5 youths arrested over death of 81-year-old homeless man

"According to police, the five suspects ― who cannot be named because they are minors ..."

Here we go again! In a mere matter of months the would be considered adults capable of knowing right from wrong, and be held accountable (well, it's Japan... so maybe not) for their actions, but at 19+? Nope. Still the same as if a two year old had done it, according to the law. At BEST they'll be put in a reformatory for less than a year, then let out, but I'm guessing they'll choose a ringleader, put him in the reformatory, and let the others go with a warning and apology from parents.

IMO: I wonder what make "these" go after the helpless homeless in Japan, are they mentally deputized by their peeps to clean up Japan? or that they are so rigidtized that when they see something that does not fit their closed loop micro box mental mage of right and wrong, particularly what they may deem is rejected or unwanted, even a the cost of a life, driven to make something right? Typically with the gang strength approach. On the other hand if the homeless man had killed all 5 of them, then he would be further looked down on , even in self defense, Luckily the western world for a long time knows how Japan operates.

Absolute scum. They should be named. They're not elementary school kids.

Signs of a psychopath

Gang and herd mentality is a dangerous thing.

Poor guy had it rough as it is and gets beaten to death. RIP

Have them work in the morgue for six months during this pandemic. Seriously.

Then put them on trial for murder.

This is shocking, after all Japan is regarded as a respectful society.

This type of a group of cowards actions is unacceptable and a awareness campaign should be initiated so people change their attitude and the government change the laws.

If somebody dies from the result of such a senseless act , isn't life worth more than a couple of years in jail?

If these minors don’t go to jail their parents should be liable for their children’s senseless cowardly and shameful acts.

Absolute scum of the earth these five animals. If proven in a court of law that they did indeed murder the poor, innocent old man, I hope they are all hung from their necks until death. There are absolutely precedents in Japan of 19 year olds being sentenced to death.

Rest in Peace to the poor man, he had such an awful life, and it was ended brutally by five animals who have no right to live.

Minors should be 16 or younger.

minors (no matter what age) should be charges as adults if the commit adult crimes.

Dudes,the group mentality in Japan is insane.....it also let to this which most people don't want you to know.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Junko_Furuta

They knew being 19 that they had only one more year left to be spared by a justice system that considers 19 years old a child.

According to police, the five suspects ― who cannot be named because they are minors ..."

They are old enough to vote, they are old enough to be considered adults!

Dudes,the group mentality in Japan is insane.....i

Dont know much about Japan do you? This is a MAJOR myth! Want proof? Read the newspapers or watch TV.

He was found dead on a nearby road where the gang chased him. A 68-year-old woman who had been living with Watanabe under the bridge for the past 20 years, fled and called police.

20 years under a bridge? Things are bad on so many levels. Youth killing a man who wanted nothing more than dwelling under a bridge. What is going on in Japan? Is it stress or just bad education. The whole story contains way too many disturbing issues.

Idle time truly is the devils playground.

This is shocking, after all Japan is regarded as a respectful society.

why is it shocking? It is a respectful society... but that does not mean there aren’t 5 dickheads among the population that do this type of thing

They are old enough to vote, they are old enough to be considered adults!

This!^^

This is a MAJOR myth! Want proof? Read the newspapers or watch TV.

Proof is on you dude...

Used to run along our local river. A guy there had laid out a palatial living space under a bridge quite a living space from things he'd garnered, and lots of homeless gathered there to drink and talk. They'd always offer me a drink as I passed by, but I was, like, "Dudes, I'm jogging." Then, one day, the police had ridden them out. It was very sad.

@Yubaru It is not a myth. Japanese live in groups that exclude other groups. I have experienced it first hand.

A gang of cowardly punks. Seems they may have harassed these people before killing the old man. Premeditated murder so give them a stiff sentence.

I hope they are all hung from their necks until death. 

Because the death penalty works as a deterrent? The evidence is right in this article. The death penalty is such a deterrent that it didn’t stop these five dudes from murdering an innocent person.

Wow; this is just awful.

bully culture and group mentality that singles out and isolates a weak link is a mental illness in itself. its really shocking though just how many of those types of things, even worse I have read, that had happened in japan. and some of those people went free and became popular and developed well lived lives afterwards. one psycho became a body builder and a hsotess i was told by a japanese national once, while when he was in middle school he tortured some kid and did a bunch of other stuff. that word..psycho. has a different meaning in japan. i keep a distance from that demonic stuff, but study the dangers it has on the world and people.

found more details here:

https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/gifu-5-youths-accused-of-fatally-assaulting-homeless-man-with-stones/

notice the kobanites were notified several times of the harassment, but ....

@John Richardson

"bully culture and group mentality that singles out and isolates a weak link is a mental illness in itself. its really shocking though just how many of those types of things, even worse I have read, that had happened in japan."

Yes Sir: bully culture and bad apple flatfoots, magistrates , embedded partiality.

According to police, the five suspects ― who cannot be named because they are minors ― are all friends. Two of them are private university students and the other three are company employees.

So three are old enough to join a company but not old enough to be named? They are "shakaijin" and should be named and shamed.

Things are breaking down in society over there, it is no coincidence we see more and more of these types of random, heinous crimes being committed especially by young people.

Adult crime deserves an adult punishment.

shrugs boys will be boys! Lol

They are "shakaijin" and should be named and shamed.

Two aren't.

Adult crime deserves an adult punishment.

Why? Juveniles aren't adults, there are reasons why criminals are punished differently as juveniles than as adults. Why should those reasons be ignored? I ask this as you're claiming that the status quo is wrong, but you haven't supported this assertion.

Two attending a private university. Well, we all know who has money for a good lawyer and will not be going to prison.

Proof is on you dude...

I said watch the news, read the papers. Proof is there.

 It is not a myth. Japanese live in groups that exclude other groups. I have experienced it first hand.

You are sucked into believing something that is a myth! One of so many here in Japan.

"The group mentality in Japan is insane " ,

was the comment I replied to and I stand by my response, you all have problems with reading comprehension

If it was so insane, why are there pachinko [parlors refusing to close during a pandemic and national emergency? Why are people refusing to follow the guidance of the PM and others? Why do "gangs" get grouped into the "group"? These are young adults who dont give a crap about "the group"

The list goes on and on, yes there is a group mentality for many, but it is far from "insane" and it ONLY matters when it's something positive!

Hence read the news, far too many examples against it! But people want to believe it, because Japan is "special" in their mind!

So they are minors when they commit crimes, but not when they vote ... hmmm. Anybody else here senses a hint of a paradox???

Because the death penalty works as a deterrent?

Well, if they're executed, they definitely won't commit any more crimes!

I would even go out on a limb and say that that type of mental illness has bled into other countries and their subtle cultural influences and see many similar things since i left that dark place. im sure a lot has come from pop-culture. its like they made other countries start thinking like them in many social aspects, intentionally or not. anybody else see those similarities?? I used to never see some of the stuff or social rules in the states and other countries as I did in japan, but now it is almost as if they are japanese with certain things. i think the past several decades people have thought of them as some kind of chosen people of God or something. not sure why. sure as hell definitely not the case. they had potential to do right with certain things from 70 years ago, but seems as if nothing has really changed. and all that seems cute, clean, tidy, and hard working on the surface and outside, is still dirty as hell on the in, especially if the work is not directed in the right direction.

Two aren't.

Yeah, I think I covered that already when I wrote "So three are old enough to join a company but not old enough to be named? "

Still the same as if a two year old had done it, according to the law. At BEST they'll be put in a reformatory for less than a year, then let out

What gives you that idea? Can you give any examples of 19-year olds who committed murder who were let out after a year? Those over 14 can be prosecuted in criminal courts.

And these juvenile jerks think they're 'having fun' or 'being funny'. Let's see how fun(ny) prison is for these morons!

Local media reported that Watanabe and the woman had contacted police in mid-March and said someone had thrown stones at them on four occasions

So the police knew about this and did nothing about it? This is so appalling on so many levels.

The police are doing a better job at protecting the "kids" because they're "minors" than the victim. An innocent man lost his life because these a-hole kids wanted to have some fun? SMH at the justice system here.