Sakurakai

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Lieutenant Colonel Hashimoto, founder of the Sakurakai

Sakurakai, or Cherry Blossom Society (桜会, Sakurakai), was an ultranationalist secret society established by young officers within the

Kita Ikki.[3]

The Sakurakai was led by Imperial Japanese Army Lieutenant Colonel Kingoro Hashimoto, the chief of the Russian section of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, and Captain Isamu Chō l, with the support of Sadao Araki.[citation needed] The society began with about ten members, active-duty field grade officers of the Army General Staff, and was expanded to include regimental-grade and company-grade officers. Its membership had increased to more than 50 by February 1931 and possibly up to several hundred by October 1931.[4] One prominent leader was Kuniaki Koiso, future Prime Minister of Japan. Members of the Sakurakai held meetings in a dojo, led by the Aikido founder, Morihei Ueshiba, at the headquarters of the Oomoto religion in Ayabe.

The Sakura group sought political reform: the elimination of party government by a coup d'etat and the establishment of a new cabinet based upon state socialism, in order to stamp out Japan's allegedly corrupt politics, economy, and thought.[5]

Twice in 1931 (the

Imperial Colors Incident
), the Sakurakai and civilian ultranationalist elements attempted to overthrow the government. With the arrest of its leadership after the Imperial Colors Incident, the Sakurakai was dissolved.

Many of its former members migrated to the

Toseiha
faction within the Army.

See also

References

  • Beasley, W.G. (2000). The Rise of Modern Japan, 3rd Edition: Political, Economic, and Social Change since 1850. Palgrave Macmillan.
    ISBN 0-312-23373-6
    .
  • Harries, Meirion (1994). Soldiers of the Sun: The Rise and Fall of the Imperial Japanese Army. Random House; Reprint edition.
    ISBN 0-679-75303-6
    .
  • Samuels, Richard J. (2005). Machiavelli's Children: Leaders And Their Legacies In Italy And Japan. page: Cornell University Press.
    ISBN 0-8014-8982-2
    .
  • Sims, Richard (2001). Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868-2000. Palgrave Macmillan.
    ISBN 0-312-23915-7
    .

Notes

  1. ISBN 0-393-04156-5
  2. ^ Sims, Japanese Political History Since the Meiji Renovation 1868-2000 page 155
  3. ISBN 0-393-04156-5
  4. ^ Beasley, The Rise of Modern Japan [page needed]
  5. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-08-28. Retrieved 2006-11-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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