10 Assassination Attempts That Were Shown On Television

5. Inejiro Asanuma

Inejiro Asanuma was the leader of the Japan Socialist Party, known for being a strong advocate of the Chinese Communist Party. Controversial for his socialist views, Asanuma was assassinated during a 1960 televised political debate.

While speaking with regards to the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives, 17-year-old Otoya Yamaguchi ran onstage and ran a wakizashi sword straight through Asanuma's abdomen, killing him. The footage was broadcast on national television to public outcry and shock. The aftermath of the assassination partially led to the Japan Socialist Party ultimately disbanding and reforming as the Social Democratic Party.

Assassin Yamaguchi committed suicide while in police custody, just weeks after the incident.