ing ▁the ▁threat ▁pos ed ▁by ▁the ▁revol t ▁of ▁Sh ish io ▁Mak oto . ▁K ens hin ▁is ▁uncertain , ▁and ▁ Ō k ub o ▁gives ▁him ▁a ▁May ▁ 1 4 ▁dead line ▁to ▁make ▁his ▁decision . ▁On ▁his ▁way ▁to ▁seek ▁K ens hin ' s ▁answer ▁on ▁that ▁day , ▁he ▁is ▁supposed ly ▁assass in ated ▁by ▁S eta ▁S ō j ir ō , ▁Sh ish io ' s ▁right - hand ▁man , ▁and ▁the ▁Ich ir ō ▁cl an ▁des ec r ates ▁his ▁cor pse ▁and ▁claim ▁they ▁killed ▁him . ▁( W ats uki ▁makes ▁a ▁comparison ▁to ▁President ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States , ▁Abraham ▁Lincoln , ▁with ▁ Ō k ub o ▁in ▁his ▁notes ). ▁ ▁In ▁Bor is ▁Ak un in ' s ▁novel ▁The ▁Diam ond ▁Ch ari ot , ▁Er ast ▁F and or in ▁investig ates ▁the ▁plot ▁to ▁assass inate ▁ Ō k ub o ▁but ▁fails ▁to ▁prevent ▁the ▁assass ination . ▁ ▁Hon ours ▁Junior ▁First ▁Rank ▁( May ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 9 0 1 ; ▁post hum ous ) ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Be as ley , ▁William ▁G . ▁ ▁( 1 9 9 0 ). ▁The ▁R ise ▁of ▁Modern ▁Japan : ▁Political , ▁Econom ic ▁and ▁Social ▁Change ▁Since ▁ 1 8 5 0 . ▁New ▁York : ▁St . ▁Martin ' s ▁Press . ▁▁ ▁( cl oth ) ▁I w ata