2-year-old girl stabbed with fork in Okayama park

The little girl was staring at me as if I was some kind of criminal, and it really annoyed me

I doubt a 2 years old knows what a criminal is but if that did indeed crossed her mind, she was right.

The little girl was staring at me as if I was some kind of criminal, and it really annoyed me

Well congratulations, now you are a criminal, so she had good reason to stare at your child abusing @$$.

the unemployed sure get a bad rep on JT.

Good way to get "three hots and a cot" for a very long time. Dumb@ss. Unemployed male with no fixed address? Now you can make license plates and have your mail sent to the slammer.

it has to be a dirty filthy gaijin. it just has to be!

rickyvee - it isn't just on JT. If you watch the news you will see that a large amount of crimes that are committed (especially recently it would seem) are done by unemployed people.

Great candidate for DEATH PENALTY!!

It turns out she was a GOOD judge of character.

What a scum sucking b@st@rd that excuse for a human being is.

Ok, so how many unprovoked attacks on children have happened in recent weeks, including parental abuse? You don't know? Too bloody many!!! Last week a 14y/o boy was knocked off his bike by an insane jiji! A few weeks ago there was another nutcase stomping on children's feet. And if you go back a few more weeks there was another loon punching junior high school kids. Please do not attempt to defend these by saying it happens all over the world cos it bloody well doesn't!

Hopefully, this loon will now get a permanent address in the emperors hotel!

Someone should also tell Japanese people that a "babysitter" is generally a teenaged girl that you know, not a 26 year old strange man. Also, baby sitting is done for 3-4 hours at a time, not 3-4 days! Idiot mum.

Ok, so how many unprovoked attacks on children have happened in recent weeks, including parental abuse? You don't know? Too bloody many!!! Last week a 14y/o boy was knocked off his bike by an insane jiji! A few weeks ago there was another nutcase stomping on children's feet. And if you go back a few more weeks there was another loon punching junior high school kids. Please do not attempt to defend these by saying it happens all over the world cos it bloody well doesn't!

I don't disagree with you, perhaps it is time Japan start focusing on people's mental health a little more? Too many folks on the verge of snapping clearly in need of help. Homeless and probably mentally sick. A victim himself, no?

Mental health is indeed declining worldwide. However it seems that children are increasingly the targets in Japan. I suspect that children worldwide are being subjected to the same attacks it's just not being reported as much in the press. Many children are being put out of their homes at early ages having to find food and shelter on their own. Others are being put into slavery, just disappearing. Sad situation in a ever increasing violent world.

Disillusioned: type "child +(Your country of choice)+violence" into google news. There you will see you are sorely sorely off track. This does happen everywhere. Terrible yes, but not specific to Japan.

Okamoto was quoted by police as saying, “The little girl was staring at me as if I was some kind of criminal, and it really annoyed me.”

If the stare fits...

There are way too many sickos out there.

There are way too many sickos out there.

I agree. I can't imagine harming anyone, but especially an innocent child. I hope the girl will be okay.

"Ok, so how many unprovoked attacks on children have happened in recent weeks, including parental abuse? You don't know? Too bloody many!!! Last week a 14y/o boy was knocked off his bike by an insane jiji! A few weeks ago there was another nutcase stomping on children's feet. And if you go back a few more weeks there was another loon punching junior high school kids. Please do not attempt to defend these by saying it happens all over the world cos it bloody well doesn't!"

You can say that again!....

Great post thanks!

"Hopefully, this loon will now get a permanent address in the emperors hotel!" aint that the truth!!!.... LOL

thanks again

There was scumbag in Glasgow who made a similar excuse after punching a little girl in the face: he claimed her laughing annoyed him.

Some people are clearly in need of electro-shock therapy and locking away from the public for a very long time.

"Good way to get "three hots and a cot" for a very long time..." @Sensei258. Very astitute observation in my opinion! I think a lot of these people are doing just that; trying to get a free ride by hurting someone weaker than themselves. People like Okada have seen this pattern repeated again and again; bad person hurts weaker person, bad person is defined "mentally ill" and absolved of all responsibility.

@Disillusioned, instead of walking around with near sited blinders on, you should open your eyes and look around you. The only reason it appears so prevelent in Japan is because these cases reported in Japan Today were most likely the only cases known in all of Japan. Other countries it is only reported in the "local" paper and most likely several cases daily. I get so tired of people thinking Japan is the leader in criminal activity when it is one of the safest countries to live in!

Here we go another unemployed loser, nutter but wait there's more to come! This will not be the last time. I wish I was the father of that child I would just have to go to jail for 5 years but it would be worth it to get rid of that nut case!! He wouldn't see another day!

As terrible as it is, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. We are not barbarians like this fellow are we? Always calling for hanging/castration etc, reflects poorly on you.

Okamoto was quoted by police as saying, “The little girl was staring at me as if I was some kind of criminal, and it really annoyed me.” . . . 'and I always carry a metal fork in case this happens.'

Okamoto is clearly disturbed mentally. Some meds and a job might have helped but there is little here that suggests anything except a psychiatric case that requires institutional evaluation. That poor little girl and her mother, the horror.

@kc

Exactly. I wish people could grasp the fact that people like this are ill. Hanging them, or locking them up for life, or castrating them might give some simple folk a warm, chewy feeling of vicarious revenge, but it does nothing to deter the next one.

A twisted mind is no different to a twisted ankle. Both require medical care, not years in jail.

the unemployed sure get a bad rep on JT.

Maybe they could find work by joining the police force. Oh wait, they're almost as bad. Seriously, let's be real though, this clown didn't snap because he's unemployed. He's unemployable, because he's a few fries short of a happy meal, and he thinks toddlers are judging him.

Maybe he was looking for an excuse to get a few square meals of food a day and a place to sleep.

Lots of armchair psychologist on this thread. Just because a person does something bad does not mean that person is sick. Sometimes people are just bad. When I see one of these people like Okamoto attack someone who can fight back, then I will be a little more sympathetic. From Sandy Hook to this creep it's just a bit too coincidental that the "mental ill" are just cognitive enough to choose a person weaker than themselves but not cognitive enough to be held responsible.

Be in his shoes for a moment then you will see why he did it.

Be in his shoes for a moment then you will see why he did it.

No, thank you.

Just because a person does something bad does not mean that person is sick.

No, but it certainly helps.

Don't get me wrong. I feel for anyone who is ill, but I feel much, much more for this young victim.

Judging by the number of people crying out to execute this guy without knowing a thing about him I'd say that there's plenty of evidence of violent psychopaths right here on JT.

I very feel sorry for the little girl, but that doesn't stop me from feeling sorry for this guy too. Execution is only an option when rehabilitation is unlikely to be successful and there's a high probability of the person re-offending and taking other lives, in other words if the chance of salvaging one life is outweighed by a plausible risk to multiple lives. That isn't the situation here, and those crying out for the death penalty are as sick as this guy.

I get so tired of people thinking Japan is the leader in criminal activity when it is one of the safest countries to live in!

...unless you're a child. Japan's "safest country" claim is highly suspect considering that the amount of reported child abuse in Japan has been setting records in recent years. Turns out the abuse has always been there, but the Japanese have not been reporting it.

"Judging by the number of people crying out to execute this guy without knowing a thing about him (Okamoto).... if the chance of salvaging one life is outweighed by a plausible risk to multiple lives. That isn't the situation here, and those crying out for the death penalty are as sick as this guy (Okamoto).

A few comments and observations regarding this post.

First, I am not one of the people advocating capital punishment in this case (although I am a general supporter of capital punishment). Second, you criticize people for not knowing anything about Okamoto, claiming those who are advocating capital punishment for Okamoto are as sick as Okamoto, calling them "psychopaths." Yet you are making wild assumptions yourself. Do you have any information other than the information contained in this article and if you do can you please explain where it came from? You also claim that Okamoto is unlikely to commit a violent crime in the future by writing "...that isn't the siutation here." Unless you have access to information other than this article your post is irresponsible. You have no way of knowing what Okamoto will or will not do, what his "mental illness" (if he has any) may be and if treatment would help or just be another waste of resources.

Japan's "safest country" claim is highly suspect considering that the amount of reported child abuse in Japan has been setting records in recent years. Turns out the abuse has always been there, but the Japanese have not been reporting it.

Yes, but additional reporting does not mean that the country is dangerous, it just means that there is more reporting of the incidents that actually happen. The first-world is actually safer now than it ever has been at any time in our entire history, yet if you ask people they think it's getting more and more dangerous because of the reports they read in the media.

The goal of the media is to scare people. The more they are scared, they more they read/watch, and the more they read/watch, the more advertising income increases.

What is wrong with these people? Untreated mental illness?

I still think Japan is a pretty safe place to be.

samwattersMar. 21, 2014 - 12:05AM JST A few comments and observations regarding this post.

Ditto.

First, I am not one of the people advocating capital punishment in this case (although I am a general supporter of capital punishment).

I also support capital punishment under a very limited and specific set of circumstances.

Second, you criticize people for not knowing anything about Okamoto, claiming those who are advocating capital punishment for Okamoto are as sick as Okamoto, calling them "psychopaths." Yet you are making wild assumptions yourself. Do you have any information other than the information contained in this article and if you do can you please explain where it came from? You also claim that Okamoto is unlikely to commit a violent crime in the future by writing "...that isn't the siutation here." Unless you have access to information other than this article your post is irresponsible. You have no way of knowing what Okamoto will or will not do, what his "mental illness" (if he has any) may be and if treatment would help or just be another waste of resources.

Firstly, Okamoto hasn't, to our knowledge, killed anyone. He attacked a child, which is reprehensible, but this is the first such assault that we know of (and if there were others then they would be mentioned in the article). There is every reason to believe that Okamoto has a good prospect of rehabilitation. If you have evidence of any other crimes that Okamoto has committed then please list them, because as matters stand he has committed a single assault. This is not a crime for which the death penalty is a reasonable sentence by any sane individual.

Secondly, those calling for the death penalty do not know Okamoto, so it is not personal. They are treating Okamoto like a thing, a symptom of what they see as wrong with the world. They want him dead because they think this will somehow make the world a better place. They're delusional, and they're fundamentally demanding his death for their OWN satisfaction, not to keep other people safe. In this they are exhibiting psychopathic behaviour.

In closing, your comments are premised on the assumption that I must prove Okamoto has not committed any other crimes. Clearly you're unfamiliar with the entire concept of due process. I don't have to prove jack. If you want the death penalty then YOU have to prove he committed other crimes and will be a continuing danger to society when he is released. This is what the people calling for the death penalty failed to do, and this why they are psychopaths, willing to sentence a man to death because they believe that it is right to kill someone in the absence of any proof of a real danger to society and because it pleases them.

This is just horrific. I cant imagine taking my baby to the park (yes, 2 years old is still just a baby) only to have this happen.

On the debate of whether Japan is safer than other countries or not - I think its really hard to say. I think Japanese reporting of these kinds of stats is VERY skewed (for example, the fact that if someone dies 24 hours + after a car accident, the death is not classed as a road traffic death, if someone has a job paid hourly with no benefits they are still considered "employed" etc) so I think until there is a) complete reporting and b) a reporting criteria common to all countries, then these kinds of stats have to be taken with a large pinch of salt.

Anecdotally, having raised by kids so far in Japan, the UK and the US, I feel there are "pockets" of risk in each place. In Japan, mental illness seems to be a bigger issue. And I agree completely with Samwatters - these people are mentally competent enough to not pick on someone their own size. This isnt mental illness to me. This is stress and bitterness and resentment at how their lives have turned out, and taking it out on the little people who still have their whole lives ahead of them to do what these people couldnt.

Overseas, my kids never had any problems because I kept them close the whole time. In Japan, even close to me, my kids have been spat at, the pushchair kicked, my 2 year old son deliberately whacked in the face with a heavy briefcase (the guy actually took a swing at him as he went past), my daughter has had countless creepy guys come up and take a picture of her without a word and then try to walk away (we generally stopped them). There are a LOT of mental problems going unaddressed in Japan, and the weakest in society are the target for their anger.

@Strangerland,

Yes, but additional reporting does not mean that the country is dangerous, it just means that there is more reporting of the incidents that actually happen.

If your statement had said, "...not mean that the country is more dangerous than before, it..." then I would agree with you. But the fact that there's more reporting of the crimes now only shows how much the information has been suppressed in the past. It can be a highly lethal country yet have abnormally low levels of reported criminal activity. North Korea, China, and the former Soviet Union are prime examples of this.

All people with mental illness are not violent, and vice versa.

This guy, however, stabbed a 2 year-old in the head with a fork for staring at him. He's crazy.

This is not domestic child abuse, this is an isolated incident of a random assault... on a 2 year-old. Domestic child abuse is a much more wide-spread and common issue than the latter.

Whether this is a random act of violence against a child or an elderly woman, it's a crime against someone unable to defend themselves, which happens in every country, every day. Not just Japan.

I'm almost sure that Elbuda is not being serious in calling for an execution, so I don't know why some of you are taking his comment seriously... you're not serious, are you Elbuda?

Seriously, the level of conversation on these forums sometimes is really depressing.

@Frungy. I am not advocating the death penalty for Okamoto. In fact my issue with your post has nothing to do with the death penalty. 　My questions regarding Okamoto's past/future crimes were rhetorical. My issue is with your sweeping statements about an assault that was summarized in a 100-200 word article. Here are two examples.

"Execution is only an option when rehabilitation is unlikely to be successful and there's a high probability of the person re-offending and taking other lives, in other words if the chance of salvaging one life is outweighed by a plausible risk to multiple lives.... that isn't the situation here,"

You clearly state that "....isn't the situation." How do you know?

"There is every reason to believe that Okamoto has a good prospect of rehabilitation."

Based on what?

Well, both the unemployed/homeless and parents/kids use local parks, so it's not surprising such things occur. The homeless have serious mental issues, paranoia being one, so an attack like this is shocking of course but not that strange.

I baby sit a little girl that will turn 2 this June, I tell you they're one intelligent 2 years old. They know and feel everything. So watch out, she was right when she was staring at this degenerate that he smelled trouble. Thank God she survived! Bless her!

"The little girl was staring at me as if I was some kind of criminal . . . "

No, she was probably staring at you as if your were some kind of psychotic.

samwattersMar. 21, 2014 - 09:49AM JST @Frungy. I am not advocating the death penalty for Okamoto. In fact my issue with your post has nothing to do with the death penalty. My questions regarding Okamoto's past/future crimes were rhetorical. My issue is with your sweeping statements about an assault that was summarized in a 100-200 word article.

And my issue was with people demanding the death penalty based on the same article. You take issue with my comments saying that there isn't sufficient evidence to demand the death penalty, and by not commenting on the death penalty advocates who did exactly the same thing you are, in effect, supporting the death penalty in this case.

By cutting the death penalty out of the case, and cutting out any consideration of Okamoto's past or future crimes you effectively leave no room for discussion.

@Frungy. I think you need to sharpen your critical reading skills.

Frungy wrote: "And my issue was with people demanding the death penalty based on the same article." What people? Unless the moderator has deleted posts I haven't seen, nobody on this thread has demanded the death penalty. Elbuda Mexicano wrote that Okamoto was "a great candidate for the death penalty" which is hardly demanding someone be executed. Furthermore Elbuda also received 10 dislike votes for his comment. In addition to you, I counted three other posters who support treatment for Okamoto's (unproven) mental illness.

Frungy wrote: "You take issue with my comments saying that there isn't sufficient evidence to demand the death penalty..." No...I...don't. I take issue with your stating that Okamoto has virtually no chance of committing violent acts in the future and will likely be rehabilitated. And you still didn't answer my question as to how you came to those conclusions!

Frungy wrote: "and by not commenting on the death penalty advocates who did exactly the same thing you are, in effect, supporting the death penalty in this case." No.....I...am....not. I am not advocating the death penalty in this case. I am advocating rational discussion based on information rather than emotional ejaculations. You and few other posters seem to believe that any act of violence is proof of mental illness. I can't quote the author but I will borrow the quote, "we are all entitled to our opinions but not our own facts."

@ Frungy

Ok let me see if this was your child, there is no freaking way you would have such kind words of support and sorrow for a NUT CASE. If the parents or whom ever knew this guy was a nut case he should have not been out in public PERIOD. With that said if this was your child that was stabbed you too would become an executioner on the spot or run from what I am reading!! I will defend and protect mine to death being that I was there and have an opportunity to retaliate, I will not stand and live in sorrow knowing I could have done something especially, in such a situation as this one. There is no need for the police to come get him. They can come get me and the coroner can have at him!! RIP for scum bags like that!! If a person is afraid they should call the police, if a person needs mental help they should go see a doctor. Your rationale is if anybody stared at this nutter being a child he would take them out!! I have no sympathy accept for what happen to the child!!

samwattersMar. 22, 2014 - 12:37AM JST @Frungy. I think you need to sharpen your critical reading skills.

I'll ignore this cheap shot as I point out all the mistakes you've made. Perhaps you'll take your own advice?

Frungy wrote: "And my issue was with people demanding the death penalty based on the same article." What people? Unless the moderator has deleted posts I haven't seen, nobody on this thread has demanded the death penalty. Elbuda Mexicano wrote that Okamoto was "a great candidate for the death penalty" which is hardly demanding someone be executed. Furthermore Elbuda also received 10 dislike votes for his comment. In addition to you, I counted three other posters who support treatment for Okamoto's (unproven) mental illness.

Yes, the moderator did delete at least 3 other comments calling for the death penalty, including a second post by Elbuda Mexicano. At the time when I commented there were a total of 5 comments calling for this individual's death. This, balanced against the three more humane posts seemed to merit some sort of comment.

As for critical thinking skills, where did I write that Okamoto has a mental illness?

Frungy wrote: "You take issue with my comments saying that there isn't sufficient evidence to demand the death penalty..." No...I...don't. I take issue with your stating that Okamoto has virtually no chance of committing violent acts in the future and will likely be rehabilitated. And you still didn't answer my question as to how you came to those conclusions!

I did, you just weren't paying attention (how about those critical thinking skills). Okamoto is a 57 year old man with no history of violence who has recently become unemployed. Okamoto is well outside the normal onset age for schizophrenia, although the possibility exists that this might be some form of early onset dementia, a brain tumor or a dozen other things... or it might simply be that he was angry over losing his job and thought he could safely take it out on someone weaker than him... or it might be that he was broke and wanted the 3 meals a day and free bed in a prison. We don't know his precise motivations. What we do have is no history of violence for 57 years, a stressful life change (losing his job), and a single violent incident. These things all point to an excellent prospect for rehabilitation. If someone can go 57 years without violence then there's a strong possibility that they can go another 23 years without violence until they die of old age.

Frungy wrote: "and by not commenting on the death penalty advocates who did exactly the same thing you are, in effect, supporting the death penalty in this case." No.....I...am....not. I am not advocating the death penalty in this case. I am advocating rational discussion based on information rather than emotional ejaculations. You and few other posters seem to believe that any act of violence is proof of mental illness. I can't quote the author but I will borrow the quote, "we are all entitled to our opinions but not our own facts."

Yes, yes you are. You singled out the person opposing the death penalty for criticism, without extending any similar criticism to the pro-death penalty faction. You have continued to do so. You have also ignored my explanation that, based on the facts in evidence, there is a strong possibility that this individual is a good candidate for rehabilitation. You have also misrepresented what I wrote, accusing me of attributing this to mental illness. Psychopathy, for your information, is not necessarily a mental illness, it is a personality trait, just like sociopathy. To a certain degree we all exhibit psychopathic and sociopathic tendencies. What I accused those individuals (multiple individuals) calling for Okamoto's death of was of displaying unusually high degrees of psychopathic behaviour, the type you would see in a mob, a kangaroo court or a vigilante group. In essence they are very similar to Okamoto, giving in to violence.

In closing, I find your quote from Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (Sherman, 1998: 4) somewhat ironic. You look at a 57 year old man with no history of violence, who held down a job and had no priors, and who just underwent a major life change and engaged in a single act of violence and see someone who has a high chance of recidivism. That is your opinion, and according to Senator Moynihan you're entitled to it, but it doesn't match up with the facts. Someone with this profile isn't a high-risk offender. That's the reason I made the statement.

If you have additional facts that would change my analysis of this individual the please provide them, but given the attitude towards employing ex-cons in Japan it is almost certain that Okamoto had a clean criminal record before this, exhibited no extreme behaviour that might get him fired, and managed to live a reasonably normal life for 57 years. I'm basing my assessment on a track record of 57 years. You're criticising it on the basis of.... ? Now it is your turn please point out why my assessment is mistaken.

@Frungy. Three points. 1.) Thank you for leting me know that posts have been deleted. I didn't know that and it makes your stance more understandable. 2.) None of the information (age, lose of job, clean record, etc.) is mentioned in any of your previous posts currently on this board. 3.) Where did this information come from? It did not come from the article. Do you know Okamoto? Did you read a different article? Did you see something on TV? PLease cite a source.

Also, Frungy wrote: "You have also misrepresented what I wrote, accusing me of attributing this to mental illness." Frungy also wrote: "...those crying out for the death penalty are as sick as this guy (Okamoto)."

I assumed you were talking about mental illness when you said "sick." Was I incorrect?

More to the story perhaps?

None of the information (age, lose of job, clean record, etc.) is mentioned in any of your previous posts currently on this board.

Actually, the age of the suspect is mentioned in the article. As to the other information you are asking about, your guess is as good as mine.

@slumdog. Thank you, I stand corrected.

@NathalieB

"Police in Okayama have arrested a man after he allegedly stabbed a 2-year-old girl with a fork in a park"

" these people are mentally competent enough to not pick on someone their own size. This isnt mental illness to me. This is stress and bitterness and resentment at how their lives have turned out, and taking it out on the little people who still have their whole lives ahead of them to do what these people couldnt. "

well put! I have seen a quite a few at public places who have not lashed out yet, but are walking time bombs of resentment at how their lives have turned out, turning out, and to be turned out...great watchwords...

I apologise for including information not from this article. I read multiple newspapers everyday and sometimes I have trouble remembering where I read something. I did check back through the newspapers I normally read, but I can't find the articles I previously read on this topic (or at least not quickly and easily as they're in Japanese - I did try several likely searches, but they failed to turn up the articles), therefore I cannot provide a source for the job loss, however the age is in the article and the police would have stated if this individual had prior convictions.

On the basis of 57 years with no prior convictions, and the manner in which he behaved after the indicident (staying in the park until arrested), I believe that it is still fair to characterise Okamoto as a first-time offender and this as an isolated (and extremely regrettable) incident that is unlikely to recur after he is released (assuming, of course, that there is no underlying physiological problem such as a brain tumor, dementia, etc.).

Also, Frungy wrote: "You have also misrepresented what I wrote, accusing me of attributing this to mental illness." Frungy also wrote: "...those crying out for the death penalty are as sick as this guy (Okamoto)." I assumed you were talking about mental illness when you said "sick." Was I incorrect?

Ah, I can understand the confusion now. I was using the word "sick" in the sense of cruel, sadistic or offensive. I'm afraid that you assumed incorrectly, however I admit that what I wrote was perhaps ambiguous.

@Thanks, I now understand the confusion regarding "sick" vs. "metnally ill." And thanks for the source of the other info!

I have noticed that kids play parks in Tokyo are plagued by smokers and vagrants. They aren't very pleasant places to take your kids to play unfortunately, something needs to be done to make them better places for kids.

And now he found a place to stay with free foods .... damn old man park its not the place for the sickos, its a place for the kids to play.

I don't think Japan is as safe as some people believe. It seems more likely that things are under reported, like "stalkings".