Challenge: A charismatic, fascist dictator of Japan

[WhatIsAUserName]

Between 1937, when Japan under Konoe Fumimaro launched an invasion of China, and 1945, when Japan under Suzuki Kantaro finally was defeated, the position of Prime Minister of Japan changed repeatedly. First was Konoe Fumimaro, then Hiranuma Kiichiro, then Abe Nobuyuki, then Yonai Mitsumasa, then Konoe Fumimaro again, then Tojo Hideki, then Koiso Kuniaki, and then Suzuki Kantaro. In short, there was no singular figure during all of WWII to lead Japan in the same way Adolf Hitler or Benito Mussolini took control of Germany and Italy. Not necessarily focusing on the Prime Ministers I've just mentioned, is there anybody in Japan during this period who could have acted as a charismatic dictator the way Hitler or Mussolini did for the duration of WWII or its alternate equivalents? Tojo, while responsible for the attack on Pearl Harbor, didn't begin the war the way Konoe did, so while he doesn't count as a historical example, I guess part of the challenge could be having him in charge of the country before the invasion of China.

Either way, the goal is to find a Hitler or Mussolini equivalent for Japan, preferably one that takes power in the 1920s or early 1930s.

[Genmotty]

The Meji restoration era was kinda against that single leader concept at its core. Therefore you're really asking for an ASB as far as I am concerned here.

Anyhow the Emperor was the 'defacto' 'chrismatic leader' your after.... ¬.¬

It was more that the millitary control clique took over as a junta and had a free hand to conduct foreign policy that led to Imperial Japans position during the Great War, Interwar Years and into World War Two. I can go into a lot more detial if you like since I have several detailed sources on the rise of Imperial Japan.

You would have to totally change Japans position from ~1850 to the 1930s, doing this would more than likely butterfly away any Japan being involved in world war two. No Pacific theater, no Manchuria full stop.

Therefore this is a non starter.

[WhatIsAUserName]

Originally Posted by Genmotty

The Meji restoration era was kinda against that single leader concept at its core. Therefore you're really asking for an ASB as far as I am concerned here.

Anyhow the Emperor was the 'defacto' 'chrismatic leader' your after.... ¬.¬

It was more that the millitary control clique took over as a junta and had a free hand to conduct foreign policy that led to Imperial Japans position during the Great War, Interwar Years and into World War Two. I can go into a lot more detial if you like since I have several detailed sources on the rise of Imperial Japan.

You would have to totally change Japans position from ~1850 to the 1930s, doing this would more than likely butterfly away any Japan being involved in world war two. No Pacific theater, no Manchuria full stop.

Therefore this is a non starter.

Nope, it isn't. I should point out that Italy post-Risorgimento and Weimar Germany weren't designed for a single leader the way Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler later took over. For Germany, it seems the opposite. In both cases, the expected order was subverted. Like Italy, there was also the monarch as ceremonial head-of-state. And while there was great power in the military, it wasn't until party politics were weakened substantially in the 1930s that one can talk about a military clique. With a change earlier in the 1920s, probably something along the lines of a different Great Depression, something closer to an Italian or German fascist state might be possible.