In a book I have called Secret of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan, by Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook. The mention that after the Meiji Restoration militaristic teaching and Emperor worship were increased to an a fanatical level, in order to strengthen Japan and make it more of a modern power. The leadership at this time deemed that this was the quickest and most effective way way to make a strong modern Japan. They give a very good amount of information on this in the beginig of the book, as I recall offhand.
Eventualy all non non-military organizations were organized and run like military ones, due to the success of the teaching programs.
Kind of has me thinkig of the statement.
In peace, prepare for war, - in war, prepare for peace.
I'll have to dig out my old Political Science books, to pull up more information. As a former Political Science student, one of my course was on the the Poltics of China and Japan.