The period from the middle of 1933 to the end of 1935 was “peaceful”
only by contrast with the years before and after. The contrast is
sufficiently striking, however, to justify our using the term.
Two strong Cabinets, headed in turn by Admirals Saito and Okada,
old-line naval administrators opposed to extremism, governed Japan
during these years. The Saito Cabinet had entered office in May 1932,
after the death of Inukai. Party men held only a few of the lesser
Ministries. Nevertheless, the Cabinet was in the main moderate. The key
Finance Ministry, in particular, was in the capable hands of Takahashi,
who allowed only limited increases in the defense budgets. Early in
1934 the fiery Araki resigned from the War Ministry. Araki’s successor
carried out a partial “purge” of the army extremists.