episodes covering Japan

[@sirrliv]

One thing I dearly hope is at least touched on and most certainly cannot be overlooked when talking about Modern Japanese Militarism is the antagonistic relationship between the Japanese Army and the Japanese Navy. Especially going into the 20th Century, the Army and Navy were arguably greater foes of each other than any outside power. Cooperation between the two branches was practically non-existent to the point of open hostility and occasional brawls between officers in the halls of government. Arguments have even been floated that this very antagonism between the Army and the Navy was one of the major factors that ultimately lost Japan the Second World War.

[@Wolfeson28]

And that just exacerbated the issue mentioned in the video about the military services bringing down goverments by refusing to appoint their minister, since both the Army *and* Navy could do that. That increasingly meant that every major government action had to be approved by both military services, and that there was no way for the government to decisively resolve conflicts between the two services.

[@mjbull5156]

I imagine EC will be going into that given the introduction mentioned a war with strategically unclear goals.

[@jahenders]

That's true. We had divisions between them in the US, but nothing like those in Japan.

[@BeaverChainsaw]

that fierce infighting between the navy and army was the result of the two strategies each branch advocated for. The army wanted to focus most resources on taking over China and other territory while the navy wanted to take over islands, coastal regions and control the seas. So this inevitably led to diverging approaches and the japanese being overextended in both land and sea. "If you chase two rabbits, you will catch neither one"

[@danshakuimo]

@@BeaverChainsaw One other aspect that I have seen pointed out was the societal background of both factions, with one being represented more by commoners and the other represented more by aristocrats.

[@Antipius]

A fascinating time in history. Japan's descent into authoritarianism was a topic I wrote a big ol' essay on for my High School finals... The most striking thing is how the whole "killing the prime minister" happened multiple times. Unthinkable!

[@civilengineer3349]

I'm so happy that political murders will never happen in the United States...

[@kaltaron1284]

@@civilengineer3349 Yeah, all USA presidents reached the end of their terms or died of natural causes. Having a bullet in or through your body, it's pretty natural to die.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@kaltaron1284 Case in point: JWB + 44 caliber single-shot Derringer pistol = a VERY dirty deed committed on April 14, 1865.

[@kaltaron1284]

@@M.E.ANDHistory Could have used a few more puns but I think most people knwo what you're talking about.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@kaltaron1284 In particular if they're Civil War buffs.

[@George_M_]

The "ideologically radicalized faction of the military wags the dog and seizes power" thing is something even modern states need to remember.

[@civilengineer3349]

Modern people should remember that back in the early 20th century, ideas that are the norm today such as a woman's right to vote in a national election was considered "radical". 'Radical' is a relative word.

[@sizor3ds]

That and paramilitary forces that answer directly to the head of state. That’s also a pretty red flag especially in the west

[@thenoblepoptart]

Military coups always have wealthy patrons, foreign or domestic.

[@adrianaslund8605]

Exactly. It was more like a sort of decentralized religious zealotry around the idea of japan where people were one upping eachother. Its like in the second part of the Extra Credits episodes about the crusaders of the first crusade. Where the poor disorganized crusaders(under Peter the Hermit, who similarly had lost control) of the first crusade broke of in two groups and started raiding and pillaging mainly christian cities in turkey and these two groups kept competing and egging eachother on to commit more extreme acts of violence to show their devotion which parallels to the japanese brutality against other Asian peoples. ostensibly under the guise of pan Asian anti western imperialism. If im going to be honest. American evangelical and pseudolibertarian patriotism has similarities to this today. As they're not subservient to the state but their own idea of america. And there's a culture that promotes this kind of thinking.

[@emilhuseynov6121]

I finished watching the end of the samurai episodes 10 mins ago what a coincidence that the next thing following that is another series about Japan. Thank you very much ❤️

[@joshuafrimpong244]

A bigger coincidence when Kings and Generals are also talking about the matter

[@T.GLongstaff]

Yeah that was a really good series

[@extrahistory]

Great timing!

[@T.GLongstaff]

Sucks having to wait a week to see another. I can’t complain these guys do a great job.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

I agree. I LOVED their series on Rasputin!

[@extrahistory]

It's ALWAYS tough waiting for the next episode! Thanks for Watching!

[@stevenconfident5883]

Me who waited the five week so I can binge watch all of them - ha ha

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

What?! No mention of the little-known failed assassination attempt known as the Ōtsu Incident? This would have been the PERFECT video to bring that up! Other than that, I'm looking forward to more!

[@Austrian_Butcher]

It's probably gonna come up next episode.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@Austrian_Butcher Here's hoping. 🤞

[@speedypichu6833]

Oh that's the thing Oversimplified was talking about in the Russian revolution video

[@andro7862]

Tsuda Sanzou, the quintessential Russian hero.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

@@andro7862 You call attempting to assassinate a tsarevich HEROIC??

[@antitroller101]

Let’s be frank Japan’s political system at that time was a mess of contradictions. They had a parliament, a monarchy, and military dictatorship at the same time. I’d have a bloody headache if I was a Japanese citizen at this time.

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

You just have to chill and ignore the politics

[@proger1960]

*Modern day China…..*

[@dustin3294]

@@proger1960 what about China? Modern day China is a communist one-party system. Simple as that.

[@f-35enjoyer59]

@@dustin3294 more state capitalist in practice for their economic policy

[@thenoblepoptart]

While most citizens of japan would have been largely ignorant of the political landscape or any ideology at all, there’s a really cool village from the 19th century that was discovered, where the local peasants would gather together in a barn where they kept VOLUMES ON VOLUMES of European literature, mostly political and ideological texts like John Locke, Voltaire, all the enlightenment classics both in the original French and English and transliterated into Japanese. These peasant farmers, who would be illiterate in many communities around the world, were getting together after ploughing fields or whatever and drew up a custom constitution for the nation that they thought would be the most just and righteous. This was years before the Meiji constitution I think. I read all of this in the book Global Constitutionalism from European and East Asian Perspectives by Takao Suami and Dmitri Vanoverbek

[@ilovemuslimfood666]

It’s so interesting to learn that Japanese militarism and imperial ambitions are not entirely based in something as simple as a singular uniting ideology, a desire to become equals with Western colonial empires, and a desperate scramble for resources.

[@shaider1982]

Interestingly, the Kanto earthquake produced waves that was a problem weeks later, contributing to navigation errors resulting in the Honda Point disaster were many US Navy ships were grounded.

[@mcfarofinha134]

Thanks for talking about the war from a Japanese perspective, without the bias of the Japanese school curriculum. It's really refreshing

[@mdsfhs]

Interesting topic, hope to see many episodes of this.

[@Americanbadashh]

Anyone else come back here after the Shinzo Abe assassination?

[@lkzhang820]

I do

[@mouadbousalem1151]

Me too.😔😔😔

[@ArcticDragon97]

RIP Shinzo Abe and Hara Takashi

[@ForgottenHonor0]

Could you guys do a series dedicated to the history of the Ainu people of Japan?

[@gwenward2141]

I second this! In the meantime, go look into the anime "Golden Kamui". It's more of a fiction, but uses a lot of real history and Ainu culture in background narration.

[@SlapstickGenius23]

What about the Ryukyuans?

[@ForgottenHonor0]

@@SlapstickGenius23 Ooh! That's a good one!

[@abthedragon4921]

Dang wasn't expecting another series on Japan so soon! What? What do you mean the last series on Japan was almost a year ago!? Seriously, where did the time go!? 😳

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Well a year is still soon. There has been 3 series in Japan while some countries haven’t had any.

[@abthedragon4921]

@@sarasamaletdin4574 true

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@sarasamaletdin4574 My dude there are thousands, ofc well talk about the nation with the 3rd largest economy, a higher population than any other of the great powers witht he exception of the extremely high populations

[@zackakai5173]

Another Japanese history series is always welcome! I'd LOVE to see one focused on the decline of the Heian state, the Genpei War between the Taira and the Minamoto, and the transition into the Kamakura shogunate. That story has a lot of parallels with the modern day and as a bonus, would serve as a prequel to the Sengoku series.

[@Emanon...]

Rights that can be taken away in the name of "national security" are privileges, not rights. It's a sad truth.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

We see something similar in late 18th century France with The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. A constitution that is nothing more than a flimsy paper victory that is shredded into pieces once the Reign of Terror comes along (and leads to several people getting their heads hacked off via the National Razor).

[@mjbull5156]

See Australia and New Zealand in the last two years.

[@101Mant]

So that would be all of them. Its a nice fiction that rights are something inherent to people but if they were more people would have them. They a just a vision by some people of how they think things should be. Of course the more people believe in them and the more they want to keep them and are prepared to make life difficult for a government that tries to remove them the more established they become and the more they are regarded as normal, at least in that country. A fiction but a powerful and useful one like money or justice. Every country takes away rights during war time for national security.

[@sjonnieplayfull5859]

@@101Mant During pandemics even more so

[@andro7862]

@@101Mant The problem was, Japan in 1925 wasn't at war.

[@danielrichwine2268]

It's wonderful to see well presented the goods, the bads, and the uglies of world history. I like the objective spirit of this channel.

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Same! 👍

[@mateocabral1660]

Who's here after Shinzo Abe got killed?

[@FaytVanguard]

Finally "New" Japan History..... been asking for this for years. (Though still want to know more after the bombs fell.)

[@kaltaron1284]

Have you watched "Grave of the Fireflies", "Barefoot Gen" and "In this corner of the world"?

[@user-eh1tv9pj2d]

"Taiwan" *Shows flag of Korea* "Korea" *Shows flag of Taiwan*

[@kaltaron1284]

Getting flags wrong is a timehonoured tradition of this channel. But yeah, I was scratching my head a bit at those moments.

[@NobelTheKnave]

Just look at their 1918 flu pandemic video, the used Yemen’s flag for Imperial Germany

[@IreneSalmakis]

the Showa Absolutism is such a great subject to cover. it's interesting how the strategic situation of Japan during the interwar period influenced the Second World War.

[@andro7862]

Showa wasn't absolutist. Did you mean Showa militarism or statism?

[@irenedeneb6188]

@@andro7862 I refer to Showa Era and the cult of imperial absolutism that resulted in the military government.

[@whiskeyfarbrorn]

Looking forward to lots of Taisho Secrets next week!

[@amegenshiken]

I'm guessing OP here's a fellow Kimetsu no Yaiba/Demon Slayer fan... Although the Taisho era being an early part of the rise of Japanese Imperialism...kind of starts to explain why the exact design of Tanjiro's earrings have changed in countries that Imperial Japan invaded and occupied. (Too much of a resemblance to the Imperial Japanese flag.)

[@hudsonylin]

Why do I feel I've seen this recently...

[@kittenmittenkitten]

"Intervened in the Russian Civil War" is a funny way of saying "Opportunistically invaded Russia and occupied parts of the country for years after the end of the civil war"

[@Anglomachian]

I know it’s a difficult concept to put into English, but I was taught Kokutai meant “National essence/spirit”.

[@animatorireenie8319]

This is such an interesting topic, can't wait to see the continuation!

[@dartonal9490]

This is exactly what I wanted to see! Very interesting how Japan fell into militarism and shortly after fascism

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Oh, Hirohito...

[@sjonnieplayfull5859]

Honor probably, and the West refusing to treat them as equals

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@sjonnieplayfull5859 I mean the refusal to treat them as equals shouldnt mind them, they were treated as somewhat lessers by the chinese

[@Cecilia-ky3uw]

@@sjonnieplayfull5859 ???

[@naoyanaraharjo4693]

@@sjonnieplayfull5859 the Chinese have their economy forced into a depression with their populace lives forcefully destroyed by the corcing of Opium distribution

[@asteroidblues402]

YES! Thank youu for putting a lense on these events, I feel as though the turn of Japan to military nationalism is a unique scenario that needs more eyes.

[@CactusJackIV]

I love the channel. You can see all the hard work put into each episode. Thank you for all that hard work.

[@evosioa2944]

I had a miserable day yesterday, the only thing that can make me feel better is a new extra history episode. Edit: Thanks for the likes! I'm feeling much better

[@navneethballal9427]

Truer words were never spoken.

[@lawrencebautista1]

Wish you could do a series of videos about Korean modern history as well.

[@Tristan-Raisch]

The "N-E-weigh" pun was a fantastic throwback to classic EC/EH style. A+

[@2Links]

Really interesting! Only read briefly about the rise of Fascism there and its many assassinations and other fascinating parts.

[@hannahbrown9136]

This is fascinating… can’t wait for more!

[@manarmsgaming9223]

I just want to express my happiness due to the fact that Extra Credits exists. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

[@breloompauncher5593]

I guess Kanto is about to turn into Hoenn next episode.... I'll show myself out

[@Shaheer_77]

Excited for the new series. As always 😁

[@tom4ivo]

How did the Japanese military split into the two warring factions of the army and the navy? And why couldn't the government control them?

[@setcheck67]

The government never really controls the military. The only thing legitimately controlling the military is resources, which anyone can promise them and throughout history we've seen thousands of examples where someone did in fact gain control of the military through resources or even just the promise of resources. Nowadays most countries are smart enough to always grease the wheels of at least the most important members of the military to keep things under control. They also diversified in what they offer beyond just money(or food in ancient times). You get more loyalty from your soldiers if it's service in exchange for a better life rather than service to not be homeless or die.

[@andromeda331]

Thank you for doing a series on the rise of Japan militarism.

[@mekafinchi]

the constitution is temporary but --doom-- the emperor is eternal

[@M.E.ANDHistory]

Until after WWII, when the power behind the Chrysanthemum Throne becomes constitutionalized.

[@bw5020]

Y'all CANNOT drop this much fire 🔥 and tell me to wait for the next episode. 😭

[@Okay470]

This is one of the best newer series that extra history has had

[@shubharthidutta979]

Wow almost a year ago you guys did a video on the end of the samurai. A year later it's sequel is released Excellent

[@AKAZA-kq8jd]

Keep the cross overwork coming Extra credit 👏

[@poutine9497]

I love how Rob pronounced Shandong

[@GeneralLiuofBoston1911]

Love the effort to get pronunciation down right like Meiji, Shandong, Taisho, Zaibatsu, Sun Yat-sen etc.

[@cristobalvalladares973]

Great job. My high school history had nothing on you guy's. Japanese history is amazing.

[@eliasstenman3710]

“History: more crossovers than the MCU” You know, the MCU is part of history

[@Edmonton-of2ec]

I would say the biggest tragedy was that the Emperor did nothing, but unfortunately, at the worst possible time, Japan had a mentally infirm monarch, Emperor Yoshihito, now known as Emperor Taishō. Without the strongest organ of the state able to effectively exert power in the parliamentary system, nothing was there to prevent everything going to hell, and by the time Hirohito ascended, the damage had already been done

[@killroy8976]

Always hype for a new series!

[@venombug7476]

The most insane moments in history is when Mother Nature herself changes the course human had built.

[@Hans_Niemand]

Real satisfying history. Thanks as always!

[@yankeebrit9399]

I want to learn about this for so long but never found a good source thank you for doing this

[@kaltaron1284]

Try the recent Kings and Generals series on the Pacific War or the World War Two channel.

[@yankeebrit9399]

@@kaltaron1284 thanks

[@juliancoenen4917]

O god this is going to be a banger series

[@micahh9351]

there is not a lot of content from the closed country period. This is amazing!

[@Querian]

this is one of the most interesting series u have done.

[@navneethballal9427]

This is a topic I never knew I wanted to know more about.

[@danesgch]

An early christmas gift? I literally just finished watching the End of the Samurai series just a few minutes ago

[@ecurewitz]

late Channukkah gift

[@enriqueguiris5873]

oh man its been a long time since i watched your videos, you guys are awesome :D

[@TheAndrewSchneider]

Absolutely timely series! Especially in the current day given the attention recently focused on Japanese prime ministers.

[@apollo5922]

You know its a good day when Extra posts😄

[@clickbaitcabaret8208]

This series is going to be awesome. ExtraCredits is da bomb.

[@MrDAZ3197]

Would love to see a list of sources you used for this video. I am fascinated by this era of Japanese history

[@drewanderson2768]

By far my favorite channel on KZbin

[@yermomLeslie]

Small Error: The Taiwan and Korean flags were swapped at 6:45

[@Rumple88.]

Love your vids, keep up the good work ;)

[@carloa877]

Great job you guys. Hoping you would cover in this series the rivalry between the Japanese Imperial Army & Navy.

[@rafipuraditya8425]

I'm studying this period in high school history- so this is good revision.

[@Kaiju-Driver]

Oh man! I've been waiting for this! :)

[@LadyCooper]

Never been so early in! Really excited - your Sun Yat-Sen one was excellent!

[@sevenguardians7517]

A friend and I play a table top miniature game called bolt action it’s based out of the U.K. and is a WWII era game I play the Japanese they don’t have much for armor compared to other nations but the sheer force of infantry is a force to be reckoned with

[@alexanderwu]

AMAZING IDEA! I love this channel

[@Jarod-vg9wq]

The horrific atrocities in Nanking and other places committed by Japan it’s important to under land why millions of Japanese soldiers and sailors thought it was ok and what was going on in society.

[@Electro_800]

7:04 why was I expecting this XD

[@232unnati6]

wow everything is just clear thanks for your so much efforts and animation is very funny and helpful

[@gaffalstudios3617]

very cool, I've been wanting some content on this area of history for a while now, since it's not a very popular subject and there is quite little information

[@artstsym]

My condolences to the artists who have to work on the next episode.

[@threekisded5302]

Wow I've never heard much about Japan thank you!

[@theresahall8965]

The whole taking away rights has become a norm with the courts making so many loopholes that the law might as well be worthless for anything short of murder. I guess some things never change.

[@civilengineer3349]

Is this a reference to Texas abortion bill?

[@Emanon...]

Very interesting topic. Thank you

[@Numba003]

Ooh I've listened to a few things on the Meiji Restoration, but I know little about the period immediately following. Thank you for this series! Stay well out there everybody, and God bless you friends! :)

[@Cheshire1501]

6:10 yeah that sure doesn't sound like a disaster in the making Speaking of militarism, haven't you thought of doing an episode on the abolition of Costa Rica's army?

[@twotone3471]

Central America in general could keep the EC staff busy for the rest of their natural lives. They are more likely to do more on the US involvement with the "Banana Republics" and the Sandinistas of Nicaragua. But if you have a story to tell, please do. Relying on others for your wishes and dreams is a excellent way to die poor and disappointed.

[@arturoaguilar6002]

2:16 After playing the Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, this part gives an interesting context to the games (which are set on the early half of the 1900's decade).

[@rayleib4281]

So can you keep your video's up for like 15 years so i can show my kids this show one day...

[@Ryu_D]

Thank you for the video.

[@JJadx]

i think it's important to acknowledge the great hair in this episode.

[@kommandantgalileo]

Now I have to see what if he did not die.

[@raymondhorn1052]

Hey so I have a final on exactly this on Wednesday so if you can finish this series by Wednesday that would be great!

[@kevinsworldK.w69]

6:41 Ah yes! Taiwan! With the glorious Korean flag!

[@101Mant]

What is crazy us the military was so divided, with the arm and navy aligned with different economic combines and almost fighting each other at some points. Even during the war at times they barely cooperated.

[@yehonatanduek8705]

Fun fact, history has been around for over 2 years before the MCU was created

[@gwydionrusso3206]

I'm literally doing my Japanese homework while I am watching this

[@seviinwolves]

Interesting topic!

[@shawnheatherly]

Ooh, this'll be fun.

[@diegoviniciomejiaquesada4754]

Very Nice... I can't wait to see you guys touching the topic of slavery in the middle east on the next year... *Wink* *Wink*

[@bennygoat]

Oh no! At 6:40 they mixed up Korea and Taiwan/Formosa's flags! :c

[@wmhld]

This was really not a suprise that Japan went Militaristic. Remember back in episode 4 of End of the Samurai? Saigo Takamori offered his own life to have an excuse to invade Korea.

[@prestonjones1653]

I trust Extra Credits with this matter, they're always fair and make sure we know every situation is very nuanced. Too often Japanese Imperial militarism and expansion is portrayed as either "Japan did everything out of the blue!" or "Everything Japan did was justified because if European colonialism!"

[@Overhazard]

Regarding "Everything Japn did was justified," there is also "...because I got into anime and manga and now I'm too invested in Japan that I feel personally hurt at any criticism about Japan no matter how obvious it is that a Japanese person did something wrong." Only a very small number of anime/manga fans become like this, but man, they are loud about it.