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Inejirō Asanuma

Inejiro Asanuma
Inejirō Asanuma 1955.jpg
3rd Chair of the Japan Socialist Party
In office
March 23, 1960 – October 12, 1960
Preceded by Suzuki Mosaburō
Succeeded by Jōtarō Kawakami
Member of the Japanese House of Representatives from Tokyo's 1st district
In office
April 11, 1946 – October 12, 1960
In office
February 21, 1936 – April 30, 1942
Personal details
Born (1898-12-27)December 27, 1898
Miyake-jima, Izu Islands, Tokyo, Japan
Died October 12, 1960(1960-10-12) (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.

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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