In September 2004, Kobayashi, who was the Chief Japanese committee member of the
First China–Japan Friendship 21st Century Committee, criticized Japanese prime minister
Junichirō Koizumi over his repeated visits to the
Yasukuni Shrine, which had caused anger in the People's Republic of China as well as in Korea. Subsequently,
Molotov cocktails were thrown into the grounds of Kobayashi's home in
Meguro, Tokyo, an act police suspect was carried out by
nationalist groups who are hostile to his views. == Death ==