“Get Up! Young Crimson Lions!“ - “起て紅の若き獅子たち“ - Anthem of the Tatenokai

The Tatenokai (楯の会, 楯の會) or Shield Society was an unarmed civilian militia in Japan dedicated to traditional Japanese values and veneration of the Emperor. It was founded in 1968 and led by the renowned author Yukio Mishima. There were around 100 original members, who were mostly students of Waseda University. The members, who joined voluntarily, were subjected to rigorous physical training that included kendo and long-distance running. In an unusual move, the Tatenokai was granted the right to train with the nation’s armed forces, the Japan Self-Defense Forces.