Kozo Okamoto was a Japanese communist militant and a member of the ‘Japanese Red Army’ who was responsible for the killing of 26 passengers at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport in 1972. On July 23, 2026, the PFLP announced that Okamoto had passed away at the age of 78 in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut following a long illness.
Kozo Okamoto Biography
| Full Name | Kozo Okamoto |
| Nickname | Kozo Okamoto |
| Profession | Japanese communist militant and former member of Japanese Red Army |
| Date of Birth | 7 December 1947 |
| Age | 78 years old (at the time of his death in July 2026) |
| Birth Place | Kumamoto, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| School | Not known |
| College | Kagoshima University |
| Education Qualification | Graduated |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Ethnicity | Japanese |
| Religion | Not known |
| Date of Death | 23 July 2026 |
| Place of Death | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Cause of Death | From a longtime illness |
Kozo Okamoto Age
Kozo Okamoto was born on 7 December 1947 in Kumamoto, Japan. He was 78 years old at the time of his death in July 2026, and his zodiac sign was Sagittarius.
Relationships And More
| Marital Status | Never married |
| Affairs/Girlfriend | None |
| Spouse/wife | Unmarried |
| Children | None |
Kozo Okamoto Family
| Father’s Name | Yasuo Okamoto (a welfare worker and retired primary school principal) |
| Mother’s Name | Not known (school teacher) |
| Brother’s Name | Takeshi Okamoto (older) |
| Sister’s Name | Not known |
Note – He was the youngest of six siblings.
Career
| Other Names | Ahmad al-Yabani, Ahmad the Japanese (PELP nicknames) |
| Years of service | 1970 to 1972 |
| Organization | Japanese Red Army |
| Known For | Lod Airport Massacre |
| Criminal Charges | Possessing and discharging firearms an grenades (3 count) Serving an Unlawful organization |
| Criminal penalty | 3 life sentences and an additional 10 years imprisonment |
| Criminal status | Released in 1985 |
Kozo Okamoto Height And Weight
| Height (approx) | In centimeters – 185 cm. In meters – 1.85 m In feet & inches – 6’1” |
| Weight (approx) | In kilograms – 90 kg In pounds – 198 bls |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Kozo Okamoto Net Worth
At the time of his death in July 2026, Kozo Okamoto had no savings. This was because he had spent his life in underground struggle and prison, and later sought political asylum in Lebanon rather than accumulating private wealth.
Some Interesting Facts About Kozo Okamoto
- Kozo Okamoto was born and raised in Kumamoto, as the youngest child of six children.
- His father was a school principal, and his mother was a teacher who died from cancer in 1966.
- His older brother was Takeshi Okamoto, a member of the Red Army Faction, which hijacked an airline in March 1979.
- He as 24-years-old botany student when he was recruited to the Japanese Red Army.
- In 1970, he traveled to Fukuoka at Takeshi’s request, where he first made a contract with the nascent Red Army Faction.
- In September 1971, he was offered military training in Beirut by a Red Army member.
- Following the Asama-Sanso incident in February 1972, he was told to leave for Beirut as quickly as possible.
- He and his comrades liked 26 people and wounded 80 more, and 17 of the victims were Christian pilgrims from Puerto Rico.
- He was put on trial in an Israeli military court under the 1948 Emergency Regulations.
- On 20 July 1973, PFLP and JRA operatives hijacked Japan Air Lines Flight 404.
- After his release from prison in Israel, Kozo Okamoto moved to Libya, then Syria.
- He was placed on an Interpol wanted list by the Japanese police as a murder suspect.
- On 30 May 2022, Okamoto appeared at a ceremony in Beirut marking the 50th anniversary of the attack.
- On 23 July 2026, Kozo Okamoto died from a long-time illness in the Dahieh Suburb of Beirut, at age 78.
FAQ:
How old was Kozo Okamoto?
Kozo Okamoto was 78 years old at the time of his death in July 2026.
Who was Kozo Okamoto’s wife?
Kozo Okamoto was unmarried throughout his life.
What happened to Kozo Okamoto?
Kozo Okamoto died of an illness on 23 July 2026.
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