Diet: Parliament
Constitutional monarchy: A system of government in which the monarch had to obey a constitution and is bound to follow the law.
Daimyo: Powerful lords who ruled over a particular area.
Fukoku Kyohei: Principle which directed Japan's policy from the Meiji period onwards. It means "Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Army".
Hirohito: Emperor of Japan from 1926 - 1989
May 15 incident: An attempted coup on May 15, 1932 in the Empire of Japan. Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated by eleven naval officers.
Meiji: In 1868, the shogun lost power and the Meiji Emperor took over. This period lasted from 1868 to 1912.
Mukden incident: A false flag incident in 1931 staged by Japanese soldiers to find a pretext for attacking Manchuaria.
Nihon gunkoku shugi: The belief that militarism should dominate social and political life in the Empire of Japan.
Rice Riots of 1918: Caused by the surge in rice prices. Many citizens rebelled against the government.
Shogun: The Military leader of Japan from the 12th century to the 19th century
Shogunate: Government led by a shogun.
Showa Financial Crisis: A financial crisis in 1927.
Yoshihito: Emperor of Japan from 1879 - 1926
Zaibatsu: Business conglomerates in the Empire of Japan.