Japan was liberalizing before the Great Depression happened, perhaps military officers who preferred the Taisho Democracy decide to try to bring it back?
The reason why the Taisho Democracy ended and the military took over was because of an unchangable event (unless you use handwavium) which was the devastating 1923 earthquake which totaled Tokyo and other areas in Japan. In response to this the military gladly used this disaster as an excuse to purge “radicals”, leading to the kidnapping and presumed execution of many political intellectuals. There were also hundreds of thousands of Japanese people without homes after the disaster. Let’s say that some event happens where members of the military fire upon a group of survivors. Public opinion turns against them and let’s say that some charismatic young officers who weren’t purged start organizing the people to fight against the corrupt military. A revolution occurs, and if it even succeeds (which I’m not sure could be likely) then the military, which was the reason why democracy ended, is gone, perhaps banished to Korea. However that doesn’t mean that this new Japan goes back to building democracy. You could have that happen, but radical ideas of socialism and ultranationalism could spoil it. Also I have no idea where the monarchy would play into this, so you would have to figure this out. I think they would support the military, but I’m not sure, perhaps they remain and simply accept their new positions. I don’t know if this is a good explanation but hopefully it gave you some ideas.A Taisho restoration? Do you know when it could happen? Like a POD?
The reason why the Taisho Democracy ended and the military took over was because of an unchangable event (unless you use handwavium) which was the devastating 1923 earthquake which totaled Tokyo and other areas in Japan. In response to this the military gladly used this disaster as an excuse to purge “radicals”, leading to the kidnapping and presumed execution of many political intellectuals. There were also hundreds of thousands of Japanese people without homes after the disaster. Let’s say that some event happens where members of the military fire upon a group of survivors. Public opinion turns against them and let’s say that some charismatic young officers who weren’t purged start organizing the people to fight against the corrupt military. A revolution occurs, and if it even succeeds (which I’m not sure could be likely) then the military, which was the reason why democracy ended, is gone, perhaps banished to Korea. However that doesn’t mean that this new Japan goes back to building democracy. You could have that happen, but radical ideas of socialism and ultranationalism could spoil it. Also I have no idea where the monarchy would play into this, so you would have to figure this out. I think they would support the military, but I’m not sure, perhaps they remain and simply accept their new positions. I don’t know if this is a good explanation but hopefully it gave you some ideas.