Kozo Okamoto, a member of the Japanese Red Army linked to the 1972 mass shooting at an Israeli airport, has died in Lebanon at the age of 78. His death closes a long chapter in the life of one of the best-known figures associated with the militant group.
Okamoto had lived in Lebanon for decades under political asylum. While his name remained tied to the airport attack that brought international attention to the Japanese Red Army, much of his later life was spent in Lebanon rather than Japan.
The Japanese Red Army was a far-left militant organization that became known worldwide for violent operations abroad. Okamoto’s role in the 1972 airport shooting kept him in the public eye for years, and his case continued to draw attention because of the attack’s lasting historical and political significance.
News of Kozo Okamoto’s death in Lebanon is likely to renew focus on both the 1972 attack and the legacy of the Japanese Red Army. His passing marks the end of a life that remained closely connected to one of the most notorious militant incidents involving a Japanese extremist group.
