North American Post, August 12, 2000, page 6
The ever-increasing existence of guns in Japan became evident last Friday when a gun battle erupted on the streets of Tokyo leaving 2 people dead and five people injured.
While gun-related incidents are rare in Japan as compared to other developed countries, the number of gun-related crimes has risen drastically in recent years.
The bloody incident began when some 15 gangsters stormed the right-wing office of Sofusha in the Kojimachi central district of the capital.
Three men in one of the fourth-floor offices began exchanging gunfire with the intruders. After the exchange, two men from Sofusha held themselves up in the office and confronted police officers surrounding the building. After a tense hour, the gunmen were subdued and taken into custody.
The right-wing group was formed in 1985, but announced on July 25 that it would be dissolved because of financial problems and internal conflicts.