crime

17-year-old boy arrested over sexual assault of junior high school girl

40 Comments

Police in Osaka have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of sexually assaulting a junior high school girl as she returned home from cram school at night earlier this month.

According to police, the suspect trailed his victim who was riding slowly on a bicycle, and then chased her for more than 100 meters as she attempted to get away from him, Kyodo News reported. He pulled her off the bike, then groped her upper body. The girl suffered injuries to her shoulder and left arm in the struggle.

Although the boy fled the scene, surveillance camera footage from the area helped police identify him and he was arrested on Tuesday.

Police said the suspect, who is a part-time worker, has admitted to the charge. Police said there have been three assaults against female minors within a 400-meter radius of the crime scene since late March and they are questioning the suspect about his possible involvement in those cases.

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40 Comments
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What's Cram school ?

I've not heard of that before.

-51 ( +4 / -55 )

Some teenagers are too mature about sexuality than some adults.

You do know that Japan makes film like 1999 Moonlight Whispers, about teenager falling in love so deeply but also weirdly.

-24 ( +1 / -25 )

Cram school ?

What's that ?

All i get is a downvote but no answer to the question.

Ridiculous !

-44 ( +7 / -51 )

Ridiculous

Yes

0 ( +14 / -14 )

Lamilly...

Thank goodness for surveillance cameras

This is police code.... they like to keep some things secret.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Agreed. Now that they have their suspect in custody (and his phone), should be easier to ‘ping’ the additional incidents with him, or not.

“Police said there have been 3 assaults against female minors within a 400-m radius of the crime scene since late Mar and they are questioning the suspect about his possible involvement in those cases.”

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Kudos to @MatthewHopkins 5:16pm stepping up and stepping in to do the right thing when many here would have kept walking. Good going, mate. (btw: 0130 seems awfully late to be leaving work. Take care.)

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Now that all of Japan recognizes the age of majority as 18 years, how about media stop referring to 17-yeaar-old felony suspects as “boy? - How about let’s just use the term “minor” as in the last paragraph? Could be days, weeks or months but the suspect here is by no means a child and may be just short of the age of majority.

* - “the suspect, who is a part-time worker, has admitted to the charge. Police said there have been three assaults against female minors.” -*

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I'm hearing more and more mothers choosing to pick up their kids from cram school even if they are in junior highschool just because well we all know this country is filled with pervs and the local laws allow them to get away with it....

-5 ( +8 / -13 )

Cram school = Juku school.

-6 ( +9 / -15 )

Easy to prevent, by doing the opposite…Teach them all at least a little something at normal schools , as that’s what those buildings are constructed for (obviously they don’t teach anything there when everyone has to go to those cram or evening schools) and of course and preferably during daylight, so they don’t ever need to go to cram schools. And then teach the few not so intelligent ones like that 17 year old something after their part time work in those cram schools, so that they not only get finally an education or the simplest basics too, but are also much too busy and tired to even only think of girls or hunting them.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Police said there have been three assaults against female minors within a 400-meter radius of the crime scene

Yes, blame all of those on this guy. Case solved. 99.9999% conviction rate preserved!

-14 ( +4 / -18 )

What's Cram school ?

I've not heard of that before.

It's an exam factory - kids go there to cram - study intensely - for an upcoming exam or test in order to try to get certain results. Super popular in Asia and horribly detrimental to kids' mental and emotional health because they don't get time to be kids.

-2 ( +11 / -13 )

Cram schools or "Juku" in Japanese are basically, "schools after school" that many students attend to prepare or "cram" for entrance exams.

They usually specialize in a particular subject, as in English, math etc, or a specific examination. (University, High school etc...)

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Kyo wa heiwa dayo neToday  05:13 pm JST

What's Cram school ?

I've not heard of that before.

Google has heard of it, try them.

12 ( +19 / -7 )

Probably hasn't heard of Google either

11 ( +19 / -8 )

If the suspect did it once and got away with it he repeated the same act over and over and finally got caught. He finally realized his thrill is gone!!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is just ONE, that's actually been REPORTED.

How many of those are actually Prosecuted?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

kaimycahlToday  10:53 pm JST

If the suspect did it once and got away with it he repeated the same act over and over and finally got caught. He finally realized his thrill is gone!!

He'll do it again until he does some time. He's bragging about his exploits and he needs some discipline.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I want schools to teach their students self defence. Judo, Krav Maga, Hapkido or something. This 17 year old dude would get the shock of his life. I train in Judo and Taekwondo and have seen some very skilled girls of Junior High school age.

-5 ( +5 / -10 )

I want schools to teach their students self defence. Judo, Krav Maga, Hapkido or something.

They do. This is Japan.

-12 ( +6 / -18 )

Do they Strangerland? I have seen some half hearted Judo lessons in schools here but I mean proper self defence classes with experienced trainers.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

umbrellaApr. 27 11:47 pm JST

I want schools to teach their students self defence.

Not to pick on you, personally, but rather than encouraging girls and women to learn a martial art, I want men to stop sexually assaulting women. I want schools, parents, teachers, and all members of society to teach young boys to respect women, and teach them that women are human beings with autonomy, and that we don't exist for male sexual pleasure.

We shouldn't have to learn a martial art for self-defense. We should be able to walk on the street safely, without being required to engage in physical violence with a man.

And how often does it work, actually? Can women really prevent sexual attacks by learning a martial art?

Remember that Lindsey Hawker had learned judo - unfortunately, so had Tatsuya Ichihashi. We can't depend on martial arts training to save us. We can only depend on men not attacking us in the first place.

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Simple solution.

Snip the boy’s little tallywhacker.

The end.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

And how often does it work, actually? Can women really prevent sexual attacks by learning a martial art?

It gives women a higher possibility of escape. Knowing how to defend yourself also gives you the confidence and skill to fight off your attacker, enough to surprise and incapacitate them so that you can call / run for help.

So, yes, while society should be taught how to respect girls and women, there isn't any harm letting a girl learn a martial art. It's also a great sport and exercise.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Not to pick on you, personally, but rather than encouraging girls and women to learn a martial art, I want men to stop sexually assaulting women. I want schools, parents, teachers, and all members of society to teach young boys to respect women, and teach them that women are human beings with autonomy, and that we don't exist for male sexual pleasure.

We shouldn't have to learn a martial art for self-defense. We should be able to walk on the street safely, without being required to engage in physical violence with a man.

And how often does it work, actually? Can women really prevent sexual attacks by learning a martial art?

Remember that Lindsey Hawker had learned judo - unfortunately, so had Tatsuya Ichihashi. We can't depend on martial arts training to save us. We can only depend on men not attacking us in the first place.

Doesn't society already do that? Are you not a part of society? Why aren't you doing that? This type of "solution" is laughably naïve. Of course attacks shouldn't happen and it isn't the victims fault....ever. Of course we would like perps to just "stop".....stop murdering people, stop assaulting people, stop stealing other peoples stuff......there are laws against all of them and it doesn't stop these type of people from committing these acts, so how much more "educating" do you want to do?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I was cycling along the road in my neighbourhood 1 time when I saw this teenage guy slapping a teenage girl, she was crying and I literally jumped off my bike (it kept going without me) and grabbed this little punk and shook him around and got in his face. I was so infuriated that I forgot all Japanese and couldn't quite say what I was wanting to, but basically told him if he wanted to hit someone then he should try hitting me....of course he wasn't wanting any of that....and then the kicker was he said "no...it's ok. It's MY girlfriend!!" Err no....that's not how this works.....I sent him on his way.

I turn to the girl ask if she is ok, she says she is and thanks me. I ask her if she wants me to escort her home she said thanks but no.....then she went and followed the boy!!

3 ( +6 / -3 )

and teach them that women are human beings with autonomy

There's a problem in there. These offenders are not human beings. They're monsters.

If he just gets a slap on the wrist, as we know it happens to underage criminals, he won't learn his lesson and go out and do worse when he's older.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

.then she went and followed the boy!!

I had a similar situation once.

I was walking inside the old Shimokita station and saw when this guy grabbed his girlfriend by the neck, pushed her hard against a wall while still holding her neck and started yelling at her.

I went to grab him and pinned him to the opposite wall. The staff and police were nearby and backed me up. They said they'd take it from there and thanked.

As the cops take him away, she ran to hug him and begged to not take him. I was like woooooow.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Vigilate justice would stop this kind of crap

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Girl_in_Tokyo.....

I want schools, parents, teachers, and all members of society to teach young boys to respect women, and teach them that women are human beings with autonomy,

We don't usually agree on many topics but I think you just hit a home run!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Kyo wa heiwa dayo neApr. 27  05:13 pm JST

What's Cram school ?

-50( +3 / -53 )

> Kyo wa heiwa dayo neApr. 27  05:27 pm JST

Cram school ?

What's that ?

-42( +6 / -48 )

holy cow!! congratulations dude

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Matthew HopkinsToday 05:10 pm JST

I hope that includes the rest of us men who also want to walk safely on the street.

Of course! But do remember that when men attack other men, it's not due to a hatred or disrespect of men as a gender. It's an individual issue that individual man has with violence.

Man-on-man violence is much higher than man-on-woman violence yet the assumption is that we can look after ourselves and are not afraid and I have had plenty of times feeling afraid walking home even in Japan.

Again, the issue here is violence towards women as a gender, the pathology of which is a completely different issue.

As for the sexual violence of men against women 99.99.. of men grow up normally and do not ever contemplate such stuff and it seems to me that telling younger and younger men that somehow they are all potential problems does not actually solve the issue of a tiny proportion of maniacs that do.

No one is claiming that all or most men are a danger to women, so there is no need to go to bat for the male gender in this way.

However, since sexism and misogyny are rampant, it is vital for parents to specifically address that issue and teach their sons to respect women from a young age. This is really just part and parcel of what every child has to learn, male or female, about respecting other humans. It doesn't have to be presented as something separate, but it should also be explicit. It also does not in any way require them to tell that boy child that he is a potential threat - in fact, it's pretty simple for parents to simply lead by example, and reinforce that lesson by speaking out against sexism when that child happens to witness it.

When I read the story above I had the feeling that this young man is already on the road to something even more serious and he did not give up easily and the girl had to fight him off. That makes me think he need to be locked away for a very long time and I hope when the case goes to court the judge is as harsh as he can be and ignores the young age completely because the reality of this type of crime is that nearly all of the criminals of similar ilk started at a young age.

You are absolutely right. That's why it's vital to start reinforcing respect for all human beings at a young age. I hope we can agree on that.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Sheikh YerboabyToday 09:16 am JST

Doesn't society already do that? Are you not a part of society? Why aren't you doing that?

No, society is not teaching boys to respect women. If that were the case, then we'd have no gendered violence, or very little. Why do men think it's okay to grab and grope women? Why do they laugh about it? Why do men think they have the right to slap their female partner around and treat her like a possession? Sexism and misogyny are rampant, and are at the core of gendered violence - which means that you're not going to get anywhere if you don't address it first and foremost.

As for "why aren't you doing that" - what do you think I'm doing RIGHT NOW, in writing this post? What do you think I do on a daily basis, or whenever I am disrespected due to my gender?

This type of "solution" is laughably naïve. Of course attacks shouldn't happen and it isn't the victims fault....ever. Of course we would like perps to just "stop".....stop murdering people, stop assaulting people, stop stealing other peoples stuff......there are laws against all of them and it doesn't stop these type of people from committing these acts, so how much more "educating" do you want to do?

A hell of a lot more - that much is blatantly obvious.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Police said there have been three assaults against female minors within a 400-meter radius of the crime scene since late March and they are questioning the suspect about his possible involvement in those cases.

Then the suspect is also a minor as are the alleged victims.

In general, this is not about teaching a gender to not attack the female gender, it is about teaching people not to act criminally overall.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Police said there have been three assaults against female minors within a 400-meter radius of the crime scene since late March and they are questioning the suspect about his possible involvement in those cases.

Then the suspect is also a minor as are the alleged victims.

In general, this is not about teaching a gender to not attack the female gender, it is about teaching people not to act criminally overall.

Would this 17 year old assailant have chased after another boy just to grope him? I highly doubt it. It is fully connected to gender.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

painkillerApr. 28 08:22 pm JST

In general, this is not about teaching a gender to not attack the female gender, it is about teaching people not to act criminally overall.

We are all pretty clear on the fact that you don't believe sexism or misogyny are real.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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