The Assassination of Japan's Prime Minister
History Daily
History Daily
4.4 • 2.5K Ratings
🗓️ 15 May 2026
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
May 15, 1932. The Prime Minister of Japan, Inukai Tsuyoshi, is assassinated in an attempted coup d’état. This episode originally aired in 2025.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's just after 5.30 p.m. on May 15, 1932, at the official residence of the Prime Minister of Japan in Tokyo. |
| 0:18.2 | 75-year-old Inokai Tsioshi bounces his infant grandchild on his knee, smiling at the girl's |
| 0:23.8 | innocent laughter. |
| 0:25.1 | It's a refreshing change to the sound of arguing voices that dominated the cabinet meeting |
| 0:29.6 | he chaired earlier today. |
| 0:31.8 | Siyoshi has only been prime minister for five months, but it's already become difficult. |
| 0:36.9 | Siosi's political party doesn't have a majority in the Japanese parliament, |
| 0:40.5 | so he has a diverse set of ministers from different parties who rarely agree on anything. |
| 0:45.7 | On top of that, Japan is dealing with economic uncertainty and an increase in violent nationalism. |
| 0:51.8 | But now, with his daughter-in-law cooking him dinner in the adjoining kitchen, |
| 0:55.7 | Tiyoshi gets to enjoy himself. He tickles his granddaughter under her arm. But the laughter is interrupted |
| 1:02.4 | by the sound of the single gunshot from the floor below. Tioshi rises from his chair and quickly |
| 1:09.1 | locks the door to the apartment as his daughter-in-law hurries in from the kitchen, her face pale. |
| 1:14.4 | Sioshi hands her the baby and gestures for them both to be quiet. |
| 1:18.8 | Then Sioshi puts his ear to the door and strains to hear what's happening on the other side. |
| 1:24.1 | There are footsteps, heading up the stairs toward them. |
| 1:27.7 | A second gunshot rings out from just behind the door, and Siyoshi jumps back. |
| 1:32.7 | The door handle rattles. |
| 1:34.5 | Then someone tries to break down the door. |
| 1:37.1 | Siyoshi's grandchild begins to scream. |
| 1:40.0 | The door finally gives way, and Siyoshi steps in front of his daughter-in-law and grandchild, |
| 1:45.0 | as armed men in military uniforms burst into the room. |
... |
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