<Li> 1936: Coup attempt, the February 26 Incident, crushed by Hirohito . Kōki Hirota becomes prime minister (March 9). Japan signs its first pact with Germany (November 25) and occupies Tsingtao (December 3). Mengchiang established in Inner Mongolia . </Li> <Li> 1937: Senjūrō Hayashi becomes prime minister (February 2). Prince Konoe Fumimaro becomes prime minister (June 4). The Sino - Japanese War starts with the Battle of Lugou Bridge (July 7). Japan captures Peking (July 31). Japanese troops occupy Nanking (December 13), beginning the Nanking massacre . </Li> <Li> 1938: Battle of Taierzhuang (March 24). Canton falls to Japanese forces (October 21). </Li> <Li> 1939: Hiranuma Kiichirō becomes prime minister (January 5). Japanese forces suffers a military defeat at Battles of Khalkhin Gol against Soviet forces (September 15). Abe Nobuyuki becomes prime minister (August 30). </Li>

How did japanese society change with the rise of military rule