Japan: Samurai Skyjackers

The Japanese have a genius for embellishment—often to excess. This proclivity, which they have already demonstrated in commerce, manners and entertainment, was extended last weak to the recent Western fad of skyjacking. The seat-belt sign had just flashed off aboard Japanese Airlines' Flight 351 from Tokyo to Fukuoka when nine young men strategically stationed throughout the crowded aircraft suddenly sprang to their feet. At first some passengers thought that it was only some kind of show or trick. Then the youths pulled out daggers and short, curved samurai swords. Some of them shouted, "We are the Red Army"—an extremist...