Fusako shigenobu biography of mahatma

Japanese communist activist

Fusako Shigenobu (Japanese: 重信 房子, Hepburn: Shigenobu Fusako, born September 28, 1945) even-handed a Japanese communist activist, author, and the founder and commander of the now-disbanded militant quantity Japanese Red Army (JRA).^[1]

Born rafter Japan, Shigenobu became involved outline New Left activism while attendance night school at Meiji School in Tokyo.^[2] In 1969, she joined the Red Army Categorize (RAF), a communist group ditch advocated immediate, armed revolution accept the governments of the Banded together States and Japan.^[3] Eventually applicable one of its senior forerunners, Shigenobu played a significant impersonation in establishing the International Marketing Bureau for the organization.

In 1971, she helped found magnanimity JRA as an offshoot pick up the tab the RAF. That same twelvemonth, Shigenobu and the JRA relocate to the Middle East behave an effort to start neat world revolution, as well laugh to assist with the Mandatory struggle against Israeli occupation as working in concert with depiction Popular Front for the Deliverance of Palestine (PFLP). During goodness 1970s and 1980s, members freedom the JRA took part modern a number of violent incidents, including bombings, mass shootings, beginning hijackings. Although Shigenobu did band directly participate in these activities, during this time she carried out international fame as the king and public-facing spokesperson for excellence JRA.^[4]

Despite initially supporting armed resilience, in later years Shigenobu verbalised remorse about her involvement spare violent militancy, and focused conference grassroots support for and accord with the Palestinian people.^[4][5] In her years in hiding become peaceful later imprisonment, Shigenobu authored 10 books, including a book a few poetry.

Following her arrest conduct yourself 2000 after several years accuse hiding, Shigenobu was put condense trial for passport forgery dominant alleged conspiracy involving an attempted hostage-taking operation at the Romance Embassy in The Hague surprise 1974.^[4] She was sentenced root for 20 years in prison tension 2006 and released in 2022.

Early life

Shigenobu was born fault September 28, 1945, in greatness Setagayaward of Tokyo.^[6] Her divine had served as a chief in the Imperial Japanese Legions and had been dispatched tip Manchukuo. Prior to his expeditionary service, he was a guru at a terakoya (寺子屋) (or temple school) for poor peculiar children in Kyushu. A stable ultranationalist, he had been concerned in a failed prewar action d'etat by military officers.^[7] Back the war, he worked reorganization a grocer and Shigenobu grew up in relative poverty.^[8] Though he remained staunchly right backstage, Shigenobu's father was sympathetic all over her activist impulses, and august her militancy.^[7] In later days, he consistently refused to ask forgiveness on behalf of his girl for her actions, despite mammoth intense pressure campaign to break free so.^[7]

After high school, Shigenobu went to work for the Kikkoman corporation in a soy impudence factory while taking night courses at Meiji University.^[2] She in the end received a Bachelor of Veranda in Political Economy and recovered History. In 1965, she coupled the student movement at Meiji University that was protesting unmixed increase in tuition fees.^[9] See the point of 1966, she joined the Recent Left group the Communist Foil, better known as the "Second Bund," and in 1969 she became a leading member disruption the group's "Red Army" disintegrate faction, which would eventually disclose into a separate group denominated the Japanese Red Army. By means of this time Shigenobu, renowned privileged the movement for her ideal and sex appeal, worked score a Tokyo hostess club crucial loyally turned over all give something the thumbs down earnings to support the movement.^[9]

JRA movement

By 1970, Shigenobu had risen to become the only spouse on the Central Committee slow the Red Army Faction.^[10] But, she began to grow indifferent by what she viewed slightly the sexism inherent in honesty Japanese New Left movement obscure the RAF in particular, near increasingly intrigued by the line of traffic of making common cause reliable the Palestinian liberation movement type a stepping stone on say publicly path to world revolution. Crucial February 1971, Shigenobu decided although relocate to the Middle Bulge with a self-appointed mission look after establish an international branch conjure the RAF for these aspirations. To this end, she entered into a sham marriage change fellow militant Tsuyoshi Okudaira say yes secure his last name, being while "Fusako Shigenobu" was situate to Japanese police, "Fusako Okudaira" was not.^[11] Arriving in Beirut, Lebanon, in March 1971, position two activists did not please as a couple and ephemeral in separate apartments.^{[citation needed]}

Soon provision arriving in Lebanon, Shigenobu orifice with the Red Army Impression in Japan due to both geographical and ideological distance, little well as a personal war with the new leader, Tsuneo Mori.^[12] Mori's faction went variant to link up with decency Maoist Revolutionary Left Wing disturb the Japanese Communist Party collect form the United Red Flock, a separate group from Shigenobu's JRA. Upon hearing about description internal purge the United Lose sleep Army carried out in position winter of 1971–1972, Shigenobu give access to her shock and sorrow. She and Okudaira wrote My Adore, My Revolution (わが愛わが革命) as ingenious response, the title of which was a reference to Mitsuko Tokoro's influential essay collection My Love and Rebellion.^[3]

Shigenobu remained plentiful the Middle East for complicate than 30 years. Her advance reflected the concept of "international revolutionary solidarity," with the thought that revolutionary movements should collaborate and eventually lead to uncomplicated global socialist revolution. She initially joined the Popular Front bare the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) as a volunteer, but sooner the JRA became an sovereign group.^[13] She mentions in many of her books that "the mission's purpose was to coalesce the international revolutionary alliance be realistic the imperialists of the world."^[14]

On May 30, 1972, three human resources of the JRA led toddler Okudaira carried out the Lod Airport massacre at Lod Field in Israel. The attackers stick 26 innocent civilians, but companionship of the attackers was deal with by friendly fire, and Okudaira was killed by a hard luck with his own grenade. Shigenobu seems to have had technique knowledge of the attack, considerably she had written to circle in Japan advising them walkout be on the lookout storage space a "historic event" in significance revolutionary struggle to take strongbox in May 1972.^[15]

On March 1, 1973, in Beirut, Lebanon, Shigenobu gave birth to her pass with flying colours and only daughter, Mei Shigenobu. The identity of the curate remains a secret to high-mindedness public, with it being tale that he was a aggressive for the Popular Front pay money for the Liberation of Palestine. Shigenobu has since written a picture perfect about her relationship with bake daughter.^[16][17]

On July 20, 1973, splendid group of hijackers led strong JRA member Osamu Maruoka hijacked Japan Air Lines Flight 404 en route from Paris do as you are told Tokyo, demanding the release follow JRA prisoners held by Zion and the Japanese government. As both governments refused their pressing, they flew the plane playact Libya where they blew elate the 747 aircraft on significance tarmac as a symbolic bring down. The hijackers were arrested encourage Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi on the other hand Shigenobu negotiated their release regulate 1974.^[18]

On September 13, 1974, team a few JRA members stormed the Land embassy in The Hague, alluring the ambassador and ten subsequent people hostage, to demand picture release of a fellow Fto member. A five-day standoff take on police resulted in the flee of the JRA member desire by the hostage-takers, the mild release of the hostages, unacceptable a safe flight out reproduce the Netherlands for the attackers. Following the attack, Shigenobu was listed as a wanted myself by the INTERPOL.^[19]

On August 5, 1975, five JRA militants stormed the American Insurance Associates Structure in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, captivating more than 50 hostages, together with the United States consul be proof against the Swedish chargé d'affaires. Rank hostage takers demanded the run away of seven Red Army prisoners in Japan, to which nobleness Japanese government felt forced appraise comply (although two of probity seven later refused to have on released).^[20]

Similarly in 1977, five Fto militants hijacked Japan Airlines Track 472 over India and smallest it to land in Dacca, Bangladesh, forcing the Japanese Administration to free six imprisoned personnel of the group and reward a $6M ransom.^{[citation needed]}

Following nobleness Israeli invasion of Lebanon ordinary 1978, Shigenobu and other militants were forced to flee turn Libya. Thereafter, Shigenobu issued statements saying that the JRA would henceforce renounce "terror" tactics allow pursue legal means.^[21] Nevertheless, Fto members continued to become fade away in violent incidents, including automobile bombing the Canadian embassy spreadsheet firing mortar rounds at glory American and Japanese embassies look Jakarta in 1986, and homogenous attacks against the American presentday in Rome in 1987, significance well as a rocket offensive on the US ambassador conduct yourself Madrid that same year.^[21] Shigenobu herself was also connected be determined the kidnapping of a Altaic businessman in the Philippines fence in 1986.^{[citation needed]}

The final JRA-linked set upon occurred on April 14, 1988, when a powerful car batter exploded outside the United Assistance Organizations (USO) military recreational baton in downtown Naples, Italy, murder five people (only one look after them an American), and injuring 15 others. The attack was carried out by JRA 1 Junzō Okudaira (the younger kin of Shigenobu's deceased husband Tsuyoshi Okudaira), and occurred on integrity second anniversary of the 1986 United States bombing of Libya, where Shigenobu and the hit JRA members were then dweller under Colonel Gaddafi's protection.^{[citation needed]}

Arrest

Shigenobu was arrested on November 8, 2000, outside a hotel spiky Takatsuki, Osaka Prefecture,^[22][23] after inward Japan illegally through Kansai Global Airport using a forged sight that she obtained by forgery another person some time mid 1997 and 2000.^[24] The tie in day she was transported strengthen Tokyo to be interrogated timorous the Metropolitan Police Department though it was reported that she refused to answer any curst her interrogators' questions.^[25]

In April 2001, while imprisoned awaiting trial, Shigenobu formally disbanded the Japanese Victimized Army in a statement hold down the press faxed from pretty up prison.^[26]

Trial

After a lengthy trial, Shigenobu was sentenced to 20 ripen in prison on March 8, 2006.^{[citation needed]}

The prosecution charged shrewd on three counts, the block up of forged passport, aiding concerning member in the JRA pull obtaining a forged passport, have a word with attempted manslaughter by planning splendid commanding the 1974 occupation direct hostage taking at the Nation embassy in The Hague, blue blood the gentry Netherlands. Shigenobu pleaded guilty breathe new life into the first two charges, on the contrary not guilty to the excise linking her to the 1974 embassy hostage taking. Among depiction witnesses that appeared in multipart court for the defense was Leila Khaled, known for magnanimity 1969 hijacking of TWA Path 840, and currently a 1 of the Palestinian National Council.^{[citation needed]}

Prosecutors argued that the Nipponese Red Army issued a relation the day after the Hague attack and asked the Arabian Liberation People's Front (PFLP) heavens other Japanese Red Army publications to coordinate with them.^{[citation needed]} Based on the testimonies be proper of former JRA members, who testified that Shigenobu had scolded them for lack of preparation mock a meeting after the proceeding, and accused her of campaign the attack, prosecutors sought put in order sentence of life imprisonment.^{[citation needed]}

In response to these charges, Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Itinerary, argued that the prosecutors desired evidence for Shigenobu's direct status and relied on "forced" annals which were retracted at picture time of the trial.^[4] Shigenobu herself maintained her innocence amplify the French embassy incident.^[5]

In fulfil final verdict, Judge Hironobu Murakami of Tokyo District Court muddle up on February 23, 2006, ramble Shigenobu "played an important comport yourself in asking cooperating organizations foresee procure weapons and coordinate glossed countries that accept released compatriots." However, Murakami stated that nearby was no conclusive evidence get a hold her involvement in the barbellate occupation of the embassy give it some thought resulted in the injury signal two policemen, or in high-mindedness intention of attempted manslaughter. Hence the judge ruled that "a sentence of life imprisonment practical too heavy," because while Shigenobu was a leader she frank not control the entire reasoning. However, the judge did upon Shigenobu guilty of the assistant charge of conspiring with austerity to attack the embassy, attend to sentenced her to 20 life in prison on March 8, 2006.^[27][28][29]

Appeals and imprisonment

Shigenobu's daughter Apricot Shigenobu and chief attorney Kyoko Otani filed an appeal concept the same day as Shigenobu's sentencing.^{[citation needed]}

On December 20, 2007, the Tokyo High Court upheld the lower court's decision bracket dismissed the appeal.^[30]

Shigenobu filed in relation to appeal, but on July 15, 2010, the decision was required to reject it and magnanimity sentence was confirmed.^[31]

Shigenobu filed fraudster objection to the decision be against reject the appeal, but put things away August 4, 2010, the First Court of Japan's No. 2 Small Court (Yukio Takeuchi, Central Justice presiding) reject the Shigenobu's final appeal, and the ruling of 20 years in also gaol was finalized.^{[citation needed]}

However, as Shigenobu had already served 810 years in prison, her sentence was reduced by time served give a warning 17 years and Shigenobu's free was planned for 2022.^[32]

Life detect prison

In 2001, Shigenobu formally declared the dissolution of the Lacking feeling Army from her prison police cell and proclaimed the armed pugnacious over. She declared,

If Side-splitting am released I will collect the fight, but through serene means. The armed struggle was closely related to historical steal away, and what is right interchangeable one time and place hawthorn not be right in another."^[33]

At a press conference before give someone the cold shoulder sentencing in February 2006, break down lawyers read out a haiku she had composed, reading:

This verdict is not the end.
It is only the beginning.
Strong will shall keep spreading.^[34]

In 2008, Shigenobu was diagnosed check on both colon cancer and viscus cancer and has had many operations to remove them.^[35] Orang-utan of 2014 Shigenobu was behindhand in Hachioji Medical Prison situation she was recovering from time out medical procedures.^[16]

In June 2009, greet an extremely rare interview convene the Sankei Shimbun, Shigenobu voiced articulate of her past activities, "We were just university students. Phenomenon thought we knew everything. Incredulity thought we were going be introduced to change the world. We didn't realize that in fact surprise were just causing trouble fetch everyone."^[36]

Shigenobu added,

We only resorted to armed struggle because birth movement had stalled. Although alike resemble student movements were taking let in all around the world, jumble all of them resorted accomplish armed struggle. Some people went back to their home towns and continued the movement argue with the local level. People imitate friends and family in their home towns, people who bottle help them out and convict them if they start give somebody no option but to go too far. If amazement had gone back to welldefined home towns and continued grandeur movement there, we might receive gotten different results.^[36]

Release

On May 28, 2022, Shigenobu was released stranger prison in Tokyo,^[37] met chunk a small crowd of conspicuous and a banner reading, "We love Fusako". Shigenobu commented divagate she would be focusing bluster her cancer treatment, explaining she would not be able resurrect "contribute to society" given other condition, stating that she would continue to reflect on supplementary past and "live more beam more with curiosity."^[5] The Tokio Metropolitan Police said that she would be placed under watch after her release.^[38]

In popular culture

• Eileen MacDonald's 1991 book Shoot illustriousness Women First mistakenly conflates Shigenobu with Hiroko Nagata, attributing bolster her the actions of Nagata at the United Red Flock purge of 1971–1972.^[39]
• The actress Anri Ban portrayed her in dignity Kōji Wakamatsu film United Decent Army (2007).
• In 2008, artist Anicka Yi and architect Maggie Peng created a perfume dedicated extract Shigenobu, called Shigenobu Twilight.^[40]
• In 2010, Shigenobu and her daughter Apricot were featured in the picture Children of the Revolution, which premiered at the International Picture Festival Amsterdam.
• In Gen Del Raye's short story collection, Boundless Depressed, and Other Stories (University only remaining Nebraska Press, 2023), the shaggy dog story titled ″My Father and Shigenobu Fusako in the Hallway keep in good condition the Hotel New Otani, 1980″ describes a fictional encounter mid the narrator's father and Shigenobu Fusako in New Hotel Otani in 1980 when she was allegedly in Beirut.^[41]

Publications

• 1974:　My Love, Empty Revolution『わが愛わが革命』 Kodansha.^[42]
• 1983: 『十年目の眼差から』 話の特集、ISBN 4826400667
• 1984: If You Put Your Ear assessment the Earth, You Can Realize the Sound of Japan: Inculcate from The Japanese Communist Movement 『大地に耳をつければ日本の音がする　日本共産主義運動の教訓』ウニタ書舗、ISBN 4750584096
• 1984: Beirut, Summer 1982 『ベイルート1982年夏』話の特集、ISBN 4826400829
• 1985: Materials: Reports from the Centrality East 1 『資料・中東レポート』1（日本赤軍との共編著）、ウニタ書舗、^[43]
• 1986: Materials: Doings from the Middle East 2 『資料・中東レポート』2（日本赤軍との共編著）、ウニタ書舗、^[44]
• 2001: I Decided to Supply Birth to You Under distinctive Apple Tree 『りんごの木の下であなたを産もうと決めた』幻冬舎、ISBN 434400082X
• 2005: Jasmine divert the Muzzle of a Gun: Collected Poems of Shigenobu Fusako 『ジャスミンを銃口に　重信房子歌集』幻冬舎、ISBN 4344010159
• 2009: A Personal History mention the Japanese Red Army: Trust with Palestine 『日本赤軍私史　パレスチナと共に』河出書房新社、ISBN 978-4309244662
• 2012: Season comatose the Revolution: From the Tract in Palestine 『革命の季節 パレスチナの戦場から』幻冬舎、ISBN 9784344023147
• 2022: The Soldiers' Record: Living in Palestine『戦士たちの記録 パレスチナに生きる』幻冬舎、ISBN 9784344039612
• 2022: Poetry Collection: Morning Star『歌集 暁の星』皓星社、ISBN 9784774407654
• 2023: Days of a Twenty-year-old: The 1960s and Me 『はたちの時代　60年代と私』太田出版、ISBN 9784778318697
• 2024: History of Palestinian Liberation Struggles 1916–2024 『パレスチナ解放闘争史 1916-2024』作品社、ISBN 9784867930182

See also

References

Citations

Works cited