Amid the tumultuous 1960s, characterized by assassinations, civil rights protests, and strong opposition to the Vietnam War, Japan, too, experienced widespread unrest.
The nation grappled with its own socio-political challenges, including the Anpo struggle against the post-WWII treaty allowing U.S. military bases and daigaku funsō (university troubles) addressing various issues, from Narita Airport construction to post-secondary school management.
Amid this backdrop, Les Rallizes Dénudés, an experimental rock band formed at Kyoto’s Doshisha University in 1967, emerged as a unique fusion of the artistic visions of vocalist Takashi Mizutani and the radical theatre group Gendai Gekijo. While not inherently political, the band performed for protestors during the late ’60s, participating in events like the Barricades A Go-Go concert in 1968. Notably, bass player Moriaki Wakabayashi was actively involved in the Communist League, the precursor to the Japanese Red Army, a militant communist group later designated as a terrorist organization.
Wakabayashi’s commitment to the Communist League led to the infamous “Yodo-go” incident on March 31, 1970. As part of the Kyosando Sekigunha group, he hijacked Japan Air Lines flight 351 with the aim of inspiring a Soviet-style proletarian revolution in Japan. The hijackers, armed with swords, steel pipes, and bombs, initially demanded to fly to Cuba but faced a critical hurdle – the plane lacked the fuel capacity for the journey.
Authorities strategically diverted the plane to Kimpo Airport in Seoul, South Korea, staged to resemble North Korea. The hijackers disembarked, believing they had succeeded, only to discover they were in South Korea. Infuriated, they demanded passage to North Korea, seeking asylum. The hostages were released, and the plane finally landed in North Korea on April 3, 1970.
Despite initial appearances as heroes of the socialist revolution, the hijackers faced a harsh reality in North Korea. Annoyed by being the second choice after Cuba, North Korea treated them as unwanted guests. Subsequent arrests, deaths, and defections followed. Wakabayashi, fired from Les Rallizes Dénudés, remained in North Korea, where he married a fellow radical activist flown in secretly.
Over time, Wakabayashi’s political views softened, and in 2010, he acknowledged the hijacking as “selfish and conceited.” Although he expressed a willingness to return to Japan to face trial, he remains in North Korea. Meanwhile, Les Rallizes Dénudés continued until 1996, and their mysterious leader, Takashi Mizutani, maintained a low profile, with rumors suggesting his death in 2019. The band’s legacy intertwines with political upheavals, reflecting a unique chapter in Japan’s history.