Could Japan have gone socialist?

Like most westerners, I'm terribly ignorant about Eastern culture in general, but this idea came to mind and I'm not sure how plausible it is.

China went red IOTL, but it was far larger with a much bigger population. Early 20th century Japan seems to Emperor-focused and nationalist to go red, but perhaps some Japan experts could help gague its plausibility? Thanks :)
 

Sumeragi

Banned
I would start with Japan losing the Russo-Japanese War. Japan was basically bankrupt by the war's end, and losing that war would have caused enough dissent for open rebellion against the genros.

At this point in time, the concept of the Tenno as good was still on relatively shaky grounds. If there is a rebellion against the Meiji government, most likely the Tenno will be forced into retirement, with a complete loss in power similar to what had happened before the Restoration. In this volatile anarchic situation, there is the high possibility of a socialist-like government being established.
 
Like most westerners, I'm terribly ignorant about Eastern culture in general, but this idea came to mind and I'm not sure how plausible it is.

China went red IOTL, but it was far larger with a much bigger population. Early 20th century Japan seems to Emperor-focused and nationalist to go red, but perhaps some Japan experts could help gague its plausibility? Thanks :)

Ora a unique mixed solution? A socialist Empire? Tobarishu Tenno? :D :D
 
Early 20th century Japan seems to Emperor-focused and nationalist to go red, but perhaps some Japan experts could help gague its plausibility? Thanks :)

It's a matter of record that the wartime leadership of Japan was concerned with the possibility of a Communist revolution. They took it seriously enough that it influenced the final decision to surrender. Basically, they feared an overthrow of the Imperial system similar to the fall of the Tsars. I do not pretend to expertise on Japan, but I have to assume that there was a real threat there to which they were reacting.
 

Sumeragi

Banned
It's a matter of record that the wartime leadership of Japan was concerned with the possibility of a Communist revolution. They took it seriously enough that it influenced the final decision to surrender. Basically, they feared an overthrow of the Imperial system similar to the fall of the Tsars. I do not pretend to expertise on Japan, but I have to assume that there was a real threat there to which they were reacting.
It was a baseless fear, in my view. The communist movement had been crushed sufficiently for there to even be the consideration of a revolution short of the USSR occupying Japan. Now, if we look at the Russo-Japanese War, then there is that possibility of a socialist revolution.
 

whitecrow

Banned
Like most westerners, I'm terribly ignorant about Eastern culture in general, but this idea came to mind and I'm not sure how plausible it is.

China went red IOTL, but it was far larger with a much bigger population. Early 20th century Japan seems to Emperor-focused and nationalist to go red, but perhaps some Japan experts could help gague its plausibility? Thanks :)

Not sure how plausible it is but the Japanese Communist Party is currently the largest non-ruling communist parties in the world. They also have (had?) this awesome flag:

postcard_japan_0621.jpg
 

Sumeragi

Banned
The current "flag" is this one (Japanese Communist Party Central Committee version):

DSCN1555.jpg



The corner thing is the following:

tohsyo02.jpg



However, most of the time party members use a simple red flag.
 
I really don't see Japan going communist without the USSR occupying the place.

As mentioned the Russo-Japanese War has a few possibilities but later than that is tough. There might be something to be done postwar, but there are a ton of internal/external factors working against it both implicitly and explicitly.

Communist Microsoft Windows :eek:?

A socialist cyberpunk Japan is the most logical place for Project Cybersin, after all, and Japan was running a privatized version of a command economy for a few decades anyway.
 
A somewhat major power having a successful socialist revolution... I think that could have some interesting effects on the aftermath of a large European war, to say the least. Not to mention how the war actually plays out. OTL Mexico was the first country to have a modern revolution, and that was in 1916.
 
Like most westerners, I'm terribly ignorant about Eastern culture in general, but this idea came to mind and I'm not sure how plausible it is.

China went red IOTL, but it was far larger with a much bigger population. Early 20th century Japan seems to Emperor-focused and nationalist to go red, but perhaps some Japan experts could help gague its plausibility? Thanks :)

The Japanese Socialists were quite successful in the initial years after WWII. I believe Japan's first postwar prime minister was a Socialist. And Leftist social and political reformers were very active at the end of the war, believing they had the opportunity to build a new society.

It was enough of a concern for US Occupation Authorities that they feared Japan falling into at least a Soviet-friendly orbit. It was a major reason behind keeping the Emperor and setting up the Liberal Democratic Party. Japanese electoral districts were also gerrymandered to ensure LDP dominance, rural areas were given extra representation, and the LDP received heavy (covert) funding from the CIA and the US Govt throughout the Cold War in order to keep the left out of power.

Now, I don't know how likely it is that Japan would actually have gone Socialist. But the Left may well have played a bigger role in the country had it not been for the Cold War.
 
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