"In the 1930's, Japan invaded Manchuria, left the League of Nations and smoldered internally" "Radicals and extremists ran amuck... assassinating leading public figures" "Severe famine, the Depression, embargoes..." "Fear and uncertainty gripped the people" "To show His Majesty what is in our hearts" "To root out corruption to build a New Japan in His name" "You agree, Ando?" "I don't want to involve the troops" "Don't you see?" "It's for them" "We'll soon be transferred to Manchuria" "How can we save Japan from the mainland?" "Without the support of our troops it's an impossible task" "I'll do it alone if need be" "Timing is crucial" "We must" "United, let us create a New Japan" "It's too early" "If we fail, we're in open rebellion" "We won't fail" "General Mazaki and many others back us" "Ando, we must join... and sacrifice to bring about this reformation" "Whether insanity or idiocy... headlong we hurtle" "The words have all been said" "All that's left is this" "Whether insanity or idiocy... headlong we hurtle!" "It's set" "When?" "The 26th" "The 26th?" "This month?" "Yes, February 26th" "February 26th" "Four Days of Snow and Blood" "February 26th, 1936" "Prepare to depart!" "My regards to Nonaka and Ando" "Certainly" "Come straight back" "8 men under Captain Hisashi Kohno" "Attention!" "We, the Ando troop will totally devote ourselves... to the building of a New Japan" "204 men under Captain Kizo Ando" "Divide the ammunition and supplies equally" "It's live ammunition" "Do not load until ordered to 280 men under 1st Lt. Yasuhide Kurihara" "Your families starve" "Our comrades fight abroad while at home... their sisters are sold for rice" "Families who grow the rice... are unable to eat it themselves" "No work for the poor" "They're starving, exhausted" "14 men under 2nd Lt. Taro Tanaka" "Listen to me, men 210 men under 1st Lt. Tadashi Sakai" "H.M. can never be at ease while the misery persists" "The clique surrounding His Majesty... keep the people's plight from Him" "They conceal the nation's true condition 130 men under Lt. Noriaki Nakahashi" "We shall attack the Finance Minister" "Our cry Fighting Spirit Unity 170 men under Lt. Masatada Nui" "In the name of His Majesty, we will do our utmost!" "Believe and follow!" "500 men under Captain Shiro Nonaka" "We'll attack police headquarters" "Revere the Emperor!" "Expel the clique!" "Move out!" "Maneuvers?" "Stop!" "We'll kill any opposition!" "Kill me, then" "You can't kill father" "Kill me!" "Father!" "Who are you?" "Finance Minister Korekiyo Takahashi" "Identify yourself!" "Divine punishment!" "Just you two?" "Yes" "The shots frightened us" "Major General" "We've found him" "Prime Minister, Admiral Keisuke Okada" "Master!" "Close it!" "You're the Prime Minister?" "Most certainly" "Outside!" "Prime Minister Okada?" "No mistake" "Kill him" "PM's Secretary, Colonel Denzo Matsuo Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal" "What is this?" "Admiral Minoru Saito" "Who are you?" "Such insolence!" "Identify yourself!" "What regiment?" "Stop!" "Kill me" "Please..." "Take us to Count Makino" "Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, Count Makino (ret.)" "Is this the behaviour of Imperial troops?" "We're not your husband's lackeys" "We're the Emperor's men!" "It's not your concern, let us through" "My husband is asleep." "Please leave" "Get away!" "Inspector General of Military Education" "National Police Headquarters General Jotaro Watanabe" "What's the meaning of this?" "Who is your commanding officer?" "I demand an explanation" "We have our orders We will not leave... until we've completed our mission" "That's unacceptable" "We're responsible for law and order" "No time to talk!" "Calm down." "We have laws" "We will explain later" "Stop!" "Who are you?" "We must report to the Minister immediately" "Open up" "Not without specific orders" "If you try to stop us there will be bloodshed" "If you intend to harm the Minister. never!" "Open up!" "No, never!" "Open the gate!" "Grand Chamberlain, Admiral Kantaro Suzuki" "State your regiment and commanding officer" "Staff sergeant Nagata, Third Regiment" "Are you Grand Chamberlain Suzuki?" "I am" "What have you to say?" "I can't speak" "Who is your commander?" "Shall I shoot him?" "Shoot!" "Stop it!" "Why?" "Why?" "For the New Japan!" "No more!" "Please." "He won't live long" "No more." "I beg you" "Salute." "Grand Chamberlain Suzuki" "What the hell is this?" "Open up!" "Don't point that at me!" "Make way!" "Open up!" "You can't enter" "Go away!" "Orders?" "From a noncom?" "Ordered to admit no.one until the situation settles" "Those refusing to obey, leave us no choice... but to shoot" "1500 men have occupied... the Akasaka area, Prime Minister's Residence... and Police Headquarters" "War Minister's Residence and General Staff Office" "To carry out the Emperor's will, both domestic and foreign... and for equal justice to all His subjects" "We eliminated the corrupt elements" "As our document states" "Restore order, purge both parliament and... commerce of corrupt elements bring forth the New Japan as a matter of urgency" "Recognition of our actions as loyal imperial forces" "Convey these points to His Majesty" "It's not that simple" "We've fresh blood on our hands... don't make us shed more" "I understand your feelings" "So very, very well" "Shall we go to the palace?" "Time is of the essence" "Don't dither!" "We too, have a responsibility here" "To understand their fervor" "Demonstrate our support for the New Japan" "Otherwise chaos will prevail" "First obtain His Majesty's approval... that their actions do not constitute rebellion" "Yes, but their conduct..." "Is there any other way?" "Would our combined agreement suffice?" "Do we have the authority to do that?" "War Minister, if it went out in your name, wouldn't that satisfy them?" "I concur" "Issued in your name." "All agreed?" "Minister of War" "Minister of War hereby proclaims 1." "His Majesty has been informed of your aims" "2." "Your actions were for the good of the country" "3." "The country is currently in dire straits" "4." "The Combined General Staff recognise your quest" "5." "All else awaits His Majesty's pleasure" "So you approve of our actions?" "At the very least?" "Exactly as it is written" "Just a moment" "It's not clear whether we are in fact... rebels or patriots" "Why omit it?" "It's sufficient" "The Emperor now knows our hearts" "Ando-san." "It's rumored that the Emperor is on the verge... of proclaiming the New Japan" "Without concrete actions, it's futile to speculate" "We've done all we could" "All we can do now is to wait and hope" "Eyes left!" "Attention!" "Anyone catch cold?" "Not a one, sir!" "Guard your health!" "Company Commander" "HQ sent rations" "Have they?" "Nonaka, it's Captain Kohno" "How is everything, Kohno?" "I'm sorry, Nonaka" "I can't join you" "I failed..." "It's alright" "We'll talk later" "We did it" "Everyone's well" "Heard about the Minister's proclamation?" "Yes" "Wish I could join you" "From here on it's critical" "We've done what we had to" "We now await His Majesty's pleasure" "Please be decisive" "Thank you" "I understand perfectly" "It'll be alright" "Don't worry" "Perhaps we'll never meet again" "Please see it through" "Hello!" "Hello?" "If we approve that their assassinations.." "were to rid the country of despots, that means... we survivors are of the same ilk" "It appears War Minister Kawashima, General Mazaki... and other staff officers are working to establish... a new cabinet after PM Okada's assassination" "In harness to these young rebels?" "Their aim is to establish a New Japan where the... court is ignored, commerce smashed and sweeping land reform" "If we allow this who knows what will happen?" "We need a caretaker PM immediately" "The military must quash these assassins" "We must heed His Majesty's appraisal" "His Majesty has given approval... for martial law to go into effect" "Watch these rebels don't use it for their own ends" "I'm home" "Welcome dear" "What's happened?" "Are you all right?" "Here" "Good medicine" "My cold's almost gone" "I'll prepare dinner" "Don't bother" "Come here" "Sit down" "It's come to this" "Do your best to cope" "Your cold is better?" "I can't stay" "I'll be back on the 29th" "I've the exam to take" "It won't be forever" "Don't worry" "His Majesty has recognised our actions" "When I return, it'll be in a royal carriage" "That'll surprise you" "Really?" "My word" "Royal carriage?" "February 27th" "Martial Law Enforcement Headquarters" "General Order!" "The Martial Law Administrator is ordered... to clear the rebels positions, and return control to the proper authorities" "His Majesty so instructs" "Lt. General Kohei Kashi" "These orders are to be... given to the rebel units at precisely 5 am on the 28th" "If they oppose the orders?" "They'll be in direct defiance of an imperial order" "And will face the consequences" "Sugiyama..." "Has the Emperor issued an order?" "He certainly has" "It has just arrived" "They won't bow to force" "They did it for the country" "Let's not use force" "We must consider what to do prior to issuing the order" "Excellency, if this situation continues... and the military is unable to regain control" "we'll be forced to put it in the hands of His Majesty... to lead loyalist troops to put them down" "And what of military honor?" "Belly cutting won't suffice" "You're no longer in control" "With no right to speak of military affairs" "You're in the way" "If you must do something persuade them to withdraw immediately" "Otherwise, you'll be lumped with those.." "who wish to overthrow the government" "How dare you!" "We're all patriots" "The Prime Minister managed to escape" "I'll announce our precept" "We request General Mazaki resolve matters" "Our request to His Majesty encompasses the will of... the Joint Command and junior officers" "To trouble His Majesty is no trifle to be taken lightly" "But we implore you" "Your deplorable actions will not compel me... to assume the office of PM" "Deplorable actions, you say?" "Didn't yesterday's proclamation clearly condone... those actions and impart our will to His Majesty?" "Nothing was imparted" "Going to impart was the language" "Don't play games!" "You clearly stated that you fully understood... and agreed with us. no?" "Martial law prevails" "Unless you surrender control and withdraw... there will be no resolution" "You must submit to orders" "His Majesty worries grievously" "And why is that?" "State it plainly" "How much is this?" "Forget it" "In that case, thank you" "Listen carefully" "The blood, sweat and tears of the people... are wrung from us by the corrupt politicians... and court sycophants" "Yes!" "Exactly!" "The New Japan we've long craved is here!" "Today marks the start of a new era" "Let us sing praise to those initiated it... and join together to march on the residence... of the Minister of War!" "Is Captain Kohno in your ranks?" "Do you know where?" "He's an Air Force Academy graduate" "He's at another stronghold" "What do you mean?" "That's all I know" "I'm his brother" "Take me to your leader" "February 28th" "What's happened?" "The rations haven't arrived" "I went looking for the trucks and saw them turned back" "Turned back?" "Yes" "Whose orders?" "I don't know" "The whole area is surrounded" "What's that?" "To frighten us?" "Or do they plan to attack?" "If the Emperor so orders" "So withdraw, now" "Just a moment." "Will His Majesty do so?" "The proclamation backed our stand we're part of the Martial Law forces..." "Withdraw?" "Or stay?" "Why withdraw?" "Please explain" "I see" "Something's wrong" "What do we do?" "Do we fight?" "Or withdraw?" "If His Majesty commands, we'll be in rebellion" "Rebels..." "That's not possible" "No use arguing before it happens" "We must presage His Majesty's true disposition" "If He so orders we must obey" "If declared rebels, slitting our bellies should atone" "If it comes to that" "So..." "Rebels are we?" "The lines are cut" "What'll we do?" "We cannot fight comrades in arms" "Yes, if need be" "Revolutions are such" "We all knew that" "If we back down now what of our men who trusted in us?" "We're responsible for their lives" "They're in our charge" "They've had no rations all day" "The men are on quarter rations" "Hungry men can't fight" "What's an empty belly?" "A few days won't kill 'em" "They're not babies!" "If we withdraw, all is lost" "Everyone calm down, it's meant to frighten us" "It's their gambit" "We've no time to argue" "Right?" "Isn't that right?" "We're drenched in blood" "That cannot be undone" "If we falter then all we've done is in vain" "Kill me, too" "Please kill me" "You can't kill Father!" "Stop!" "Daddy is..." "We believed it was for the Emperor" "Isn't that right?" "A mere order will not deter us" "We must fight" "There's no alternative" "If we're fired upon, then we'll fight" "If it comes to that" "Martial Law order No, 14, February 28th" "The rebels have ignored their orders" "Force is the only recourse to restore order" "1st Division is to hold your present position... at complete battle readiness" "The area must be cleared before 5 am on the 29th" "Signed, Chief Martial Law Administrator" "You are ordered to withdraw immediately" "Halt!" "Squad leaders assemble" "What is it?" "Please summon the manager" "Yes" "I'm the manager." "What is this?" "I'm Captain Ando of the Third Regiment" "We have a need for your premises" "It's rather urgent." "I'll explain later" "Quartermaster" "Use this to furnish the men with food" "They've yet to eat" "I've some buns... but lack the staff to provide a meal" "We can offer rice.balls" "That would be fine" "Is it war?" "We won't fire first" "Secure the entrance and the first floor" "Deploy squads on the 2nd and 3rd floor" "Commanders to the roof" "Set up the machine guns" "Sir!" "Why so glum?" "Right, I'll sing" "All join in" "Yesterday the Emperor's men tomorrow, the Shogun's" "Yesterday the Emperor's men tomorrow, the Shogun's" "Ah, how things do change" "With spirit!" "Just a few more days" "Things will turn out well" "We won't disgrace you men" "You needn't worry" "Please believe in me and give your support" "I've no wish to die here." "I won't" "I must complete my tour and go back home" "My family will starve to death without me" "Forget your ideals and return us to the fold" "Right" "If there's anyone else who wishes to speak, do so now" "That's an order" "I've recently joined up" "Would you clearly explain to us... how we fit in with your plans for a New Japan?" "February 29th" "The Emperor commands you lay down your arms" "Attention!" "Attention other ranks" "What's this?" "A filthy trick to split us" "What's up?" "Prime Minister Okada survived" "He's seen the Emperor." "We killed his secretary" "So the cabinet won't fall" "They're making a broadcast" "The Imperial Decree." "In his Majesty's hand" "You believed in the orders of your superiors... and obeyed wholeheartedly" "But if you continue in defiance of my Imperial Decree you will be traitors" "Though you believed you were right and now admit to error, but continue to offer... resistance based on misplaced loyalties by openly rebelling against your Emperor your names will live forever in infamy" "It is not too late to... submit to proper authority and the forgiveness it confers" "Your families and... fellow countrymen pray for this end" "Lay down your arms" "A message from General Kashi" "Rebelling against the Emperor will forever brand you as traitors" "It's not too late to return to barracks ...cease resistance and lay down your arms" "If you do, forgiveness is offered" "Your families and countrymen..." "I'm going to have a baby" "I'll soon be back" "Take care" "Atami Military Hospital" "It seems Count Makino survived" "It was on the radio" "Prime Minister and Grand Chamberlain Suzuki, too" "How strange" "Count Makino's death was tormenting me" "It no longer matters" "My brother" "I wish to commit hara kiri" "The final glory of a warrior" "Could you bring something?" "A sword or large knife would cause problems... for the hospital and the kind MPs" "Next visit, bring fruit" "Hide a small fruit knife inside" "Ridiculous" "Hara kiri with a fruit knife?" "I shall" "I must" "Your time is up" "The rules, I'm sorry" "My brother..." "Goodbye" "Goodbye" "Obey the Imperial Decree, return to your units" "Listen" "Let's assemble the entire force at the Sanno Hotel" "It's right behind the palace, they won't dare fire" "We can win" "Isobe, the Imperial Decree is real" "We can't win" "We mustn't sacrifice our men to a lost cause" "Kurihara." "What an attitude!" "Might makes right!" "We just have to win" "Justice is with us." "We can't lose" "Present arms to the Emperor" "Your mission is accomplished" "Obey the Imperial Decree." "Return to your barracks" "I bow to your courage and loyalty" "Thank you" "Face the Company Commander" "Eyes front" "Dismissed" "What's wrong with you all?" "This is Japan's crucial hour" "It's no time for sentiment" "Damn!" "Why sound taps?" "To demoralize us?" "We men of arms, so like the cherry blossoms" "Blown by the stormy winds" "True sons of Japan face death bravely" "And fall like the scattered petals" "Though we face fire and cold steel" "We have no fear" "Hear those voices?" "Not one wavers" "Determined to follow me to the end" "Sakai has forsaken his ideals" "To spare the lives of his men, he dismissed them" "I shall, too" "Kurihara" "It's not surrendering." "We're changing strategy" "Change our tactics" "Then expose them all at our courts martial" "And win the greater victory" "Koda..." "Nonaka..." "Do you agree?" "To surrender your troops?" "Speak up!" "I see" "Lost your nerve" "An Imperial Decree, your position surrounded" ""surrender the men, slit our bellies"" "If you're so gutless why did you join?" "I'll fight all to show the Emperor we were correct" "Ando" "We could not save the country but we can save the lives and good names of our men" "We all hurt." "Not just you and I" "We assume responsibility, let's make the end exquisite" "I don't understand" "Remember this?" "You wrote this, Nonaka" "No matter how insane, headlong we hurtle" "It spurred me to action" "Your words inspired me." "These very words!" "The insanity of it..." "And now you're giving up?" "I'll continue the insanity until prevail!" "Right, Nonaka?" "Only by continuing can we alter history's course" "Halt!" "Don't shoot!" "Shoot if you can" "Run over us" "Ando, dismiss your men" "I won't" "Why should I?" "Where were you?" "I'm ready to die" "We should all die and ask the Emperor's forgiveness" "I won't die" "Ando, you'd best withdraw" "That's all" "I'm not going to die" "Ando" "Isobe" "I'm sorry it's come to this" "There are historical precedents" "of fleeing to China and starting again" "Nonaka, if I've said anything rude or unkind" "please forgive me" "Attention" "You men, under Sergeants Nagata and Dogome... will return to barracks" "Know that our actions... will forever be remembered as being just" "That is how history will judge us" "Now we must part company" "I have a last favor to ask" "Go proudly, heads held high... singing from your hearts The Song of the New Japan" "Since we began you have bravely borne... cold and hunger" "From my heart, I thank you" "Prepare to dismiss" "Sergeant Nagata" "Company forward, march" "Oh how troubled are the waters" "As storm clouds gather over Mt." "Fuji" "Standing here amidst this filth" "My blood boils with indignation" "The powerful are haughty men" "Who care not for the nation" "The rich boast of their wealth" "And care not a whit for the nation" "As the country dies the Clique reap profits" "And the people are deceived" "This confusion seems so unreal" "Like the moves in a board game" "Onward to the bright azure sky of the New Japan" "Sir, you must not choose death" "Please promise me" "Is it the anger of heaven or the voice of earth that echoes so eerily?" "Awake from eternal sleep" "To a new dawn for Japan" "Fame has faded to a dream" "Only sincerity remains" "As I look back on my life" "Can I say that I succeeded..." "To the Emperor" "Present arms" "At ease" "Your attention" "I am turning you over to Sergeant Ojima" "Obey the Imperial Decree and return" "I thank you from my heart, for everything for your concerted efforts" "I will never, ever forget you" "I'm sorry it came to this end" "Salute the company commander" "Eyes front" "Mihoko" "Mihoko, thank you so much" "You're more than I deserved" "I understand if you are angry" "No words can express my regret" "How sad for our Yasuko" "Raise her with love" "Eternally yours" "Captain Shiro Nonaka" "February 29th, the Emperor was informed that the rebels... had been totally suppressed" "After the storm, how quiet the day" "how quiet the day" "The arrested insurgent officers... and their civilian comrades, sixteen in all" "plus Zensuke Shibukawa, Mitsugu Nishida and Terujiro Kita. indirect participants at a special closed military court martial... without defense counsel nor appeal were all sentenced to be executed by firing squad" "Manly valor deserts me... when I think of my wife's future" "I have loved my wife until death" "Sumiko, I've come home" "Keep well and bask in parenthood" "Farewell my beloved Hisako" "From the land of Buddha I shall watch over you" "Death has come to me" "There is a charm in Takako's sash" "Please allow me... a lock of my wife's hair in my coffin" "Oh, great sorrow that in trying to save the land" "I am branded traitor" "No more tears have I, ah heaven" "Troubles vanquished in a vision of paradise" "Long live the Emperor!"