Sakurakai, orCherry Blossom Society (桜会,Sakurakai), was an ultranationalist secret society established by young officers within theImperial Japanese Army in September 1930, with the goal of reorganizing the state along totalitarian militarist lines via a militarycoup d'état, if necessary.[1] Its avowed goal was aShōwa Restoration, which they claimed would restoreEmperor Shōwa to his rightful place, free of party politics and evil bureaucrats in a new military dictatorship.[2] They also advocated forstate socialism, according to the model proposed byKita Ikki.[3]
The Sakurakai was led byImperial Japanese Army Lieutenant ColonelKingoro Hashimoto, the chief of the Russian section of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, and CaptainIsamu Chō. The society began with about ten members, active-duty field grade officers of the Army General Staff, and was expanded to include regimental-grade and company-grade officers. Its membership had increased to more than 50 by February 1931 and possibly up to several hundred by October 1931.[4] One prominent leader wasKuniaki Koiso, futurePrime Minister of Japan. Members of the Sakurakai held meetings in adojo, led by theAikido founder,Morihei Ueshiba, at the headquarters of theOomoto religion inAyabe.[5]
The Sakura group sought political reform: the elimination of party government by a coup d'etat and the establishment of a new cabinet based upon state socialism, in order to stamp out Japan's allegedly corrupt politics, economy, and thought.[6]
Twice in 1931 (theMarch Incident and theImperial Colors Incident), theSakurakai and civilian ultranationalist elements attempted to overthrow the government. With the arrest of its leadership after the Imperial Colors Incident, theSakurakai was dissolved.
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