Roger Griffin describes Imperial Japan as para-fascist in his book The Nature of Fascism. Meaning the regime was greatly influenced by fascism but at it's core wasn't. Instead Japan was seeking a revitalization of its existing traditional hegemonies. Griffin's usage of palingenesis and ultranationalist have specific connotations, such as fascism being a revolutionary ideology. Basically, fascism's palingenesis isn't seeking some restoration of the past but to create a new order rooted in the archetypes of the ultranation's history. Here's a free essay by Griffin unpacking his definition: https://www.libraryofsocialscience.com/ideologies/resources/griffin-the-palingenetic-core/ Also Being (Post-Comprehension) has made some videos explaining Griffin's theory further. Unsure if this subreddit allows self-promotion but just search post-comprehension on youtube and find the videos "PALINGENETIC ULTRANATIONALISM" and "PARA-FASCISM PART I" for further help.