FAQ About Yukio Mishima
What was the Tatenokai?
The Tatenokai, or Shield Society, was a private militia formed by Yukio Mishima in 1968. Composed mainly of young students, the group was dedicated to preserving traditional Japanese culture and supporting the Imperial institution. Mishima used the Tatenokai to enact his radical political beliefs, culminating in the infamous coup attempt at the Japan Self-Defense Forces headquarters, where Mishima sought to call military support for his vision of a Japan restored to its imperial past.
