Short answers, pulled from the story.
Five Japanese Nichiren Buddhist monks were beaten by Chinese civilians near Sanyou Factory, resulting in one death and two serious injuries. A Japanese group subsequently burned down the factory, killing two Chinese people in the fire.
The conflict began shortly before midnight on January 28 when plainclothes Chinese troops infiltrated Hongkou district and fired upon Japanese sailors. This action triggered a mobilization of three thousand Japanese sailors who attacked the neighboring district of Zhabei.
Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated on the 15th of May 1932 as the episode undermined civilian rule in Tokyo. Yoshinori Shirakawa died of wounds sustained from an attack by Yoon Bong-Gil on May 26 during a celebration for Emperor Hirohito.
Fighting spread from Hongkou district to Zhabei, Wusong, and Jiangwan while commercial and residential districts were set on fire during bombardments on February 20. The foreign concessions remained largely untouched with observers watching from the banks of Suzhou Creek.
Major Tanaka Ryukichi aimed to create a diversion of major proportions to justify military intervention by the Japanese navy. His goal was to divert global attention from actions taken by colleagues in north Manchuria.