Asanuma Inejirō
| Inejiro Asanuma | |
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| 3rd Chair of the Japan Socialist Party | |
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In office March 23, 1960 – October 12, 1960 |
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| Preceded by | Suzuki Mosaburō |
| Succeeded by | Jōtarō Kawakami |
| Member of the Japanese House of Representatives from Tokyo's 1st district | |
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In office April 11, 1946 – October 12, 1960 |
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In office February 21, 1936 – April 30, 1942 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 27, 1898 Miyake-jima, Izu Islands, Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | October 12, 1960 (aged 61) |
| Political party | Japan Socialist Party |
| Alma mater | Waseda University |
Inejiro Asanuma (浅沼 稲次郎? Asanuma Inejirō, December 27, 1898 – October 12, 1960) was a Japanese politician, and leader of the Japan Socialist Party. A noted public speaker, Asanuma was unusual in postwar Japan for his forceful advocacy of socialism, his support of the Chinese Communist Party, and his criticism of the U.S-Japanese relations was particularly controversial.
Asanuma was assassinated by a nationalist while speaking in a televised political debate in Tokyo. His violent death was seen in graphic detail on national television, causing widespread public shock and outrage. The weapon used was a Yoroi-dōshi, a traditional sword.
Asanuma was born in the Chiyoda ward of Tokyo on December 27, 1898. His mother died during his birth, leaving him to be raised by his father, who later died of cancer at the age of 42.
In the 1930s Asanuma was a member of several pro-military, far-right uyoku dantai and supported Hideki Tojo. He served in the Diet from 1936. He grew dissatisfied with the direction World War II was taking and withdrew his candidacy from the 1942 election and retired from politics until after Japan's defeat. When he returned to politics, it was as a socialist and left-wing activist.
Asanuma was widely criticized for a 1959 incident in which he visited Communist-controlled Mainland China and called the United States "the shared enemy of China and Japan" during a speech in Beijing. When he returned from this trip he wore a Mao suit while disembarking from a plane in Japan, sparking criticism even from Socialist leaders. At that time, Japan and many other countries recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the rightful government of Mainland China.
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