Domestic Unrest Fears
Hungry people make dangerous citizens. Japanese leaders remembered the 1918 Rice Riots all too well. In 1945, civilians endured daily bombing alongside severe food shortages. Black markets flourished despite harsh punishments. Police reports noted increasing public criticism of military leaders, once unthinkable in Japan’s conformist society. The government feared that continued war might trigger civil unrest or even revolution. Preserving the imperial system required peace before citizens took matters into their own hands. Social cohesion was fraying under relentless pressure.
