Is there one way to restore some powers to the Japanese monarchy in the 20th century?

Gukpard

Gukpard

Attention, since Hirohito doesn't want any power at all, feel free to do as many regicide as it is possible, oh fellow friends.

Ok, so, the Japanese monarchy has lost its power after the Heian period, and even during it it still wasn't strong as a western monarchy usually was. The last good opportunity to change that was the Meiji restoration, but the Meiji restoration was not led by Emperor Meiji but instead by his ministers as he remained without power until he died.

Starting in 1900 Japan has the whole twenty century in its sights, so I was wondering if is there any opportunities to give the emperor some power. I know that Yasuhito, Hirohito brother, was a member of one of Japan most reactionary groups, the Kodoha. For a start, if we kill Hirohito and get the Kodoha in power can he be given some power? Yasuhito is a military officer.
 
Fatt Shea

Fatt Shea

Lalli said:
Probably not. Hirohito hadn't even during WW2 much of real power altough he might had done something. But traditionally Japanese monarchy was pretty weak on actual political power.
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He did have power but he didn't use it much, but he did when he felt strongly enough, like in the February 26th incident.
 

Hugh Third of Five

Lalli said:
Probably not. Hirohito hadn't even during WW2 much of real power altough he might had done something. But traditionally Japanese monarchy was pretty weak on actual political power.
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Hirohito didn't have as much power of Japan as Hitler and Mussolini had over Germany and Italy, but it's an exaggeration to call him powerless.
 
Gukpard

Gukpard

Lalli said:
Probably not. Hirohito hadn't even during WW2 much of real power altough he might had done something. But traditionally Japanese monarchy was pretty weak on actual political power.
Click to expand...
The scenario allow you to shot him.
 

Arkenfolm

Government by minister is more or less the Japanese tradition. "Protecting" the Emperor from making bad decisions that might imperil the imperial lineage or diminish its glory goes back over 1,000 years. Japan's modernization means they had to copy nations like the German Empire in terms of semi-democratic system, because that's just what a modern nation was at the time.

Theoretically the Emperor could have absolute power, but he would need incredible luck since the slightest sign of weakness or a poor economy means those ministers aiding and abetting him end up removed by a good nationalist faction who are the ones who are REALLY helping the Emperor.
The Ranger said:
Not without Go-Daigo being a success and having the Emperors after him being a success as well.
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Indeed, Go-Daigo's general and minister Kitabatake Chikafusa was highly influential on Japanese nationalism, how the Emperor is to act, and what his role in the government should be. Although parts of his works were composed in the years the Southern Court he served was on the defensive.
 

Declan

ATL:
The US administration overrides MacArthur and doesn't grant immunity to the Emperor. Consequently, Hirohito is arrested, put on trial and eventually executed in 1948. However the US retains the monarchical structure; in that a regent is appointed until Akihito becomes an adult.

Hirohito's execution does cause massive outrage, but not enough to seriously harm the American occupation. What it does do is throw off American efforts to spread democracy by weakening the elected government.

The first hint of trouble is that the regent refuses to relinquish his role even after Akihito turns 18. However the regent is strong ally of the US and MacArthur so the Truman administration overlooks that.
As Japan ends the occupation, government instability continues to plague the country, with government after government coming and going in quick succession. During this instability, the regent has been quietly amassing allies in the Parliament. In 1954, he puts himself forwards as a candidate to be Prime Minister. It works and the regent is elected as PM. The regent quickly moves to consolidate his power. He suspends the constitution, he removes the post of PM and transfers all executive power to the monarch(him as the regent). The regent reigns as a quasi-dictatorial ruler, but still very different from the previous military governments. The parliament still exists and is democratically elected, but its ability to stop the regent is heavily curbed. The Eisenhower administration is deeply troubled by this development, but overlooks it for the sake of keeping Japan as a Cold War ally.

The regent's ruler succeeds in creating a stable government. It lasts until 1968 when he dies. At which point, Akihito becomes emperor and inherits the regents power. Akihito immediately begins transitioning back towards a democratic government, but he does it alongside announcing a new constitution. In the new constitution, the prime minister is the executive, but the Emperor retains vast power to appoint and dismiss the PM. This way Akihito retains some power. While Japan transitions back to a democracy, Akihito makes regular use of his power throughout the remainder of his reign.
 
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