Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Crucible: How The Lima Hostages Crisis Illuminates Differences In Japanese And Peruvian Crisis Management, Elizabeth Smith

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

The cocktail party planned at the Lima, Peru home of Japanese envoy Morihisa Aoki was not meant to be exceptional. The event, scheduled for December 17, 1996, was intended as a relaxed, pre-holiday celebration of Emperor Akihito’s 63rd birthday. The diplomatic officials of most embassies in Lima were invited for light cocktails and pre-Christmas conversation. No business was planned for the evening, and many of the officials in attendance brought their spouses, most of whom were well acquainted after years of circulating among similar gatherings. Approximately 600 people attended the party arriving throughout the early evening. A few minutes past …