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Seeking converts for his cause, Mishima last year trained with defense-forces commando units and since last March repeatedly visited Japan's 32nd Infantry Regiment. He had little luck in winning converts, but he then concocted a fantastic plan: to make a dramatic "last appeal" to the defense forces at Ichigaya in the hope that they would overthrow the government. Mishima sought and was granted an interview with the garrison commander of the defense forces, General Kanetoshi Mashita.
Sword and Dagger. Dressed in their natty uniforms, the novelist and his four acolytes entered the general's office bearing swords and daggers. Mishima drew and raised his mean-looking blade before the general, exclaiming: "A good sword, this?" Believing that Mishima was joking, Mashita grinned and nodded his head. The drawn sword was a signal. Without warning, Mishima's men pounced on the general and tied him to his chair. When Mashita's aides realized what was happening and rushed into his office, the students slashed eight of them with their swords and daggers. After locking out the injured aides, the students demanded through the closed doors that soldiers be assembled on the parade ground below to hear a speech by Mishima. Some 1,200 gathered rapidly, and the police arrived.
Mishima went onto a balcony, wearing, in kamikaze style, a headband that fluttered in the wind. He spoke for ten minutes, his words often inaudible because of the lack of a public address system and noises from the men. His expression frozen in a fanatic vise, Mishima shouted: "Listen to me! I have waited in vain for four years for you to take arms in an uprising. Are you warriors? If so, why do you strive to guard the constitution that is designed to deny the very reason for the existence of your organization? Why can't you realize that so long as this constitution exists, you cannot be saved? Isn't there anyone among you willing to hurl his body against the constitution that has turned Japan spineless? Let's stand up and fight together and die together for something that is far more important than our life. That is not freedom or democracy, but the most important thing for us all, Japan."
The soldiers were incredulous. "Fool," they shouted, and "You idiot! What the hell are you talking about?" Gesticulating with his white-gloved hands, Mishima shouted himself hoarse trying to be heard. Finally, he realized the futility of continuing and turned to re-enter the general's office, first declaring: "We are going to enter our protest against this constitution with our deaths." His last words to the crowd were: "Tenno Heika Banzai!" (Long live the Emperor!)