Watanabe was the Director General of Military Education. He, as well as former Prime Minister Makoto Saito and Minister for Finance Korekiyo Takahashi, were assassinated by 20 army officers who were accompanied by a thousand members of the Regiment of Guards. This was an attempt by the conservative extremists within the Japanese Army to force the hand of their military leaders to take action against the representatives of the social and political order which they designed to overthrow. They desired a military‑socialist totalitarian state under direct rule of the Emperor. Results of an election on February 20 had shown heavy losses among governmental opponents. The Young Officers group had discovered that Saito had been responsible for the dismissal of General Jinzaburo Mazaki, who had inspired them, and bore a bitter grudge against the government because of the stringent official measures taken to control their political activities.
Watanabe was the Director General of Military Education. He, as well as former Prime Minister Makoto Saito and Minister for Finance Korekiyo Takahashi, were assassinated by 20 army officers who were accompanied by a thousand members of the Regiment of Guards. This was an attempt by the conservative extremists within the Japanese Army to force the hand of their military leaders to take action against the representatives of the social and political order which they designed to overthrow. They desired a military‑socialist totalitarian state under direct rule of the Emperor. Results of an election on February 20 had shown heavy losses among governmental opponents. The Young Officers group had discovered that Saito had been responsible for the dismissal of General Jinzaburo Mazaki, who had inspired them, and bore a bitter grudge against the government because of the stringent official measures taken to control their political activities.
Bio by: Warrick L. Barrett
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