The war increased the influence of Aritomo YAMAGATA who took command in the war as the Chief of the General Staff, even though he was also a Genro (elder statesman), and the Army raised the possibility that Russia could develop into a "Continental Empire" or pursue a "War of Revenge."
また、元老でありながら参謀総長として戦争を指揮した山縣有朋の発言力が高まり、陸軍は「大陸帝国」論とロシアによる「復讐戦」の可能性を唱えた。