Oura scandal
Encyclopedia
of 1915 was one of several spectacular political scandal
s of late Meiji
and Taishō period
Japanese politics.
After the entry of Japan into World War I
, the administration of Prime Minister
Ōkuma Shigenobu
had to report to the lower house
of the Diet of Japan
that expenditures had greatly exceeded projections, and furthermore had to put forth a request by the Imperial Japanese Army
for an increase in funding to support an additional 86,000 men – a request which had previously led to the collapse of the Saionji administration
. As the majority of the lower house in the Diet was controlled by opposition political parties hostile to Ōkuma, the request for additional funds failed, and Ōkuma dissolved the house, calling for new elections on March 25, 1915.
In the campaigning during the Japanese election of 1915 Ōkuma avoided any mention of increased funding for the military, but stressed his foreign policy achievements in China
(such as the Twenty-One Demands
) and elsewhere, as opposed to the opposition Rikken Seiyūkai
, tainted by its recent involvement in the Imperial Japanese Navy
’s Siemens scandal
. The result of the election was a landslide for Ōkuma, with the opposition Seiyūkai losing over 90 seats. Although Ōkuma did not obtain an absolute majority, he was able to pass his bills on military spending and China policy without difficulty. However, a couple of months after the election, charges began to surface that Ōura Kanetake, the Home Minister
, had given funds from the Rikken Dōshikai
to Hayashida Kametarō, the Chief Secretary of the lower house to distribute to undecided members in order influence the outcome of Ōkuma’s military spending bill. Hayashida resigned, was arrested, and was sent to prison. On July 29, 1915, Ōura was also forced to resign, but was not indicted. Ōkuma's cabinet lost popular support, and its members held mass resignation in October 1915. In 1916, after a long argument with the genrō
, Ōkuma resigned as well, and retired from politics permanently.
Political scandal
A political scandal is a kind of political corruption that is exposed and becomes a scandal, in which politicians or government officials are accused of engaging in various illegal, corrupt, or unethical practices...
s of late Meiji
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
and Taishō period
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
Japanese politics.
After the entry of Japan into World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the administration of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Ōkuma Shigenobu
Okuma Shigenobu
Marquis ; was a statesman in the Empire of Japan and the 8th and 17th Prime Minister of Japan...
had to report to the lower house
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
of the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
that expenditures had greatly exceeded projections, and furthermore had to put forth a request by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
for an increase in funding to support an additional 86,000 men – a request which had previously led to the collapse of the Saionji administration
Saionji Kinmochi
Prince was a Japanese politician, statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. His title does not signify the son of an emperor, but the highest rank of Japanese hereditary nobility; he was elevated from marquis to prince in 1920...
. As the majority of the lower house in the Diet was controlled by opposition political parties hostile to Ōkuma, the request for additional funds failed, and Ōkuma dissolved the house, calling for new elections on March 25, 1915.
In the campaigning during the Japanese election of 1915 Ōkuma avoided any mention of increased funding for the military, but stressed his foreign policy achievements in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
(such as the Twenty-One Demands
Twenty-One Demands
The ' were a set of demands made by the Empire of Japan under Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu sent to the nominal government of the Republic of China on January 18, 1915, resulting in two treaties with Japan on May 25, 1915.- Background :...
) and elsewhere, as opposed to the opposition Rikken Seiyūkai
Rikken Seiyukai
The was one of the main political parties in the pre-war Empire of Japan. It was also known simply as the ‘Seiyūkai'Founded on September 15, 1900 by Itō Hirobumi , the Seiyūkai was a pro-government alliance of bureaucrats and former members of the Kenseitō. The Seiyūkai was the most powerful...
, tainted by its recent involvement in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
’s Siemens scandal
Siemens scandal
of January 1914 was one of several spectacular political scandals of late Meiji and Taishō period Japanese politics, leading to the fall of the cabinet of Yamamoto Gonnohyoe...
. The result of the election was a landslide for Ōkuma, with the opposition Seiyūkai losing over 90 seats. Although Ōkuma did not obtain an absolute majority, he was able to pass his bills on military spending and China policy without difficulty. However, a couple of months after the election, charges began to surface that Ōura Kanetake, the Home Minister
Home Ministry (Japan)
The ' was a Cabinet-level ministry established under the Meiji Constitution that managed the internal affairs of Empire of Japan from 1873-1947...
, had given funds from the Rikken Dōshikai
Rikken Doshikai
The was a political party active in the Empire of Japan in the early years of the 20th century. It was also known as simply the Dōshikai.Founded by Prime Minister Katsura Tarō on February 7, 1913, the Rikken Dōshikai largely served to support his cabinet against criticism by the Rikken Seiyūkai...
to Hayashida Kametarō, the Chief Secretary of the lower house to distribute to undecided members in order influence the outcome of Ōkuma’s military spending bill. Hayashida resigned, was arrested, and was sent to prison. On July 29, 1915, Ōura was also forced to resign, but was not indicted. Ōkuma's cabinet lost popular support, and its members held mass resignation in October 1915. In 1916, after a long argument with the genrō
Genro
was an unofficial designation given to certain retired elder Japanese statesmen, considered the "founding fathers" of modern Japan, who served as informal extraconstitutional advisors to the emperor, during the Meiji, Taishō and early Shōwa periods in Japanese history.The institution of genrō...
, Ōkuma resigned as well, and retired from politics permanently.