The Japanese Red Army refers to a left-wing extremist group that emerged in the late 1960s in Japan. Also known as JRA, this organization was founded by Fusako Shigenobu, a former member of the Japanese Communist Party. The formation of the group was influenced by the global revolutionary movements of the time, including the Marxist-Leninist ideology.
The Japanese Red Army initially aimed to promote a revolution in Japan through armed struggle. However, it soon expanded its activities beyond the country's borders. During the 1970s and 1980s, the JRA was involved in numerous acts of terrorism, including hijackings, bombings, and assassinations. Their primary targets were often Japanese and international institutions, as well as prominent individuals.
The group gained significant attention and notoriety for its involvement in the notorious Lod Airport Massacre in 1972, where they coordinated a gun and grenade attack at Israel's Lod Airport, resulting in the deaths of 26 people and injuring many others. They also undertook hijackings, including a high-profile incident in 1977 when they seized a Japan Airlines plane and demanded the release of imprisoned JRA members.
The Japanese Red Army was eventually weakened by internal conflicts, arrests, and a decline in support. By the 1990s, the group was largely disbanded, with its members arrested or having abandoned their extremist ideologies. However, their history of violence and international terrorist activities left a lasting impact on Japan's security measures and the global counterterrorism landscape.
