Japanese Political History (Vol. 1-4)

Author: (Japanese) Nobushige Nobita
Publisher:
Publication Date: 1997-01-01
Features: The Imperial Diet opened amid fierce conflicts between the cliquish government and the joint forces of the People's Party. The People's Party joint forces, demanding reductions in government spending and relief for the people, launched a surprise attack on the government by cutting budgets, distrusting the cabinet, and submitting impeachment motions. The Shimizu Masayoshi cabinet retaliated by dissolving the Diet (Second Session). The Ishibashi Hirofumi cabinet relied on imperial decrees and proclamations to eliminate the Third and Fourth Sessions of the Diet, while the Fifth Session was dissolved after the People's Party and the National Power Faction joint forces demanded the fulfillment of existing treaties, leading to loud arguments. The Sixth Session was also dissolved after passing a bill of impeachment against the cabinet. Meanwhile, behind the intense conflicts, behind-the-scenes negotiations and compromises had already been underway. As early as the session of the Diet, the Liberal Party's left faction had reached a compromise with the Shimizu Yonezawa Aritomo cabinet, barely passing the budget bill. After the session of the Diet, the Liberal Party reformed its organization, eliminating the pressure of external radical factions. However, the intense conflicts did not end. The conventions and practices of compromise had not yet been established, and while behind-the-scenes negotiations explored compromise solutions, the People's Party joint forces or the People's Party and National Power Faction joint forces continued to make loud demands in public. Foreign issues became both the focal point of fierce debates attacking the government and the for suspending hostilities and fostering cooperation among the parties.