In brief
A masked assailant was arrested in Tokyo for allegedly throwing incendiary devices at the headquarters of Japan's ruling party and crashing his car into security barriers outside the prime minister's office, leading to concerns about escalating political violence in the nation.
In the early hours of Saturday, police apprehended a 49-year-old man from Saitama Prefecture after he rammed his vehicle into a security fence at the office of newly appointed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was not present at the time. The attack saw no injuries reported, but it has drawn attention due to Japan's recent history of political violence. The troubling trend follows high-profile attacks, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 and an attempted bombing on then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2023. Investigators discovered additional incendiary devices and potential kerosene containers in the suspect's vehicle, although his motives remain unclear. The rise in violence coincides with the onset of Ishiba's administration, which has already faced significant unpopularity, recording an approval rating of just 28 percent—marking the lowest for a new government since 2000. Ishiba's government follows the resignation of Kishida amidst corruption allegations and has sparked discontent through controversial decisions, including the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament right before his confirmation as prime minister, leading to accusations of unconstitutionality. With a snap election slated for October 27 to determine the Liberal Democrats' parliamentary majority, political tensions continue to mount in the country. River Akira Davis covers Japan's economy and business while Hisako Ueno reports on Japanese politics and culture, both based in Tokyo.
