Kazutaka Komori (小森 一孝, Komori Kazutaka, May 25, 1943 – November 1971[citation needed]) was a Japanese right-wing ultranationalist youth who attempted to assassinate Japanese journalist and magazine publisher Hōji Shimanaka in February 1961, in what became known as the Shimanaka Incident.[1] Komori sought retribution for a fictional story published in one of Shimanaka's magazines which featured a dream sequence in which the Emperor and Empress were beheaded by a guillotine.[2] Shimanaka was away from home at the time of Komori's assault, and he ended up stabbing Shimanaka's wife and murdering his housemaid.[3] Komori was 17 years old at the time of his attack.[3]
Early life
editKomori was born in Nagazaki, Japan, on May 25, 1943.[4] His mother, Tatsu, committed suicide when he was a young boy.[4] His neighbors later described him as having been a "moody" child, and in high school he was once admitted to a mental hospital following a nervous breakdown.[4] After graduating from high school, he drifted around the country taking on various odd jobs.[4] On January 3, 1961, he joined prominent ultra-rightist Bin Akao's Greater Japan Patriotic Party, and withdrew from the party just hours before his attack on Shimanaka's household.[4][3]
Attack
editOn February 1, 1961, at the age of 17, Komori went to the home of prominent Tokyo publisher Hōji Shimanaka with the intent to kill him in retribution for a fiction story by Shichirō Fukazawa printed in Shimanaka's magazine Chūō Kōron that described the overthrow and murder of the Japanese Imperial family.[1] The story, which satirized the recent Anpo protests, depicted a dream sequence in which the reigning emperor and empress were beheaded, along with the crown prince and princess.[5] Shimanaka was not at home but Komori murdered his 51-year-old maid and critically injured the publisher's wife.[3] Komori initially fled the scene, but later turned himself in to police.[3]
Aftermath
editKomori was tried as an adult and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[6][7] This murder and the assassination of Inejiro Asanuma by Otoya Yamaguchi led to the arrest of Bin Akao in 1961.[8] Komori died in prison in 1971.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. pp. 255–257. ISBN 978-0674984424.
- ^ Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0674984424.
- ^ a b c d e Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 257. ISBN 978-0674984424.
- ^ a b c d e "Fanatical Rightist Youth Confesses Brutal Stabbings". The Japan Times. Tokyo. February 3, 1961. p. 4.
- ^ Kapur, Nick (2018). Japan at the Crossroads: Conflict and Compromise after Anpo. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0674984424.
- ^ United Press International (March 22, 1961). "Will Try Slayer as Adult". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ Associated Press (February 26, 1962). "Story in Magazine Touches Off Tragedy". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- ^ United Press International, February 21, 1961. "Rightist's Arrest Sparks Demonstration Threats". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
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External links
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