5 more rightists arrested in shootings, violent threats

Asahi Shimbun/December 22, 2003

One suspect is believed to have left a 'bomb' at the home of a top Foreign Ministry official.

Police on Sunday rounded up another five members of a Gifu-based group of Japanese sword aficionados in connection with shootings and other threatening acts.

In one incident, a bomb-like device was placed at the home of a Foreign Ministry official.

On Friday, six others, including Ichiro Murakami, 54, head of the group, were arrested in connection with two attacks on Aum Shinrikyo facilities-one in Tokyo on May 29 and the other in Osaka on June 13-as well as an attack on the office of a teachers' union in Hiroshima on June 27.

Police sources said several of those arrested last week told them Murakami fired shots at the Aum facilities, and that he was present at the Hiroshima incident. They also told police Murakami selected the targets and told each member what to do in the attacks.

Police sources said they learned that Murakami went through firearms training in Guam in April 2000.

The sword group is suspected of involvement in 23 incidents directed against the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun), its affiliated organizations, teachers' union offices, Social Democratic Party headquarters and various lawmakers. The acts include shootings and sending threatening letters containing bullets.

After each incident, there have been calls or letters from people claiming responsibility on behalf of Kenkoku Giyugun (nation-building volunteer corps), Kokuzoku Seibatsutai (troops to conquer traitors to Japan) and other groups with nationalistic themes.

Those arrested Sunday were identified as Shigeharu Tanaka, 50, a dentist in Tokyo; Kinshiro Ito, 52, a restaurant operator in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture; Yoji Yamazaki, 55, a Buddhist priest in Nagoya; Eiji Shikano, 48, a company executive in Soka, Saitama Prefecture; and Koei Tsuchida, 41, a sculptor in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture.

Police believe Tanaka placed a device consisting of a small gas cylinder in front of the home of Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Tanaka on Sept. 9. Ito and Yamazaki are suspected of shooting at the Nagoya branch of Chogin Chubu Credit Union on Jan. 14.

Shikano is suspected of conspiring with Murakami to shoot at the Aum training facility in Tokyo's Suginami Ward on May 29.

Police said they believe Tsuchida was among those who shot at the Chongryun office in Niigata on July 29.

Tanaka has so far told police that he has "no recollection'' of the incident, but the other four have admitted involvement, police sources said.

In a related move, police found evidence tying the sword group to the Kenkoku Giyugun, the name used in telephone calls and letters claiming responsibility in 18 of the 23 incidents that began in November last year.

A memo found at the home in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, of Tatsuya Hattori, 40, a member of the sword aficionado group arrested Friday, mentioned Kenkoku Giyugun.

Hattori told police he used his own car to go to the Aum facility in Osaka and to the teachers' union office in Hiroshima with Murakami.

Meanwhile, police in a raid Friday seized 20 rifle bullets in a locked attache case from the workplace of a member of the sword group, who said he was only keeping the case for Murakami and that he could not open it.

Police said they do not believe the man is connected to the attacks, but rifle ammunition has been sent with threatening letters to politicians on six occasions.

Police also found Friday a .45-caliber automatic pistol in a car owned by Haruhiko Hayami, 46, of Yanaizu, Gifu Prefecture. Hayami was arrested the same day.