Inejirō Asanuma
Inejirō Asanuma | |
|---|---|
浅沼 稲次郎 | |
Asanuma in 1952 | |
| Chairman of the Japan Socialist Party | |
| In office 23 March 1960 – 12 October 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Suzuki Mosaburō |
| Succeeded by | Saburo Eda (acting) Jōtarō Kawakami |
| General Secretary of the Japan Socialist Party | |
| In office 13 October 1955 – 23 March 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Saburo Eda |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 11 April 1946 – 12 October 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Kyōko Asanuma |
| Constituency | Tokyo 1st (1946–1947) Tokyo 1st (1947–1960) |
| In office 21 February 1936 – 30 April 1942 | |
| Preceded by | Park Choon-Geum |
| Succeeded by | Zenjuro Watanabe |
| Constituency | Tokyo 4th (1936–1937) Tokyo 3rd (1937–1942) |
| Member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly | |
| In office 13 September 1943 – 10 April 1946 | |
| Constituency | Fukagawa Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 December 1898 |
| Died | 12 October 1960 (aged 61) Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |
| Manner of death | Assassination (stab wound) |
| Resting place | Tama Cemetery, Tokyo |
| Party | Socialist (1945–1951; 1955–1960) |
| Other political affiliations | FLP (1925) JLFP (1926–1928) SMP (1932–1940) IRAA (1940–1942) Independent (1942–1945) RSP (1951–1955) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Kinue Asanuma (adopted daughter) |
| Alma mater | Waseda University |
Inejiro Asanuma (浅沼 稲次郎, Asanuma Inejirō; 27 December 1898 – 12 October 1960) was a Japanese politician and leader of the Japan Socialist Party. Known for his large stature and powerful voice, he tirelessly toured the country delivering speeches, earning him the nicknames "speech-making everyman" (enzetsu hyakushō), "human locomotive" (ningen kikan-sha), and the affectionate "Numa-san".
In the prewar years, Asanuma was a forceful advocate of socialist policies and tenant and farmer rights. During World War II, Asanuma aligned himself with the Imperial Rule Assistance Association and supported Japan's war in Asia. In the postwar period, Asanuma resumed forceful advocacy of socialism and sharply criticized the U.S.–Japan alliance, making him a polarizing figure.
In 1960, Asanuma was assassinated with a wakizashi, a traditional short sword, by 17-year-old far-right ultranationalist Otoya Yamaguchi while speaking in a televised political debate in Tokyo. His violent death was seen in graphic detail on national television by millions of Japanese, causing widespread public shock and outrage.