THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS
Ever since the Manchurian Incident in 1931, life in Japan is dominated by militarism.In 1936, (Showa 11) a group of young officers from the Japanese army attempt a coup and break into the Prime Minister's residence. The Prime Minister and several cabinet members are assassinated and the Police Agency and Asahi Shimbun offices are occupied. As soon as the Tokyo Central Communications Office learns of the incident, equipment is carried from the communications office in Akasaka to Shiba Park where temporary facilities are set up with 20 telephone lines. The Tokyo Central Telephone Office intercepts calls from the leaders of the rebellion inside the Prime Minister's Residence. Both efforts play major roles in the speedy suppression of the rebellion. From this point, Japan heads rapidly into an era of war.