JAPAN: By the Sword

Death was a television spectacle of horror in Japan last week. Before TV cameras, nearly all Japan's top politicians were gathered together on the same platform in Tokyo's Hibiya Hall. There was conservative Premier Hayato Ikeda, Democratic Socialist Leader Suehiro Nishio and Socialist Party Chairman Inejiro Asanuma. They were there to debate the issues with each other publicly, to open the general campaigning for next month's elections.

Bayonet-like Blade. The first speaker was bull-necked Asanuma, who lumbered to the rostrum a few moments after 3 p.m., and in a deep, rasping voice...

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