ABSTRACT
The four years from Mishima’s dismissal to the promulgation of the Constitution in 1889 and the launching of the Diet in the following year were among the most tranquil of Shozo’s life, if by tranquil is meant devoid of spectacular drama. Certainly they were busy enough-constant public activity hardly ever left him time to visit his wife and father, a state of affairs which continued for the rest of his life-but for a man whose experience and character set him apart from the ordinary run of politicians, the daily round of routine Assembly work and political meetings up and down the prefecture was bound to seem in some degree frustrating.
