Imperial Japanese Army

The Imperial Japanese Army (??????? Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun) was the official armed force of Japan from 1867 to 1945. It was controlled from the Imperial General Headquarters and the Ministry of War of Japan.

Ideology

Japanese nationalism meant that the military was built around a concept of the time period: a Rich Country has a Strong Military. Japan as a land was sacred, and its people were special due a combination of Zen, Buddhism and Shinto. Service in the Japanese military was seen as service to the Emperor. Each soldier in theory believed it was a great honor to die for the Emperor as the samurai concept "to serve" was deeply ingrained in all the soldiers culture.

Related Topics:
Japanese nationalism - Zen - Buddhism - Shinto - Emperor

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The concept of Yamato Damashi gave each soldier the concept, no capture, no surrender. To be either was a disgrace to the family, to the community and to the country. Each soldier was brought up to fight to the death and was expected to die before dishonor. Imperial soldier often would shout "Banzai" before they die, so they would die with honor. Each soldier culturally leaves everything at nothing, need nothing but honor. An old Japanese spirit self pride in persistence in the face of grave danger, as to personally never give up.

Related Topics:
Yamato Damashi - Banzai

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The Emperor was a concept of investiture of power by the state in a figurehead. In effect the power of the Emperor was in name only, as the real power was held by the bureaucrats underneath him. While the Emperor was in theory the commander in chief, he usually went along with whatever the government "asked" him to do. The IJA had only two Emperor commander in chiefs, Taish? and Sh?wa. The government at the time period could only mobilize the military if everybody in the government

Related Topics:
Taish? - Sh?wa

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came to a unanimous consensus. To which the Emperor gives his blessing

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to execute the order of the government. Only in rare

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moments of Imperial council, where the government is completely unable to agree, and governments asks for the Emperor's opinion, in the votes that

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are completely even, does the Emperor act as a tie breaker in making decisions.

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