10.21 International Anti-War Day Struggle
Japanese New Left riots that occurred on October 21, 1969
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The 10.21 International Anti-War Day Struggle refers to the Japanese New Left riots that occurred on October 21, 1969, centered in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Overview of the incident
On this day, which coincided with International Anti-War Day, various factions of the New Left planned large-scale street protests following the previous year's International Anti-War Day Struggle (the Shinjuku Riot) and clashed with the riot police in several locations, primarily around Shinjuku.
In addition to Shinjuku, students armed with Molotov cocktails also invaded and occupied the Japan Productivity Center, NHK Broadcasting Center, and Japan Industrial Club. There was also an incident where Molotov cocktails were thrown at the Honjo Police Station.[1]
The number of arrests during this incident reached 1,594, the highest number recorded at that time. However, this record would be surpassed the following month during the Struggle to Prevent Prime Minister Eisaku SatÅ's visit to the U.S.
Many of those arrested were students from local universities who were not familiar with the geography of Tokyo. Although there were also teachers among the demonstrators and detainees, the Japan Teachers' Union stated that they were not involved. For five teachers in their 20s belonging to the Hiroshima Prefectural Teachers' Union, who were arrested on charges such as conspiracy to prepare a weapon, the union indicated that they would not expel them but refused to engage in relief activities. The five were indicted in November, leading the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education to impose dismissal sanctions.[2][3]
Incidents occurred in which police officers on duty were attacked and injured. On October 27, 1969, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police awarded special promotions to 44 officers who had been injured in the line of duty. Of these, 40 officers required more than six months of treatment for their injuries.[4]
On November 8, 1969, the Public Security Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police conducted a search warrant at the Tokyo University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. There suspected that university chemicals and equipment were being used to systematically produce Molotov cocktails.[5][6]