FUJI, Japan — Police have arrested Kazuhiro Muto, 38, in connection with a threatening parcel sent to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in Nishinomiya, believed to be a copycat of the 1987 attack on the same office that resulted in the death of reporter Tomohiro Kojiri.
Muto was detained at his home on June 3, a month after the parcel arrived shortly after the anniversary of the May 3, 1987 shooting, where Kojiri was fatally shot and his colleague seriously injured by a gunman never identified.
The original assailant, linked to a right-wing extremist group called “Sekihotai”, targeted the reporters with xenophobic threats, condemning those seen as betraying Japan. The statute of limitations expired in 2002, leaving the case unresolved.
The recent parcel contained defaced photographs of Asahi reporters, a toy gun, and a note signed “Reiwa Sekihotai”, referencing Japan’s current imperial era and echoing the original group’s threats.
Asahi Shimbun spokesman Kotaro Nakajima condemned the incident, emphasizing the rarity of direct media threats in Japan and the importance of workplace safety. Nakajima also expressed hope the original 1987 case might someday be solved.
Experts warn that younger generations, increasingly disengaged from print media and reliant on social media for news, may not be aware of the historic attack or the significance of protecting press freedom.
The Asahi editorial marked the 2024 anniversary by condemning xenophobia and urging society to uphold tolerance and reject violence. About 330 people gathered at the Nishinomiya office to remember Kojiri and the ongoing struggle for a safe media environment.
