This Day in History: 25 November 2020
25 November 1970
50 years ago, today, Yukio Mishima, the world-renowned Japanese writer, died by suicide after he failed to win public support for his extreme political beliefs. Mishima was born in 1925 and was obsessed with what he saw as the spiritual barrenness of modern life. He preferred pre-war Japan, due to its patriotism and traditional values. The materialistic, westernised nation that arose after 1945 was despised by him. In this spirit, he founded the 'Shield Society', which was a controversial private army made up of about 100 students that was to defend the emperor in the event of a leftist uprising.
On the same day he died, Mishima delivered the last instalment of 'The Sea of Fertility' to his publisher. This was his four-volume epic on Japanese life in the 20th century that is regarded by many to be his greatest work. He then went with many of his followers to a military building in Tokyo, before seizing control of a general's office. From there, he gave a brief speech to around 1,000 servicemen, urging them to overthrow Japan's constitution. The soldiers, however, were unsympathetic, and Mishima committed 'seppuku', otherwise known as ritual suicide, by disembowelling himself with his sword.
Want to find out more about the death of Yukio Mishima? Click here for more information, or here for more about the history of 'seppuku'.
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