自思想層面來看，皇道派堅持日本的尊皇思想和皇道主義，統制派則是受到蘇聯的社會主義和德國的國家社會主義影響。而介於兩者之間的滿洲派，雖在革新思想上不排斥標榜皇道的「昭和維新」，但在總力戰體制的建構上卻趨近於德國和蘇聯之全體主義的統制經濟方向。在對外政策上，皇道派、滿洲派支持北進論以對抗蘇聯，滿洲派甚至還要在預想即將來到的世界最終戰爭中對抗美國。兩派的對華政策，均為拉攏中國使進入日本、滿洲國的共同防共陣營。故皇道派、滿洲派又有「對蘇派」之別稱。而統制派則支持南進論以對抗英國和美國。對華政策則是若中國拒絕與日、滿共同防蘇，或拒絕放棄親英美之傾向的話，將不排除對中國予以武力一擊。故統制派又有「對中派」之別稱。二二六事件後，對蘇派的皇道派沒落。蘆溝橋事件後，另一個對蘇派的滿洲派亦失勢。而對中、英、美派之新統制派的一枝獨秀，可說是牽動了日中戰爭、日蘇中立協定和太平洋戰爭等重大歷史事件之發生。

In regards to foreign policy, the Imperial Way Faction and the Manchurian Faction both supported the Northern Expansion to defend against the USSR. The foreign policy of both factions aimed to entice China to join the Japan and Manchukuo joint defense camp. As a result, the Imperial Way Faction and the Manchurian Faction earned the nickname “Soviet Opposition Faction”. The Control Faction backed the Southern Expansion in order to face the UK and the USA. A Chinese Opposition policy was in place in case China refused to join Japan and Manchukuo in opposing the USSR. Or, if China refused to give up ties to the UK and the USA, and the Control Faction wouldn’t rule out using military force to attack China. Therefore, the Control Faction was also known as the “China Opposition Faction”. After the February 26 Incident the first of the Soviet Opposition Factions, the Imperial Way Faction, declined. After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the other Soviet Opposition Faction, the Manchurian Faction, also began to wane. Here the New Control Faction that faced China, the UK and USA was the outstanding faction, and it can be said that it was a significant historical event that affected the Sino-Japanese War, the Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact, and the Pacific War.