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Today in History: Socialist Leader Asanuma Assassinated on Live TV

By Drooid · Oct 12, 2026, 10:34 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

Story summary

On 12 October 1960, Japan Socialist Party chairman Inejiro Asanuma was fatally stabbed at Tokyo’s Hibiya Public Hall during a live televised debate. Seventeen-year-old ultra-nationalist Otoya Yamaguchi stormed the stage and thrust a wakizashi into Asanuma, ending the prominent left-wing leader’s career in a shockingly violent act.

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Story summary

On 12 October 1960, Japan Socialist Party chairman Inejiro Asanuma was fatally stabbed at Tokyo’s Hibiya Public Hall during a live televised debate. Seventeen-year-old ultra-nationalist Otoya Yamaguchi stormed the stage and thrust a wakizashi into Asanuma, ending the prominent left-wing leader’s career in a shockingly violent act.