52 years ago today Japan and U.S. Security Pact was signed

 

Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi  and Foreign Minister Aiichiro Fujiyama left Haneda International Airport, Japan for Washington DC on January 16, 1960 to attend the signing ceremony of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

To sabotage their departure, about 700 leftist students gathered at the airport night before. And, they occupied airport lobby and broke into a restaurant where they built a barricade to confront riot police officers.

Just before departure of the mission headed by Prime Minister Kishi, riot police officers forcibly removed riot students one by one. 78 students were arrested. This was the first violent disturbance since Haneda Airport was opened.

The signing ceremony of historical significance was held at the East Room of the White House on January 19, 1960. Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi signed the agreement with a Japanese calligraphy brush. President Eisenhower sitting next to him was curiously looking into his signing with the Japanese calligraphy brush. U.S. Secretary of State Mr. Christian Herter and U.S. Ambassador MacArthur then signed the pact.