Difficulties on Japan’s home front mounted steadily during the second
phase of the war. The strain was shown in many ways. One was the
rapidity with which Cabinets succeeded one another. The first Konoye
Cabinet, as we have seen, had held office for nineteen months--from
June 1937 to January 1939. In the second period (January 1939 to July
1940), there were no less than three Cabinets. Their average length of
life was only six months. These Cabinets, with their Premiers, held
office as follows: