In the fifty years since the Meiji Restoration, Japan has constantly sought to become one of the world’s Great Powers, industrializing and modernizing its economy, military, and politics in order to gain its own empire. Now, in the aftermath of World War One and Japan’s role at Versailles and the new League of Nations, there are few who would argue that Japan is not a world-class nation. But as the world moves towards the peace gained by the "war to end all wars," Japan itself faces a crossroads. The current emperor, Emperor Taisho, is sickly and unable to exert control over the government, leaving the elected representatives of the Imperial Diet to lead the nation into a new world order of peace and prosperity. At the same time, some within the military whisper that Japan has to continue on its path to its imperial destiny at any cost and by any means necessary. And as these two forces grapple for power in what will later be called the era of Taisho Democracy, the Crown Prince, Hirohito, will soon come of age...

Chair: Regina Zheng,