Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:17:30-2:19:52

How divided were Japan's army and navy over war?

The major factions shared a pessimistic view of Japan's position but differed over whether to risk a larger war or seek gains against weaker powers.

Imperial Japanese ArmyImperial Japanese NavyJapanese PoliticsSecond Sino Japanese War
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Question

How much more supportive of war were Japan's army leaders than its navy leaders?

Short answer

The split was not mainly institutional; powerful factions in both services agreed Japan was losing and differed over how to respond.

Notes

The major division ran between factions that saw Japan's position as deteriorating and disagreed about the response. One camp favoured war because it believed peaceful strangulation would end in defeat anyway. Another wanted to avoid the larger conflict and improve Japan's position by attacking weaker powers, including China. Neither position amounted to a general commitment to peace. Smaller groups invoked a divine mission or believed the emperor's divine status would bring eventual triumph without war, but their practical influence was limited. Ideological factions also attracted some middle-ranking officers in both services.