was japan a democratic country before world war 2?

Answer 1

Constitutional monarchy:

Imperial Japan was founded after the 1889 signing of Constitution of the Empire of Japan. The constitution formalized much of its political structure and gave many responsibilities and powers to the Emperor.

Japan turned to a government form that was very similar to Fascism as a result of the Great Depression. Although this unique style of government was very similar to Fascism, there were many significant differences between the two and has therefore been termed Japanese nationalism.

Answer 2

Yes it was. Although Japan was a 'constitutional monarchy', the constitution was flawed and this was used effectively to produce a military government.

In the 1920s Japan was very progressive and modern, eager to adopt Western attitudes. The Emperor, who was a god, was 'above politics'. But during the 1930s the army conspired to remove the influence of the progressive and civilian leaders.

Whenever the army minister resigned, a new government had to be formed. So the army would have its minister resign whenever it wanted to bring down a government. Supported by assassinations, the willingness of the Emperor to let them do it, and a rabid, right-wing nationalist movement that saw 'old Japanese ways' as ideal, modern influences were removed.

By 1941, there was a full military government, but the military was already in control from 1936 or so.

Answer 3

Japan was not democratic before World War II. It was under a monarchy under the Meiji Constitution of 1889, named after the emperor who took control of the archipelago from the Shogunate. Supreme power was vested in the emperor himself, and he was also considered a divine being as the descendant of the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. However, the emperor lost his power after Japan's defeat in WWII and the country was turned into a constitutional monarchy, with the Prime Minister and the Members of both houses of the Imperial Diet(legislature) at the zenith.

Answer 4

Japan was regarded as a rustic that made low-priced junk till the 70s whilst they took over the private electronics marketplace and began to regulate the vehicle marketplace.

Answer 5

It was Constitutional monarchy. However, after Yamagata Aritomo appeared, around 1900, military authorities started to have strong influence to the Japan government.
When WW2 started, Japan's politics was like a stratocracy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamagata_Aritomo

Answer 6

It was a Constitutional Monarchy. A major contributing factor is that they considered their Monarch a direct descendent of God.

Answer 7

Democracy, to be democracy, demands certain traits of the population it serves.

Populations comprised of individuals willing to abdicate their own judgement and whatever powers are provided them by formal constitutions, to demigogues, render the potential of those powers moot. Democracy abdicated is still democracy, I suppose.

In that sense, Japan was a democratic country, run by nationalistic fanatics prior to, and during WW II. A democratic nation run by despots with the tacit and active approval of the population.

Sound familiar?

Answer 8

No it was not.

There were elections of a sort and political parties existed but parties which did not conform to a narrow range of acceptable values were surpressed. Thus the Socialist party was disssolved within a year of its formation.

Answer 9

Emperor Hirohito was in power.

Answer 10

No it was a monarchy.