Imperial Way faction

The Imperial Way faction (Kōdō-ha) was a political group in Japan that emerged in the 1930s. This faction, composed of junior army officers, advocated for radical, national socialist-inspired goals. They believed that military conquest could solve Japan's economic problems, which were exacerbated by the Great Depression and population growth.12

The Imperial Way faction sought to overthrow the existing parliamentary government and establish a military regime. Their ideology was influenced by ultranationalist thinkers like Kita Ikki, who proposed a revolutionary government that would nationalize property and lead an Asian revolution. This faction's radicalism and desire for military expansion contributed to the growing militarization of Japan during the 1930s, ultimately leading to significant political instability and violence.12