37 Facts About Inejiro Asanuma Assassination

The Assassination of Inejiro Asanuma: A Pivotal Moment in Japanese History

The assassination of Inejiro Asanuma, the leader of Japan's socialist party, was a shocking event that left a lasting impact on the nation's political landscape. This tragic incident occurred during a live televised debate, witnessed by thousands. Here are 37 key facts about this significant event.

1. Date and Time of Assassination: The assassination took place on October 12, 1960, at 3:05 p.m. during a live televised debate at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo.

2. Target: Inejiro Asanuma, the charismatic chairman of the Japan Socialist Party, was the target.

3. Perpetrator: Otoya Yamaguchi, a 17-year-old right-wing ultranationalist, carried out the assassination.

4. Weapon: Yamaguchi used a wakizashi, a traditional short sword, to stab Asanuma.

5. Location: The event unfolded at Hibiya Public Hall in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.

The Event and Immediate Aftermath

The debate was supposed to be a routine political event but turned into a scene of horror and chaos. Here’s what happened:

6. Event Details: The debate was sponsored by the Japanese Elections Commission, the Alliance for Clean Elections, and NHK. It featured leaders of the three major political parties: Suehiro Nishio of the Democratic Socialist Party and Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

7. Audience: Approximately 2,500 people were present in the audience at Hibiya Public Hall.

8. Heckling: Right-wing groups in the audience began loudly heckling Asanuma, making it difficult for microphones and reporters to hear him. The NHK moderator had to call for calm.

9. Assassination: At 3:05 p.m., as the audience finally calmed down, Yamaguchi rushed onto the stage and made a deep thrust into Asanuma's left flank with the wakizashi. Yamaguchi then tried to turn the sword on himself but was swarmed and detained by bystanders.

10. Immediate Aftermath: Asanuma was rushed to a nearby hospital. Initially, it was believed he had not been seriously wounded because no external bleeding was visible. However, Yamaguchi's deep stab had punctured Asanuma's aorta, causing massive internal bleeding. Asanuma died within minutes before reaching the hospital.

Public Reaction and Political Impact

The assassination sent shockwaves through Japan, leading to widespread public unrest and significant political consequences.

11. Public Reaction: The public was shocked and outraged. An estimated 15,000 left-wing protesters converged on the city’s police headquarters demanding the police chief resign for failing to provide adequate security. During the resulting unrest, 60 students and 22 policemen were injured.

12. Political Impact: The assassination weakened the Japan Socialist Party and inspired a series of copycat crimes. It also made Yamaguchi an enduring hero and martyr to right-wing groups in Japan, particularly the Greater Japan Patriotic Party.

13. Yamaguchi's Background: Otoya Yamaguchi was the son of a high-ranking officer in the Japan Self-Defense Forces. He had joined Bin Akao's Greater Japan Patriotic Party in his mid-teens after being radicalized by his older brother. Yamaguchi had participated in several right-wing counter-protests during the Anpo protests and had been arrested and released multiple times.

14. Radicalization: Yamaguchi became further radicalized and disillusioned with Akao's leadership, which he felt was not radical enough. In May 1960, he resigned from Akao's group to take more "decisive" action.

15. Final Note: Yamaguchi had a note in his pocket at the time of the murder that read: “Seven lives for my country. Ten thousand years for His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor!”.

Yamaguchi's Suicide and Commemoration

Yamaguchi's actions and subsequent suicide added another layer of complexity to this tragic event.

16. Suicide: Three weeks after the assassination, while in police custody, Yamaguchi prepared a chilling farewell. He combined tooth powder with water and inscribed his final words on the cell wall. He then tore and knotted his bedsheets and hung himself in his small prison cell.

17. Commemoration: Asanuma's assassination shocked Japan's political establishment. Shortly after his death, conservative Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda gave a heartfelt eulogy for Asanuma on the floor of the Diet, commemorating him as a "speech-giving everyman" (enzetsu hyakushō).

18. Legacy: The assassination of Inejiro Asanuma served as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted tensions that existed within Japanese society during that time. It highlighted the intense political divisions and the willingness of some individuals to use violence to achieve their goals.

19. Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photograph: The photograph of Asanuma's assassination, captured by Yasahui Nagao, won both the Pulitzer Prize and the 1960 World Press Photo award. This image remains a poignant symbol of the human cost of political ideologies and the enduring power of journalism to bear witness to history.

International Impact and Reactions

The assassination had far-reaching implications, affecting not only Japan but also drawing international attention.

20. International Impact: The assassination of Asanuma had international implications. It was feared in Washington that Asanuma’s viewpoint, as well as his person, had been martyred in a way that might strengthen the emotional appeal of his views.

21. American Reaction: Privately, officials said that while Asanuma was an avowed enemy of the United States, no responsible American wanted him removed from the political scene in this way. The incident raised concerns about the potential for further radicalization and violence in Japan.

22. Yamaguchi as a Martyr: After his death, Yamaguchi became a martyr to the right-wing groups in Japan. His parents were presented with an honorary belt, kimono, and burial coat by Uyoku dantai members. His remains were escorted to a memorial service by these groups.

23. Reenactment: On the 58th anniversary of the assassination, Gavin McInnes, co-founder of Vice and founder of the Proud Boys, commemorated Asanuma’s assassination through reenactment, highlighting the enduring impact of this event on political discourse.

Inejiro Asanuma: Life and Political Career

To understand the full impact of Asanuma's assassination, it's essential to know more about his life and political career.

24. Asanuma's Early Life: Inejiro Asanuma was born on December 27, 1898, on the island of Miyake-jima, a remote volcanic island that is administratively part of Tokyo. His mother died in childbirth, and he was consequently raised by his father, who later died of cancer, leaving Asanuma an orphan.

25. Education and Activism: Asanuma completed high school and entered Waseda University, graduating in 1923. While still in college, he joined the Farmer-Labor Party and took part in various forms of leftist activism. He founded the "Builders League," which studied the works of English socialists, worked for Russian famine relief, and protested against military-related research being conducted at Waseda.

26. Party Affiliation: In 1924, Asanuma left the Farmer-Labor Party after it became divided into three different factions. He then became involved in tenant organizing and the Labor-Farmer movement.

27. Political Career: Asanuma was a charismatic leader who served as Japan’s socialist party chairman. He was known for his support of the newly established People's Republic of China (PRC) and his criticism of United States–Japanese relations, making him a polarizing figure in Japanese politics.

28. World War II Alignment: During World War II, Asanuma was aligned with the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and advocated for war in Asia. This alignment was a significant departure from his later advocacy for socialism and anti-war policies.

29. Post-War Advocacy: After World War II, Asanuma became a forceful advocate of socialism in post-war Japan. His support for the PRC and criticism of US-Japan relations made him a key figure in Japan's post-war political landscape.

The Aftermath and Legacy

The assassination of Inejiro Asanuma had long-lasting effects on Japanese politics and society.

30. Assassination Impact on Party: The assassination of Asanuma weakened the Japan Socialist Party. The party had been an unhappy marriage between far-left socialists, centrist socialists, and right socialists who had been forced together to oppose the consolidation of conservative parties into the Liberal Democratic Party in 1955.

31. Ikeda’s Response: In response to the crisis following Asanuma’s assassination, Prime Minister Hayato Ikeda delivered a memorial speech at a plenary session of the Diet on October 18. The Socialist Party Diet members vocally opposed the speech, highlighting the deep divisions within Japan’s political establishment.

32. Public Unrest: The assassination led to widespread public unrest. Approximately 20,000 protesters spontaneously flooded the streets of Tokyo calling for the entire Ikeda cabinet to resign. This unrest was a significant challenge to the Ikeda administration and highlighted the deep-seated tensions in Japanese society.

33. NHK’s Responsibility: The newspaper Yomiuri questioned why there weren’t more guards stationed during the debate and how much responsibility NHK bore for Asanuma’s assassination since it had sponsored the event. This raised questions about the role of media in ensuring public safety during such events.

34. Yamaguchi’s Testimony: According to his later testimony to police, Yamaguchi claimed that he became further radicalized and disillusioned with Akao’s leadership during the Anpo protests. This radicalization led him to take more extreme actions, ultimately resulting in Asanuma’s assassination.

35. Asanuma’s Controversial Views: Asanuma’s support for the Chinese Communist Party and his criticism of US-Japan relations were considered extremely controversial ideas. His position was made even more delicate by the fact that he allegedly had once opposed everything he now stood for, which added to his polarizing nature.

36. International Observations: The incident was observed internationally, with many noting the potential for further radicalization and violence in Japan. The Guardian reported that while Asanuma was an avowed enemy of the United States, no responsible American wanted him removed from the political scene in this way.

37. Enduring Legacy: The assassination of Inejiro Asanuma remains a significant event in Japanese history, symbolizing the intense political divisions and the willingness of some individuals to use violence to achieve their goals. The event continues to be remembered and studied, offering insights into the complexities of Japanese politics during the post-war period.

The Lasting Impact of Asanuma's Assassination

Inejiro Asanuma's assassination on October 12, 1960, was a turning point in Japanese history. This tragic event, witnessed live by thousands, highlighted the intense political divisions of the time. Otoya Yamaguchi's act of violence not only shocked the nation but also weakened the Japan Socialist Party, leading to a series of copycat crimes and unrest. Asanuma's death underscored the dangers of political extremism and the lengths some individuals would go to for their beliefs. The Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph of the assassination remains a powerful reminder of the human cost of political conflict. This event continues to be studied and remembered, offering valuable insights into the complexities of post-war Japanese politics. The assassination of Inejiro Asanuma stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy and the ever-present threat of political violence.