Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 277 - The United Red Army of Japan
Sep 17, 2023
Guests Yoshikuni Igarashi and Patricia Steinhoff discuss the origins and violent descent of the United Red Army, a Japanese terror group. They explore the influence of anarchism on the Japanese Communist Party, the Meiji Restoration era, and the extreme violence and self-discipline within the Red Army. The podcast also touches on encounters at the gym with anime fans and disruptive behavior, as well as British queuing and the colonial history of Japan.
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Repression Shaped Radical Paths
- Early Japanese leftism mixed anarchism and Marxism and faced brutal state repression that shaped later militancy.
- Postwar legalization, Cold War politics, and red purges pushed factions toward violent splintering and guerrilla ideas.
Imported Doctrine Clashed With Japan
- The Cold War and Soviet pressure pushed the Japanese Communist Party away from electoralism toward militant factions.
- Failed rural Maoist tactics in Japan revealed mismatches between imported doctrine and local conditions.
The Ill-Fated Flight 351 Hijacking
- The Red Army faction hijacked Japan Airlines Flight 351 aiming for Cuba but ended up in North Korea after navigational mistakes.
- The pilot tricked them into landing in Seoul, then they later flew to Pyongyang and received asylum, derailing their broader plan.