Japanese royal family killed in 1923 Earthquake

The Japanese royal couple was not present when the the huge quake struck Toyyo in 1923. No, Hirohito was going to become Emperor in 3 years anyway, so their death might not make that much of a difference, so let's presume he is also there, and any others you want.

it does appear that Japan had plenty of members in this family, so there is likely no succession crisis per se. I'm not really clear on how much power the Emperor had; I know he was viewed as a god but how much power in the government?

If there is a major governmental loss, what would happen?
 
Peace might have a chance.

The hardliners have invested a lot of effort on the young Hirohito.

And with a pacifist Emperor in charge,

Peace in Japan, Peace in Asia, Peace in all the world!

========================wake up======================

Japan perhaps had to become a militarist state.

Her neighbors (mainly China) was simply too divided and weak to put up any real existence. And past victories had implanted a myth of invincibility into the nation and especially military.

Consider yourself the PM of Japan, Japan had already had significant interests in Mainland China, which she thought she would never let go, and yet those interests are under constant threats because of a turbulent China, and you have to send an army to protect those interests.

Now consider yourself an IJA general. ANY adventure in China can bring enormous benefit and prestige to you, and there is absolutely NO cost associated with it due to the Chinese armies' inability to fight. YOU probably also want to start an some incidents.

It's a desperate slippery slope. The rule of the game decides that whatever the IJA does, the whole nation must back it, and the civilian government could not control the colonies.

Whoever the emperor is does not change the way Japan have been operating since Russo-Japanese War.

It's like a giant stone rolling on top of a cliff, it's still slow, but it's already destined to fall because nobody has enough power to stop it all by himself, including the emperor.
 
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