War planning constrained by interservice rivalry

Here the argument shifts from individual procurement choices to the wider structure of Japanese war planning. The leadership settled early on a plan, built forces around it, and struggled to prepare for revision. Army-Navy rivalry compounded that rigidity: the two services duplicated effort and procured different aircraft for similar roles. Fushimi's exceptional rank and relationship to the emperor gave him more leverage than most officers to demand coordination. The limited and half-hearted attempts to bridge the services therefore form part of the assessment of his leadership.