This movie dramatizes an almost forgotten incident in Japan prior to WW2. There were a group of educated young army officers who made a bold move to turn Japan into a military state in order to prepare it for an eventual war with Russia. To do so would involve the killing of the Prime minister and several other pacifist figures and a hope that a martial law and a supportive army generals would exonerate them. While this movie dwells on the insurrection it leaves the reasoning with the viewers. These officers believed in meeting the threat to their country on the asian continent and not to fight any battles on their own soil. It was the only sound strategy for them. I suppose they never realized that other events would lead to a greater war in the Pacific.