Red Army of Japan. A terrorist organization that existed for over three decades.

Japanese Red Army (JRA) is one of the most well-known terrorist organizations of the late 20th century, operating in Japan and abroad from 1971 to 2001. It became synonymous with radical left movements, fighters for socialist revolution, and left a deep mark in the history of Japanese terrorism and international politics of that time.

The Japanese Red Army was founded in 1971 by Soichiro Nakayama and Fumikado Yamakawa. The organization emerged against the backdrop of the radicalization of the political situation in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s, when the country was swept by a wave of protests that engulfed universities, leftist groups, and labor movements. Young Japanese, inspired by the ideas of Maoism and Marxism, decided to fight for socialist revolution through violent means.

The goal of the Red Army was not only to establish a communist regime in Japan but also to promote worldwide revolution, particularly supporting movements such as the Vietnam War and fighting against imperialist states, primarily the USA.

In its activities, the Japanese Red Army actively used terrorism, including bombings, attacks on embassies, uprisings, and kidnappings. They also practiced hijacking planes and terrorist attacks.

One of the most famous actions was the hostage-taking in 1977 on a plane flying from Bangkok to Tokyo. Members of the organization demanded the release of their compatriots who were imprisoned in Japan for participating in terrorist acts. This became a symbol of the methods they used to achieve their political goals.

The Japanese Red Army also supported international terrorist organizations, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In 1972, the organization organized an attack on the Lydda Airport in Tel Aviv, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people and dozens injured.

In the 1970s and 80s, the Japanese Red Army collaborated with other leftist extremist groups, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya led by Muammar Gaddafi. The Japanese organization received financial support and resources to carry out its operations.

One of the largest joint actions was the hijacking of a Japanese passenger plane in 1977, when the Japanese Red Army, together with Palestinian militants, forced the plane to change course and head to Beirut.

The Japanese Red Army actively operated not only in Japan but also abroad, in countries such as Lebanon, Iran, and Palestine. They repeatedly attempted to carry out terrorist acts on an international level, which caused significant resonance in diplomatic circles.

Notable terrorist acts included numerous bombings at Japanese embassies worldwide, as well as organizing actions on international flights.

By the 1990s, the Japanese Red Army, like many other radical left groups, began to lose its popularity. In the context of globalization and changes in global politics, its ideas became less appealing to new generations. Additionally, active repression by Japanese authorities and the international fight against terrorism contributed to the weakening of the organization.

In 2001, the Japanese Red Army officially ceased its activities. The last members of the group were affected by internal divisions and global changes in the political landscape.

The Japanese Red Army left a significant mark in the history of Japanese terrorism and radical movements. Although the organization no longer exists, its actions contributed to the development of terrorist tactics and became part of the global struggle between revolutionary ideas and state order.

Over time, it became the subject of careful study in the context of global terrorism, helping to better understand how radical groups can influence political situations both within states and on a global scale.

The Japanese Red Army is a story of terrorism, revolutionary fanaticism, and the desire to change the world, even through violence. It remains an example of radicalism that disregarded humanitarian principles and called for struggle to the last.