• November 1930 right wing fanatic shot PM hamaguchi Osachi who succumbed to his wounds eventually.
  • Feb 1932 > league of blood murdered former finance minister.
  • in following month league assassinated the head of the Mitsui corporation - which was a zaibatsu.

these assassinations - had several effects;

  • They intimidated civilian politicians + caused them to drop their opposition to the military
  • also created a sense of instability, which military exploited to restore order.