The coup itself—named the 5/15 (May 15) Incident—had fizzled out, but it brought forth even more sensational trials. There were three in all—one for civilians, one each for Army and Navy personnel. As usual a large segment of the public sympathized with the assassins, and there was general applause when one defendant declared that he and his comrades only wanted to sound an alarm to awaken the nation. The people had heard so much about “corruption” that little sympathy was shown the memory of gallant little Inukai. His death was a warning to politicians.
