Taisho period as Weimar's overlooked Asian parallel

An opinion article highlights the importance of Japan's Taisho period (1912-1926) as a historical counterpart to Germany's Weimar Republic in the context of today's political turmoil. The writer, contributing to the South China Morning Post, observes that while Western analysts often cite Weimar to caution against the rise of far-right movements in Germany, Asian nations should consider the Taisho era—a time marked by liberalism yet fraught with instability, leading to Japan's extreme militarism during the Early Showa period. The discussion includes references to Katja Hoyer's book "Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe" and a Bloomberg piece that draws parallels between present-day German politics and the Weimar Republic. The author warns that Japan's neighbors are anxious about the potential resurgence of conditions reminiscent of the Taisho period before chaos ensued.