Taisho Democracy and Party Politics

The Taisho period was an age of “democracy” in which party politics, universal suffrage, and social movements flourished. At the same time, it was an era with two sides, as repression also emerged in the form of the Peace Preservation Law.

Basic Knowledge

In 1912, Ozaki Yukio, Inukai Tsuyoshi, and others launched the First Constitutional Protection Movement against the cabinet of Katsura Taro, calling for “defending the Constitution” and “abolishing clique rule.” They brought down the Katsura cabinet (Taisho Political Crisis, 1913). Political scientist Yoshino Sakuzo advocated minponshugi (placing the happiness of the people at the center of political objectives without questioning where sovereignty resides), becoming the theoretical foundation of democracy. In 1924, the Second Constitutional Protection Movement took place, and the cabinet of Kato Takaaki (Kenseikai) was formed. In 1925, the Universal Manhood Suffrage Act and the Peace Preservation Law were enacted at the same time.

In Depth (Background and Effects)

The Universal Manhood Suffrage Act quadrupled the number of voters, but the Peace Preservation Law, enacted at the same time, prohibited organizations whose purposes included changing the national polity or denying the private property system. It became the basis for severely suppressing communists and socialists. In 1928, the maximum penalty was strengthened to the death penalty, and the law became a tool of repression during wartime. Social movements also became active. In 1922, the National Levelers’ Association was founded (for the liberation of discriminated Buraku communities; its founder was Saiko Mankichi). In 1920, the New Women’s Association (Hiratsuka Raicho and Ichikawa Fusae) was founded, as were the Japan Farmers’ Union (1922) and the Japanese Communist Party (1922, formed illegally).

Points of Caution (Easily Confused)

① Minponshugi (Yoshino Sakuzo, without questioning where sovereignty resides) and democracy (popular sovereignty) were strictly different. Before the war, sovereignty belonged to the Emperor, so the term minponshugi was used. ② The 1925 universal suffrage law applied to men only. Women had to wait until 1945 for the right to vote. ③ The Universal Manhood Suffrage Act and the Peace Preservation Law were enacted simultaneously in the same year (1925), a typical example of “carrot and stick.” ④ Distinguish Kato Takaaki (Kenseikai, establishment of universal suffrage) from Hara Takashi (Seiyūkai, first full-scale party cabinet).

Practice

1. Who was the political scientist who advocated “minponshugi”?
2. Name the two laws enacted in 1925.
3. What organization was formed in 1922 to promote the liberation of discriminated Buraku communities?