If it was not fascist then it was pretty close and likely closer to Nazism. It had many of the hallmarks: Extreme nationalism, militarism, authoritarianism, racial superiority, deification of the leader and corporatism. The Zaibatsu of Japan and the influences they wielded were similarly to the large industrial companies in Nazi Germany..
"Extreme nationalism, militarism, authoritarianism," marked many non-fascist regimes. Racial superiority was prevalent in the US and probably in the UK at the same time. "Deification of the leader," was a practice that long predated modern Japan.
The Zaibatsu had had power from industrialization unlike the various corporations in Germany.
I would argue that even into the 1930's there was more dissent in Japan than in fascist nations.
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