Article published on March 16th, 1985.

HEADLINE: FOLLOW-UP ON THE NEWS; CANDY THREAT

Katsuhisa Ezaki was taking a bath at his home in the central Japanese city of Nishinomiya when three intruders kidnapped him a year ago this week. The event triggered a string of further deeds that became known as the Great Japanese Candy Caper.

Mr. Ezaki, head of Ezaki Glico, a leading candy maker, escaped unharmed three days later, but his abductors were not to be denied. They burned Glico buildings, threatened to put cyanide-laced Glico candies in stores unless the company paid $480,000 and taunted the police in their extortion notes.

No poison was found and no money paid, and by June, Mr. Ezaki's tormenters said they were bored and would leave him alone. In October, they returned to harass another candy maker, Morinaga, this time with real cyanide-laced candy in stores. The culprits used a catchy name, ''Mystery Man With 21 Faces.''

Soon they or copycats were threatening other companies.

Thirty-one food and candy concerns in Tokyo, Osaka and other big cities have been harassed to date, and one company, unidentified by authorities, is still receiving extortion letters.

As far as is known, no company has paid a single yen, and no unwitting consumer has swallowed poison. But Glico and Morinaga report heavy sales losses, the Ministry of Agriculture says national sweets consumption is off 10 percent, suppliers of sugar and flour are taking a beating, and public confidence in the police has been shaken.

''We expect it may take at least three years to recover,'' says Itsuo Monda, the executive director of the Japan Confectionery Association.