The direct participants in this historic revolt were some 1,400 troops,
with their lower officers. No upper officers openly joined them. Yet
the insurgents had contact with the highest army quarters. And General
Mazaki, an outstanding army extremist, was kept under detention for a
year after the outbreak.
A long death list had been prepared. Actually only three high officials
were killed: Takahashi, the moderate Finance Minister; Admiral Saito,
the former Premier, then Lord Privy Seal; and General Watanabe, who
had been responsible for shifts in army officerships. Premier Okada
escaped, but his brother, who resembled him, was killed. Outside of
Tokyo both Count Makino, former Lord Privy Seal, and Prince Saionji,
the last Elder Statesman, managed to escape attacks directed against
them.
For three days the insurgents occupied the center of Tokyo. They were
finally disarmed when it became clear that the revolt was not taking
hold anywhere else. Once again, an attempt to seize the government had
failed. Nevertheless, the uprising caused an important shift in the
balance of political power. The trend toward moderation was reversed.
Under succeeding Cabinets, new policies were adopted which led directly
toward the war with China in 1937.