Chapter 344 – Formulating the Fiscal Year 1934 Budget

Once February began, deliberations over the next fiscal year’s national budget started in earnest.

The budget would not be finalized until the end of March, but this marked the beginning of a fierce struggle between the ruling and opposition parties, as well as between the Army and Navy.

That said, this was Japan, a nation of masters at behind the scenes negotiations. By the time the government’s budget proposal had been finalized the previous year, the broad outline had already been effectively decided. Unless some unforeseen crisis arose, deliberations would proceed largely as planned, with only the finer details left to be fought over.

And this year, there was particularly little to stir up controversy.

The Inukai Cabinet was sailing smoothly. Domestic affairs were stable. Foreign relations were favorable. Unnecessary expenditures were being kept to a minimum. The country was enjoying a booming