Kaniki refers to the idea of what japan has already paid in blood and sacrifice and investment for this territory. It was part of an attempt to create a narrative justifying japan's claim to the region, despite china's technical sovereignty over it. Citing the sacrifices of 200 thousand war dead would be,. i would think, a pretty effective tactic in most countries - but even more effective in the uber patriotic Japans. But if you happen to be an investor on the south manchurian railway, you have every reason, right around this same time period that this war lord's done away with, to worry about your investments. If you want to keep this life line