How a small group of Japanese militants terrorized the globe for three decades
In short: Operating primarily from Lebanon, the Japanese Red Army (JRA) orchestrated a global campaign of hijackings, embassy sieges, and bombings. Though they peaked with only about 40 members, their reach spanned from Tel Aviv to the New Jersey Turnpike, fueled by international revolutionary alliances.
Founded in February 1971 by Fusako Shigenobu and Tsuyoch Okudaira, the JRA emerged from the radical remnants of Japan's New Left. The group's stated mission was to overthrow the Japanese monarchy and government to ignite a worldwide revolution. To achieve this, they cultivated a sophisticated international network, relying on the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) for weaponry, training, and essential financing. They also secured support from Muammar Gaddafi's Libya, Ba'athist Syria, and North Korea.
The JRA's tactics were characterized by high-profile violence and hostage negotiations. In May 1972, the Lod Airport massacre in Israel killed 26 people, an attack that left Kōzō Okamoto as the only surviving perpetrator. Their repertoire included the 1973 hijacking of Japan Air Lines Flight 404 and the 1974 storming of the French Embassy in The Hague, which resulted in the death of a Dutch policewoman. In 1977, a hijacking of Japan Airlines Flight 472 allegedly prompted the Japanese government to pay a $6 million ransom.
The group's influence was not limited to the Middle East or Asia; they struck targets in Europe and the United States, including a 1988 car bombing of a USO facility in Naples. While the group officially disbanded in April 2001 following a statement by Shigenobu, the legacy of their actions persists. Many former members, such as Kunio Bando and Akira Nihei, remained on international wanted lists for decades, and the Japanese National Police Agency noted the emergence of a successor group, the Rentai Movement, in 2001.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Japanese Red Army
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