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As a result of the ratification of the London Naval Treaty limiting the size of the Japanese Navy, a movement grew within the junior officer corps to overthrow the government, and to replace it with military rule. This movement had parallels in the Sakura Kai secret society organized within the Japanese Army. The naval officers established contacts with the Ultranationalist Inoue Nissho and his 'League of Blood', and agreed with his philosophy that to bring about a ' Shōwa Restoration ', it would be necessary to assassinate leading political and business figures.

In March 1932, in the ' League Of Blood Incident ', Inoue's group only managed to kill former Finance Minister and head of the '' Rikken Minseito ,'' Inoue Junnosuke , and Director-General of Mitsui Holding Company , Takuma Dan .

On 15 May 1932 , the naval officers, aided by Army cadets, and Right-wing civilian elements (including Shumei Okawa , Mitsuru Toyama , and Kosaburo Tachibana ) staged their own attempt to complete what had been started in the League of Blood Incident.

  Last John
  First Tolland
  Title ''The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945''
  Publisher Modern Library
  Date 2003 reprint