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Police in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture, have arrested a 20-year-old man who attended a Coming-of-Age Day ceremony by driving to the venue intoxicated and without a valid driver’s license.
According to police, Shin Machida, a company employee, was also involved in a hit-and-run accident while heading to the ceremony venue on Monday, Sankei Shimbun reported. The incident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. Machida was driving a car registered in his father’s name.
At the ceremony, a police officer on guard smelled alcohol on Machida’s breath and asked him to submit to a breathalyzer which showed he was over the legal limit. Machida was quoted by police as saying he had been drinking champagne with a friend in a park. He also admitted that he didn’t have a driver’s license.
It was learned later that 40 minutes before Machida arrived at the ceremony venue, there was a report of a vehicle rear-ending a car waiting at a traffic light. Although the driver fled the scene, the driver of the car that was rear-ended told police that he was dressed in traditional hakama attire.
Police said Machida’s car matched the description of the one that left the scene of the accident.
© Japan Today
35 Comments
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sakurasuki
Drinking is ok after anyone reach 20 in Japan but drinking and driving is never ok for any age in Japan.
Kitchener Leslie
Well done dummy. Glad he didn’t kill anyone.
JerseyDevil
"20-year-old man arrested for drunk driving after attending Coming-of-Age Day ceremony"
Looks like he did not receive his Coming-of-Age, instead became sinister and tossed his rice grains.
shogun36
Was this that fool In the tik tok video, with the hit and run loud red and yellow car with flags and such?
Talk about someone that needed major beatings.
Lock him up and throw away the key.
Yubaru
No that was in Okinawa. This one was on the national news, and not all the information was shared on all the channels that showed it either.
These fools hit another car and then sped off, but not generally shared or reported on, is that after the cops pulled them over a short distance away, they ALL returned and apologized to the driver of the car they hit.
Fortunately no one was hurt!
Michael Machida
Police in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture, have arrested a 20-year-old man who attended a Coming-of-Age Day ceremony by driving to the venue intoxicated and without a valid driver’s license.
I don't think he is coming of age.
BlackFlagCitizen
Why oh why would anyone drive to a Coming of Age ceremony, knowing that they'll probably have a few drinks? What was this guy thinking?
Yubaru
Pretty obvious he wasn't!
Chico3
Welcome to the adult world. Now deal with your consequences.
Lindsay
Drunk, no license and left the scene of an accident. Throw the book at this clown
snowymountainhell
He’s come-of-age so, he’s responsible for the damages. - Oh, wait! He was still driving dad’s car.
snowymountainhell
Sometimes(most) @RiskyMosaic 9:09am, these stories are ‘interpreted & written’ with a certain ‘dramatic flair’. - Given the ‘sequence of events’ (hit&run 40min prior and the description of vehicle & culprit’s clothing) and the nearby scheduled event, police were staking out the venue for his arrival.
purple_depressed_bacon
Methinks the lad still has some growing up to do. Perhaps delay his Coming-Of-Age ceremony until he does some real jail time?
ahar
That would take very, very much. The limit is 0.15 milligrams per litre of breath.
CaptDingleheimer
I live in a college town, and in the Monday morning newspaper, the police blotter has about a dozen of those from the previous weekend.
but in Japan it's national news.
snowymountainhell
Also, not sure ‘why’ @RiskyMosaic 9:09am others here would ‘downvote’ legitimate questions of the legality of certain police procedures in Japan ?
Will Covid screening at public venues & events now also be an opportunity for police in Japan to detect alcohol (and other substances) ?
WA4TKG
Again, this makes the National News?; Really?
Are you surprised someone was drunk driving on such a day ?
”This is Japan”
Mocheake
Coming of Drinking Age Day but he got a head start on stupidity long ago. Glad no one was hurt I guess. What a maroon!
Chabbawanga
National news
jeancolmar
"Machida was quoted by police as saying he had been drinking champagne with a friend in a park. He also admitted that he didn’t have a driver’s license."
There is nothing like Coming of Age Day, when the newly minted Adults behave like drunken 3 year olds. It's okay really, a parting with childhood and decades adult responsibilities to deal with. But drunk driving is a no-no, as is driving without a license. If ever anyone needs supervision its the still-kids at heart adults on Coming of Age Day.
Zaphod
Great start to adulthood, young man!
Kumagaijin
Why haven't these ceremonies been cancelled because of Covid? Not that I support it, but you would think thats what the government and paranoid parents should be supporting.
Mark
He must have gotten too exited!!
smithinjapan
Doh! Should have done it a few months sooner and gotten off Scott free... although, telling the police he was drunk might garner some sympathy.
serendipitous1
Drink driving, no license, and having a car accident - Just about the stupidest trio of crimes one can do simultaneously.
kaimycahl
I guess this guy wanted to verify his status as a new drunk!
doedel
Driving 'n drinking issues are surely something he should have understood at this age.
As was shown on the TV as well, other new "adults" were save while observing Mickey Mouse at some special event. Welcome to adulthood!
Danielsan
"Being drunk at the time" seems to be an excuse accepted by courts as a defense for a variety of crimes such as assault ,etc.
Yet this excuse is never used in DUII cases....