Deadly Politics | Japan's Government by Assassination Full Documentary

In this Pacific War Documentary, Craig explains Japan's Government by Assassination period. On July 8, 2022, Japan was shaken by the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, marking a grim revival of a historical pattern of political violence. This shocking event echoed back to 1960, when opposition leader Inejiro Asanuma was killed, highlighting Japan's long, turbulent history of political assassinations. The roots of this violence date back to the Bakumatsu period, when Japan was forcibly opened to the world. By the early 20th century, political killings had become so rampant that this era was referred to as "government by assassination." One significant incident occurred in 1860, when high-ranking officials were targeted for opposing Western influences. Assassinations proliferated as radical military factions sought to reclaim what they perceived as Japan's lost honor. These factions thrived on widespread discontent over corruption and Westernization in the political sphere, as they believed that assassinations could restore the emperor's divine power. The failed coup attempt of 1936, which aimed to overthrow the government and install a military dictatorship, epitomized this violent struggle for control. Despite the government’s efforts to suppress dissent through force, the assassins garnered public sympathy, demonstrating the deep polarization in Japanese society. Ultimately, this history of violence not only shaped political landscapes but also foreshadowed Japan's militaristic expansions, leading the nation into conflicts that would engulf the region. The cycle of assassination illustrated the fragility of Japan's political framework and its susceptibility to radical changes. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Assassination of Tokugawa Officials 02:30 The Boshin War of 1868-1869 02:55 Youtube Membership & Patreon 03:22 The Meiji Restoration & Constitution Problem 05:50 The Zaibatsu & Government Corruption 06:35 Rise of Militarism and Radicalism 09:25 The Assassinations of Ito Hirobumi and Hara Takashi 10:45 The Attempted Assassination of Hamaguchi Osachi 12:30 The Sakurakai Secret Society 14:45 The Imperial Colors Incident 16:00 The League of Blood Incident 17:25 The May 15th Incident 19:12 The Kodoha and Toseiha Factions 21:15 The Aizawa Incident 22:05 The February 26th Incident 30:05 Conclussion Don't forget I have a Youtube Membership:    / @thepacificwarchannel   or my Patreon:   / pacificwarchannel   where you can get exclusive content like "What if Japan invaded the USSR during WW2?" Don't forget to check out Private Internet Access using my link to receive 83% off, 4 months free with a 30 day money back guarantee ⤵️ https://www.piavpn.com/PacificWarChannel 🎼 If you are interested in more in-depth information, check out our Podcast: https://PacificWarChannel.podbean.com Subscribe for more Videos of the Pacific War Channel using this Link ⤵️ https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePacificW... ******************** 🎬 Welcome to the Pacific War Channel 🌏 Welcome to the Pacific War Channel, the channel where we cover the entire history of the Asia-Pacific war of 1937-1945. My name is Craig, and I am a University Graduate of both History and Neuroscience, currently working for an education center in Canada. ▶️ This channel includes all the major events that led up to the Pacific War and reflect on the historical moments that contributed towards one of the biggest events in east-Asian history. From this channel, you can expect to enjoy episodes dedicated to major events, book and film reviews related to the Pacific Wa, and a look at the Pacific War Podcast where we discuss the Youtube episodes and more! 🗺 ▶️ Don’t forget to subscribe to the Channel, hit the bell button, and never miss a video! 🛎 ******************** 🌟 Connect with the Pacific War Channel on Social Media: Facebook ➡️   / thepacificwarchannel   Instagram ➡️   / thepacificwarchannel   Twitter ➡️   / the_pacificwar   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitch: ▶️   / thepacificwarchannel   ******************** #ThePacificWarChannel #japanesehistory #japan #assassin #ww2