Shakai Taishūtō

[2] In a period of increasing extremism in politics, the new party attempted to maintain a middle-of-the road approach which inevitably resulted in a confused policy.

The Shakai Taishūtō advocated increased international cooperation and opposed Japan's withdraw from the League of Nations, but at the same time supported the invasion of China in 1937.

The party received support from a wide cross-section of the electorate, including middle class shop owners resentful of the zaibatsu, salaried-workers, and some minor bureaucrats.

[3] However, the basic split within the Shakai Taishūtō internally between supporters of social democracy versus fascism came to a head after the vote to expel Saitō Takao from the Diet arose after he sharply criticized the conduct of the Imperial Japanese Army and its actions on the Asian mainland.

Members of the party who had abstained from the motion to purge Saitō were expelled for "unpatriotic sentiments", causing chairman Abe Isoo to resign as well.