Sanrizuka Struggle

Horses at Goryō Farm in 1930

The northern region of Chiba Prefecture had been farmland since c. 700, when the emperor ordered the creation of horse and cattle pastures there.[2] The Shimōsa Plateau, which covers most of the northern part of the prefecture, had been active in agriculture for centuries. Villages conducting agricultural work in the region since the Edo period were called koson (古村, "old village").[3] Edo imperial magistrates' jurisdiction did not reach these villages, which is said to have fostered defiance of political authority as a feature of the region. Farmers' movements, unions, and strikes thrived here above anywhere else in the prefecture.[4]

In the early 20th century, the area became the imperial family's farmlands, known as Goryō Farm (御料牧場, goryou bokujō). Locals became familiar with the imperial family, who frequently came to visit their stables.[5] The Goryō Farm was emotionally and economically indispensable to locals, with some residents saying this contributed to local opposition to the airport: "Hearing that the Goryō Farm would disappear [as a result of the construction] made everyone around here go crazy."[6]

In 1923, 2,000 hectares (20 km²; 7.7 sq mi) of the Goryō Farm were sold,[5] leading to the development of small villages throughout the Meiji and Taishō periods. This land was cultivated by former lower-class samurai, servants of samurai families, and others who lost their livelihoods to the Meiji Restoration. Many could not cope with the hardships of land-clearing work and abandoned the area.[6] The farmers who remained later won a long judicial struggle to secure their own rights to the land from wealthy Tokyo merchants who held land-bonds.

In 1946, after Japanese defeat in WWII, large tracts of imperial-owned land were again sold off.[5] The various disadvantaged peoples who settled this land were collectively called "the new poor" (新窮民 shin-kyuumin). They performed heavy agricultural labour day and night, living in straw huts without electricity or running water. Settlers who could not endure this harsh environment left; those who remained were able to make a living off of land purchased from deserters.[6][7]

Because of these histories, this region's farmers had a very strong attachment to their lands.[2][6]

From April to July 1968, the airport corporation ran a survey of the real estate of residents who had agreed to give up their land. Both leftist parties and farmers had opposed with physical resistance, resulting in damage to many houses and fields.[6][16]

On 18 August 1969, the Goryō Farm's closing ceremony was held. The union attended in protest, and the youth division destroyed the assembly hall, putting their leader on the police's nationwide wanted list. The police became tougher on the opposition, arresting union leader Issaku Tomura and thirteen others in November 1969 for occupying a road and stopping a bulldozer.[6][13]

With these struggles, peaceful acquisition of land was thought impossible, and the airport corporation used state power to forcibly expropriate the remaining necessary land.[9] In 1970, it carried out an on-site survey on yet-unpurchased land.[17] Opposition members threw raw sewage, Chloropicrin, and stones, and fought with sickles and bamboo spears. They also constructed fortifications on the land, some of them underground. On 22 February 1971, the government enacted the first administrative subrogation and the opposition supporters clashed with construction workers and riot police. The forts were demolished.[3]

On 16 September 1971, the second subrogation was enacted. Three police officers were killed by rioters on this day（Tōhō Cross Road incident）. Four days later, riot police and construction workers arrived on-site to remove an elderly woman, Yone Koizumi, and demolish her house. This incident was held as an example of the state throwing lives into turmoil, and became a symbol for the continuing opposition struggle.[3]

The tower built on the construction site by opposition members

On 1 October 1971, Fumio Sannomiya, a central member of the youth division, committed suicide, leaving a note that said, "I detest those who brought the airport to this land" and "I have lost the will to keep fighting." Additional conflicts in 1971 led to the deaths of three riot police, with multiple injuries on both sides.[3]

In March 1972, the union constructed a 60.6-metre (200 ft) tower within Runway A's approach area, obstructing flight tests. Opposition activity also halted the construction of a jet fuel pipeline from the Port of Chiba. Facility construction was able to proceed, but the opening continued to be delayed. The opposition union had also received a blow from mass arrests at the anti-subrogation struggle, with its initial membership of 320 households falling to 45, then to 23 by 1976.[3]

Footage of the incidents appeared in the film Days of Fury (1979), directed by Fred Warshofsky and hosted by Vincent Price.[18]

In January 1977, the Fukuda cabinet proclaimed that the airport would open within the year. On 17 April the opposition mobilised 17,500 people — an all-time record for the struggle — and held a general rally against the airport in a Sanrizuka public park.[4]

In May 1977, the airport corporation submitted an injunction request for the demolition of the tower to the prefectural court, which was accepted. On 6 May, 2,100 riot police gained control of the tower and surrounding area. Protesters were removed and the tower demolished. Clashes between opposition and riot police continued, and on 8 May a large-scale conflict broke out. One protester sustained a direct blow to the head from a tear gas bomb, lost consciousness, and died two days later. The deceased's parents sued the government and prefecture for ¥94 million in damages. On 9 May, in an attack considered revenge for this incident, one police officer died.[4]

Meanwhile, first-phase construction continued, and the airport was scheduled to open for operation with one runway on 30 March 1978. However, on 26 March, several left-wing groups raided the airport, occupying a control tower and destroying equipment and facilities. Further delays became inevitable, and the government enacted new disciplinary laws while increasing airport security.

On 20 May, two months later, the New Tokyo International Airport was completed despite ongoing opposition. At this time, 17 farming households remained on the unfinished second-phase land, of which 15 belonged to the union.[13][16]

With the opening of the airport, the union's slogan was changed from "Certain Prevention of the Airport" to "Airport Abolition / Stop Second Phase Construction". Issaku Tomura, the leader and psychological pillar of the union, soon died of illness, and combined with the reality of the airport's success, this led many union participants to withdraw. Over time, the union's previous supporters – leftist and student groups – came to take charge.[6][7]

Authorities thought it impossible to protect the airport from militant attacks while also acquiring the second-phase land, leading to behind-the-scenes negotiations between government and union members. However, negotiations failed after being leaked to the media, resulting in harassment of union leaders and the union dissolving into chaos.[7][3] Destructive action against the airport continued from splinter groups, with over 511 incidents of guerrilla action recorded between 1978 and 2017.[19]

• Revolutionary Communist League, National Committee
• Japan Revolutionary Communist League
• National Railway Chiba Motive Power Union

• Sunagawa Struggle
• David Apter

• Apter, David E.; Sawa, Nagayo (1984). Against the State: Politics and Social Protest in Japan. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-00921-9.