The February 26 Incident (二・二六事件 Ni-niroku jiken?) was an attempted coup d'État in Japan, on 26–29 February 1936, launched by the radical ultranationalist Kōdō-ha faction of the Imperial Japanese Army. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Leap years Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation The was a Political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, active in the 1920s and 1930s largely supported by junior officers aiming to establish a military government and The Imperial Japanese Army ( IJA) ( Kyūjitai: 大日本帝國陸軍 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国陸軍 Romaji: Dai-Nippon Teikoku Several leading politicians were killed, and the center of Tokyo was briefly held by the insurgents before the coup was suppressed. officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū.
Contents |
Events of February 26, 1936
In the early hours of 26 February 1936, approximately 1400 troops, primarily from the IJA 1st ("Gem") Division led by junior Army officers deployed to secure the center part of Tokyo and seized key government buildings, including the Diet building, Army Ministry headquarters, and Tokyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The was an Infantry division in the Imperial Japanese Army. Its Call sign was the. The is Japan's Bicameral Legislature. It is composed of a Lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an Upper house, called The, more popularly known as the Ministry of War of Japan was the Cabinet -level ministry from 1872-1945 in charge with administration of the Imperial Japanese Army The Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁 Keishichō) serves as the Police force for the entire Tokyo metropolis. Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo, Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal Saito Makoto, and Inspector-General of Military Education, General Jotaro Watanabe, were killed. The is one of Cabinet -level ministries of the Japanese government. ( 27 July 1854 – 26 February 1936) was a Japanese Politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Japan from The was an administrative post not of cabinet rank in the government of the Empire of Japan. was an Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, two-time Governor-General of Korea from 1919 to 1927 and from 1929 to 1931 and the 30th Prime Minister of Japan The was responsible for all non- Military aviation training of the Imperial Japanese Army.
A band of officers stormed the Kantei (the Prime Minister's official residence) and attempted to kill Prime Minister Okada Keisuke, who escaped death when the rebels killed his brother-in-law by mistake. The, also known as the or simply, is the office of the Prime Minister of Japan. The is the usual English-language term used for the Head of government of Japan, although the literal translation of the Japanese name for the office is Prime was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy, Politician and the 31st Prime Minister of Japan from 8 July 1934 to 9 March 1936 The house of Grand Chamberlain Admiral Suzuki Kantaro, was also stormed and Suzuki was severely wounded. The Grand Chamberlain of Japan ( Jijū, 侍従 is a domestic caretaker and aide of the Emperor of Japan. was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy and 42nd Prime Minister of Japan from 7 April 1945 to 17 August 1945 The residences of former Keeper of the Privy Seal Makino Nobuaki and politician Saionji Kimmochi were also attacked, but both men managed to flee. The was an administrative post not of cabinet rank in the government of the Empire of Japan. Count ( 24 November 1861 – 25 January 1949) was a Japanese statesman active from the Meiji period through the Pacific War ( 23 October 1849 – 24 November 1940) was a Japanese politician statesman and twice Prime Minister of Japan. The insurgents also attempted to occupy the Imperial Palace, but were forced to simply seal it off when the Imperial Guard resisted. The Japanese is an organization which is dedicated to protection of the Emperor of Japan and his family palaces and other imperial properties
The rebels approached Army Minister Kawashima Yoshiyuki with a demand that the government be dissolved and replaced with a new Cabinet headed by a general sympathetic to their cause. was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Army Minister in the 1930s The rebels claimed that they were fighting in the name of the Emperor only against what they saw as a self-serving, overly political government that needed to pay more attention to the troubled domestic economy.
Military authorities were initially reluctant to use force to suppress the revolt, fearing civil war in the capital. Moreover, many high-ranking officers were supportive of the rebels' cause and urged compliance with its demands. In particular, the Tokyo Garrison itself was supportive of the attempted coup. However, there was also strong opposition to the coup by elements within the Army (the Toseiha faction) and especially by the Imperial Japanese Navy (Saito, Okada and Suzuki belonged to Navy), which dispatched warships into Tokyo Bay placing the rebels within range of the ship’s artillery. was a Political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, active in the 1920s and 1930s For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was.
The strongest opposition to the coup came from Emperor Showa himself, who was outraged at the murder of his close advisors. also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death When Chief-aide-de-camp General Shigeru Honjo (once a known supporter of Kodoha leader Sadao Araki) informed him of the revolt, Hirohito immediately ordered that it be put down and referred to the officers as "rebels" (bōtō). General Baron was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the early period of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Baron was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army before World War II. also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death As Honjō took their defense, the Emperor replied: "Without Our orders, Our troops have been willfully moved. Whatever they are called, they are not Our troops. " Hirohito then ordered Army minister Yoshiyuki Kawashima to suppress the rebels within one hour and asked for reports from Honjō every thirty minutes. [1]
Hideki Tōjō, for himself, followed the Emperor's orders and came out against the rebels.
Events of February 27, 1936
On 27 February 1936, martial law was proclaimed in Tokyo, and reinforcements were called in. Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect when the military takes control of the normal administration of justice
When told by Honjō that little progress was being made in quashing the rebels, Hirohito angrily replied :" I Myself will lead the Konoe (Imperial guard) division and subdue them. " [2]
Events of February 28, 1936
On 28 February 1936, the Emperor signed a command ordering the Army and Navy to suppress the revolt and to evict the rebels from their positions. Events 202 BC - coronation ceremony of Liu Bang as Emperor Gaozu of Han takes place initiating four centuries of the Han Dynasty 's rule Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Events of February 29, 1936
On 29 February 1936, still reluctant to use force against its own men, the Army attempted a campaign of psychological persuasion, urging the enlisted men under the rebel leadership to abandon their posts, and circulating copies of the Imperial command to prove that the coup did not have the Emperor’s support. Leap years Although the modern calendar counts a year as 365 days a complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The exhausted rebel officers did nothing to deter their men from leaving, and by noon the bulk had deserted their posts and had returned to barracks. By evening, the coup had collapsed. Two officers committed seppuku rather than surrender, but the remainder were arrested. is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by Disembowelment. Seppuku was originally reserved only for Samurai.
Subsequent events
After subsequent closed military tribunals, 19 men (including radical right-wing philosopher Kita Ikki and his disciple Mitsugi Nishida), were executed and 70 others were sentenced to prison. In Politics, right-wing, the political right, and the Right are positions that uphold traditional values and/or authorities ( 3 April 1883 - 19 August 1937) was a Japanese author, Intellectual and Political philosopher who was active in the None of the common soldiers were prosecuted, and martial law remained in effect in Tokyo until 18 July 1936. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
The military took advantage of the situation to increase its political power and budget, and to impose tighter censorship and controls on civilian political activity. Prime Minister Okada was forced to resign in March, and was replaced by Kōki Hirota (under whose cabinet the Anti-Comintern Pact was signed later). was a Japanese Diplomat, Politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937 The Anti-Comintern Pact was concluded between Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan (later to be joined by other countries on November 25, 1936 Whatever its original intent, the February 26 Incident effectively resulted in a strengthening of Japanese militarism. refers to the Ideology in the Empire of Japan that Militarism should dominate the political and social life of the nation and that the strength of the military is It was an important step in the escalation to the Second Sino-Japanese War, which began the following year. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the
Interpretation
The story behind the February 26 Incident has always been controversial in Japan, and has been the subject of many movies and fictional stories. Famous works include Yukio Mishima's Patriotism, Jun Takami's Gekiryu (Turbulent Waves) and Takeda Taijun's Kizoku no kaidan (The Steps of the Aristocrats). was the pseudonym of, a Japanese author poet and was the Pen-name of a Japanese novelist and poet active in Showa period Japan.
Although there is no conclusive evidence to support their position, some believe that Emperor Hirohito's younger brother, Prince Chichibu Yasuhito, was behind the February 26 Incident in an attempt to seize the throne for himself. Background and Family Born at Aoyama Detached Palace in Tokyo, the second son of Crown Prince Yoshihito (later Emperor Taishō) and Crown Princess Other conspiracy theorists have gone as far as to say that Emperor Hirohito and his cohorts actually faked the rebellion to create the perception of a need for stronger internal security measures. A conspiracy theory attributes the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually Political, Social or Historical events or the concealment
The Imperial Way Faction favored consolidating Japanese hold in Manchuria, while the Toseiha favored expansion into China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. The was a Political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, active in the 1920s and 1930s largely supported by junior officers aiming to establish a military government and Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast was a Political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, active in the 1920s and 1930s The demise of the Imperial Way Faction in the February 26 Incident led to a more aggressive change of political and military policy, leading to the Second Sino-Japanese War, and from that, the Pacific War. The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between
List of participants
The following were among the active participants in the incident, both on the insurgents' and the imperial side:
- Sadao Araki
- Kingoro Hashimoto
- Shigeru Honjo
- Kita Ikki
- Yoshiyuki Kawashima
- Fusanosuke Kuhara
- Jiro Minami
- Mitsugi Nishida
- Hideki Tojo
In Fiction
The February 26 Incident is the subject of the historical novel "The Imperial Way" by James Melville, a British author who often writes on Japanese subjects. Baron was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army before World War II. Kingoro Hashimoto (橋本欣五郎 Hashimoto Kingorō 1890-1957 was a Japanese soldier and politician General Baron was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during the early period of the Second Sino-Japanese War. ( 3 April 1883 - 19 August 1937) was a Japanese author, Intellectual and Political philosopher who was active in the was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Army Minister in the 1930s Fusanosuke Kuhara ( 久原房之助(1869-1965 was a Businessman and Politician of Japan. was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army and Governor-General of Korea between 1936 and 1942 An historical novel is a Novel in which the story is set among historical events or more generally in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the Author James Melville may refer to James Melville (1556-1614, Scottish divine and reformer James Melville of Halhill (1535&ndash1617 The book follows a researcher in 1980's Japan who digs into dark secrets of the past and uncovers the way that the 1936 events irrevocably shattered the life of the Shimada Family. Lietenant Hido Shimada, a major protagonist in the book who is a (fictional) participant in the coup attempt, is presented sympathetically - though the book does not hide the extreme nationalist and militarist content of his ideology. The Protagonist or main character is the central figure of a story. Many of the actual participants in these events make brief appearances in the plot.
The novella Patriotism, by Yukio Mishima also depicts the events surrounding this incident. was the pseudonym of, a Japanese author poet and
References
External links
- Commentary article in the Philippine Daily Enquirer
- Excerpt from Yukio Mishima's Patriotism, a fictional account of 2-26
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic