3 stabbed at University of Tokyo ahead of entrance exams

Awful news.

Wanted to cause an incident so he could die..

I'd rather he go to the suicide forest and not get innocent victims involved.

Police quoted him as saying he was not doing well at school and wanted to cause an incident so he could die, Kyodo News reported.

What? How does that make sense? He wont get any death sentence, either for he fire or for the stabbing.

@ WilliB

i may be wrong but stabbing someone is attempted murder. Just because they survived doesn't change his intent.

What kind of stress was this kid under that he thought hurting people so he could die was an acceptable solution.

Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here? Every other day there is a story about some horrific event, some of which would even make America revile in disgust. Japan may be spared by the lack of guns and related violence caused by them, but there is no shortage of mental illness, anger, and violence brewing under the surface.

I think that there has always been violent crime in Japan, but in the past a lot was brushed under the carpet, in order to continue the myth that Japan is safe. Nowadays it is reported more, but many news outlets keep insisting that such incidents are rare. The above comment is probably right. There is a lot of viciousness under the surface in Japan.

It's scary how anybody in Japan can suddendly have murder tendancies.

Unpredictable !

Better the devil you know

My heart breaks for the old man who is in the surgery room right now fighting for his dear life.

My heart also breaks for the two students who burned the midnight oil to have a shot at their universities of choice.

But my heart mostly breaks for the 17-year old attacker for all the obvious reasons.

They got a whole squad of Forensic specialist out on this one it seems;

"He also told police he started a small fire at nearby Todaimae subway station"

2022..is off to a terrible start for Japan

 He also told police he started a small fire at nearby Todaimae subway station at around 8:15 a.m., which firefighters extinguished after about an hour.

An hour? Doesn’t sound small at all there Buddy. A small fire would be like a stove fire being put out in seconds.

> Police quoted him as saying he was not doing well at school

who’s fault was that, junior?

Suck it up and work harder next time.

Don’t bring in innocent people to your failures.

Terrible. The boy needed help. Shouldn’t waste his life and others like that.

Foreigner In TokyoToday 05:44 pm JST

Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here?

Whilst it is disturbing that there is violent crime anywhere, I would argue the amount of violent crime here would be low compared to most other developed countries. For example, knife crime in Britain and gun crime in the USA are seriously out of control compared to here. This website always posts a selection of stories that they know will trigger the mostly foreign readership.

It’s a shame these “crab mentality” outbursts are becoming more frequent.

Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here? Every other day there is a story about some horrific event, some of which would even make America revile in disgust. Japan may be spared by the lack of guns and related violence caused by them, but there is no shortage of mental illness, anger, and violence brewing under the surface.

You think a few articles a day in the crime section for the whole country is a lot? We get more than that in just Florida.

He is so stupid. All he had to do was try to charge a police with a knife if he wanted to find a way to get himself killed. I think they would be more than happy to put him out of his misery.

Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here? Every other day there is a story about some horrific event, some of which would even make America revile in disgust. Japan may be spared by the lack of guns and related violence caused by them, but there is no shortage of mental illness, anger, and violence brewing under the surface.

I'm not disturbed. This story wouldn't even be newsworthy in some if the other countries I've lived.

In the city i lived in Florida there was at least one person shot dead on the street every day. Was just part of the American way.

Europe has tighter gun laws but there is still way more violent crime than Japan.

Japan is paradise in this context when compared to the vast majority of countries around the world.

Failing at school, failed to get killed for his actions an lacked the balls to finish him self off, pretty much a failure all round.

No sympathy for someone who vents their own failures on the innocent.

Good reason to remove the death penalty, It has often been used as a way to commit suicide by killing others... guess he failed in that as well as at school.

However Japans entrance exam system is really to blame it is an extremely bad system and should be changed their are better ways to do it than what they have to go through currently.

Suicide by police do not work in Japan where the use of fire arms is much more limited than in fiction. Which is extremely fortunate. Not to rest importance to the tragedy, but having (up to now) zero lethal victims in a knife attack with the purpose of getting killed is something to be grateful for.

The boy's not doing well at school. He must think his whole life rests on this. Society and parents need to enlighten youngsters on the important things in life. Living.

Alan Harrison

I think that there has always been violent crime in Japan, but in the past a lot was brushed under the carpet, in order to continue the myth that Japan is safe. Nowadays it is reported more, but many news outlets keep insisting that such incidents are rare. The above comment is probably right. There is a lot of viciousness under the surface in Japan.

Untrue. By official records and studies, the number of crimes in Japan have been decreasing consistently for two decades, and the number of crimes committed by youth have significantly been falling to a record low despite more reporting to authorities. Unlike your perception, Japan is getting safer in this regard.

2021.09.25 

少年非行の劇的な減少 日本犯罪心理学会

https://www.jacpsy.jp/column/column-441/

Police quoted him as saying he was not doing well at school and wanted to cause an incident so he could die.

Why do people here think that they'll automatically get the death sentence if they commit a crime? Doesn't work like that. And this idiot is a minor; he'll probably get sent to the looney bin instead and then released a few years later.

Alan Harrison

I think that there has always been violent crime in Japan, but in the past a lot was brushed under the carpet, in order to continue the myth that Japan is safe. Nowadays it is reported more, but many news outlets keep insisting that such incidents are rare. The above comment is probably right. There is a lot of viciousness under the surface in Japan.

Untrue. By official records and studies, the number of crimes in Japan have been decreasing consistently for two decades, and the number of crimes committed by youth have significantly been falling to a record low despite more reporting to authorities. Unlike your perception, Japan is getting safer in this regard.

2021.09.25 

少年非行の劇的な減少 日本犯罪心理学会

https://www.jacpsy.jp/column/column-441

I never said that Japan is getting any more dangerous, or any safer. It seems to be reported more these days (which is no bad thing). Japanaphiles need to realise is, that violent crime actually does exists in Japan, otherwise, logically, there would be no police stations, no courts, and no prisons.

I am not a Psychologist, but people who resort to harming others while thinking of ending their own lives or on their way out are worst of all, why is it that they just don't go it alone ??

The stress of the Japanese society is finally showing itself as the Japanese people always setting up stress due to their own imagination.

Tragic. - Looks like they went ahead, @zichi 7:19pm, as scheduled.

“the incident occurred at around 8:30am.” Later, last sentence of the story:

*- @zichi 7:19pm: “The students are already stressed out about the exam. No word on if it went ahead.” -*

Reads like a variety of experiences around the world @N.Knight . In contrast to living in a ‘safer Japan’, what city exactly in Florida, U.S.A. ? - “Liberty City”, perhaps ?

- @N. Knight 8:00pm: [*Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here? … some of which would even make America revile in disgust. Japan … there is no shortage of mental illness, anger, and violence brewing under the surface.**]* “This story wouldn't even be newsworthy in some if the other countries I've lived. 

“In the city i lived in Florida there was at least one person shot dead on the street every day.”

Awful news. But I'm worried about not only this student mental health but also the mental health of some people posting bad things. It is a teenager who is 17 years. What he did is not good but also people wishing a teenager his death should also search for professional help.

@ Foreigner In Tokyo

Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here? Every other day there is a story about some horrific event, some of which would even make America revile in disgust. Japan may be spared by the lack of guns and related violence caused by them, but there is no shortage of mental illness, anger, and violence brewing under the surface.

My thoughts exactly. It amazes me that, every time anyone posts an opinion like this on this site, it gets voted down. It's almost as if people don't want to face facts here. In the UK, crime is obviously higher but we don't have the number of crazies Japan has. Yes, you are more likely to be mugged for your phone or whatever but you are very unlikely to be stabbed by a suicidal 17 year old. In short, crime in this country is random and senseless. Also, cases of murder within families is astonishingly high here. Almost every day there's a new story about about a son killing his parents, a grandson killing his grandparents, a middle aged stay-at-home man killing his elderly mother...it goes on and on.

The boy is from Nagoya and attends Tokai High School. It is the most elite high school for boys in Nagoya.

The boy is from Nagoya and attends Tokai High School. It is the most elite high school for boys in Nagoya.

Poor little rich boy.

"he started a small fire at nearby Todaimae subway station"

another train pyromaniac

As a father of an 18-year-old, I know exactly the kind of pressures put on children to pass these University entrance exams.

depending on the route the family takes, often these pressures begin in elementary school at grade 4 and continues right up to the University entrance exams. This undoubtably takes it’s toll.

it’s no wonder that some will crack under the pressure.

my sympathy for all involved in this case extends to this youngster as well.

anger and frustration expressed to the kid in this case I believe is misplaced and should be directed at the system in general.

Foreigner In TokyoJan. 15  05:44 pm JST

Is anyone else disturbed by how much violent crime goes on here? Every other day there is a story about some horrific event, some of which would even make America revile in disgust. 

I think if you wanted to, you could make all sorts of connections between how much violent crimes have gone up in this country or that, but I also think that violent crimes have gone up on the whole around the world with parents taking less responsibility (not always by choice, sometimes out of necessity) and leaving social development up to schools and other entities. I think that one of the basic but important lessons kids need to learn from their parents all the way up to adulthood is how precious “life” is.

One doesn’t live all over Japan or in every State in the United States so national statistics on murders or violent crimes should not give you a false sense that one country is safer than the other. Comparing the city or metropolitan area where you would likely reside is a more accurate comparison and gives a better idea of how safe or unsafe it’d be. If you stayed and worked in your hometown Middlebury, Vermont, the US would be safer than working in Tokyo and vice versa.

Japans' social stresses are phenomenal by any standards. Can't get a good job these days unless you know someone or come from a prestigious university. And even then you have to belong to a leading politic sector, it's really messed up.

This kid is dangerous, what will he do next after they release him?

I am not a Psychologist, but people who resort to harming others while thinking of ending their own lives or on their way out are worst of all, why is it that they just don't go it alone ??

They apparently reduce their pain seeing others in pain. Here is some psychology for you.

My daughters when they were 5 and 7 got these Japanese wooden dolls with heads that bobble from grandma. Both were the same but the head of the doll of the younger one broke off when she was playing with it. She was always a bit rough as seen in the way she tears and pulls apart bread at the breakfast table or in the way she opens packages than her sister who is much more gentle.

I hear crying in the next room and exhausted all means to comfort her. Daddy will fix it- no. Play with your sister’s doll - No. Okay play with your other toys - no. Let’s go to the park - No. Want some ice cream, matcha with azuki you favorite? No. Let’s watch Meet the Robinsons - No, even Disney fails. We’ll but you a new one - no. What do you want then?

She stopped crying and sobbed, “break Aya’s doll.” (Aya is her sister.) She asked for the head of her sister’s doll like asking for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. I think she really thought I would do so.

For the boy from Nagoya, seeing others wallowing in misery is therapeutic apparently.

This is the result of a ridiculous performance based high school system. He was probably just a normal kid but snapped under the pressure of high school.

Quercetum: Excellent story!

*Reads like a variety of experiences around the world @N.Knight . *

Yes. A huge variety of experience past and current.