| Inejiro Asanuma | |
|---|---|
| Chair of the Japanese Socialist Party | |
| In office 1960–1960 |
|
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 27, 1898 |
| Died | October 12, 1960 (aged 61) Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
| Political party | Japanese Socialist Party |
Inejiro Asanuma (浅沼 稲次郎 Asanuma Inejirō, December 27, 1898 – October 12, 1960) was a Japanese politician, and head of the Japanese Socialist Party. Asanuma was noted for speaking publicly about Socialism and economic and cultural opportunities. His support of the Chinese Communist Party was criticized both from the right and by his colleagues.
Asanuma was assassinated by 17-year-old Otoya Yamaguchi, an extreme rightist, at a televised rally for the upcoming Lower-house election. Yamaguchi rushed and fatally stabbed Asanuma, and was subdued moments later. The entire incident was captured on camera.
Inejiro Asanuma's mother died during his birth, leaving him to be raised by his father, who later died at the age of 42 of cancer.
In the 1930s he became a national socialist, lending his support to the war policies of the Japanese Army, and served in the Diet from 1936. However, he withdrew his candidacy from the 1942 election and retired from politics until after the war.[1]
He was widely criticized for a 1959 incident where he went to Communist-controlled Mainland China and called the United States "the shared enemy of China and Japan". When he returned from this trip he wore a Mao suit while disembarking from his plane in Japan, sparking criticism from Socialist leaders.[1]
The nation was shocked to see him assassinated and national demonstrations and protests followed. With his death, the Japanese Socialist Party further divided between politicians on the left and right.