The state had kept public spending in check throughout the 1920s, rising from only ¥1.2 to ¥1.4 billion over the course of the decade. The folks taking the brunt of this shrinkage in real terms were the military, who saw their spending cut from 47.8 percent to 28.4 percent of the budget over the same period. Amplifying Inoue's austerity crusade, his party's 1930 election slogan was "economy, disarmament, purification of politics, reform of China policy and removal of the gold embargo." The military were none too pleased. Inoue pressed on regardless.

Mark Blyth, Austerity, loc. 540