Attempted military coup in Japan. Young extremists of the Imperial Way faction (Kodo-ha) had been active within the Japanese army since the late 1920s, intent on using violent means to overthrow the conservative civilian government and set Japan on a course of military expansion, particularly in China. Their activities culminated in the attempted coup in which several prominent politicians were murdered (the Prime Minister Okada Keisuke only escaping through a case of mistaken identity) and much of central Tokyo seized. The revolt was put down on 29 February and most of its leaders executed, after which leadership of the military expansionist cause passed to the more moderate Control faction (Tosei-ha).