Finally, Shozo's life in prison continued until Mishima was transferred and left Tochigi Prefecture. Three months passed in the meantime. For Shozo, it was shorter than past incarceration, but once again, he felt compelled to stop state power from spiraling out of control. Shozo was later elected to the prefectural assembly four times in a row, eventually serving as chairman.
On the other hand, there was a nationwide incident, the "Gifu-Incident ". Around this time (1881),an edict was issued that the Diet would be established in 10 years later, and Taisuke Itagaki, the leader of the liberal civil rights movement, was making speeches in various parts of Japan. Then, on April 6,1882,after giving a speech in what is now Gifu City, Itagaki was about to leave the venue when an incident occurred. Itagaki was attacked by thugs. Although the incident was an isolated act by the perpetrators, the civil rights activists assumed that they were assassins of the government, and the whole thing turned into a revolutionary upheaval. "Itagaki may die, but freedom does not die." Itagaki is said to have said at that time. The government could no longer afford to suppress them any longer, and began to take a policy of pocketbook reform by appointing them as cabinet ministers.
