Reasons that led to the rise of military japan by the 1930s

Failed democratic government

Diet could only question and had no power to make decisions and no power over ministers and nation's budget.Zaibatsus supported government with fundings so they could influence government policies.It passes laws benefitting Zaibatsus.JThe government was unable to solve economics problems.Japanese viewed the government as useless and corrupted. They looked to other alternative parties.  

 Great depression                                                                                                         Japan's prosperous economy and new government structure did not continue into the next decade. Japan, an island nation with few natural resources, relied on foreign trade. When the Great Depression hit the world in the early 1930's, counties no longer imported Japanese luxuries such as silk. The value of Japanese exports dropped by 50% between 1929 and 1931 (p 686, Beers). Many people blamed the government for Japan's economic crisis. After Japan agreed to keep its navy very small at the London Naval Conference in 1930, the military and nationalists became fed up with the government (p 686, Beers).Since Japan lacked natural resources and building space, the military invaded the area of Manchuria in northeastern China in September 1931. After the Prime Minister resigned and army officials assassinated the next, the military organized a Japanese military dictatorship (p 686, Beers). The military takeover was not a violent one, and was not led by a specific leader. The constitution and Diet remained in place, but throughout the 1930's Japan became much like a totalitarian state, but with a group of leaders instead of a single dictator. Critics of the governments were arrested, and students in school were taught to unconditionally obey the emperor and the government.
The League of Nations did not take action against Japan's invasion of China. In 1933, Japan withdrew from the League (p 687, Beers). Japan continued to invade China, easily crushing all opposition. Northern and central China was under Japanese control by 1938 (p 698, Beers). In 1940, Japan became allies with Germany and Italy, who helped Japan fight against the United States during World War II.

Economic factors

During the 19th century, Great Power status was considered dependent on resource-rich colonial empires, both as a source of raw materials for military and industrial production, and international prestige.

Due to the lack of resources in Japanese home islands, raw materials such as iron, oil, and coal largely had to be imported. The success of Japan in securing Taiwan (1895) and Korea (1910) had brought Japan primarily agricultural colonies. In terms of resources, the Japanese military looked towards Manchuria's iron and coal, Indochina's rubber, and China's vast resources.