Kazuharu Okamoto, 70, of Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, the president of a transportation company, is currently recovering from face injuries while also facing charges of reckless driving and assault after an altercation with more than 10 bikers.
The incident occurred on Jan 4 when Okamoto was driving in nearby Handa City behind a pack of over 10 touring motorcycles. According to police, he became enraged from being behind the pack and gradually driving closer and closer to their rear. This upset the bikers who confronted Kazuharu about his tailgating. The details about how things escalated aren’t clear yet, but one thing led to another and a brawl broke out between the senior and the group of motorcycle enthusiasts.
The next day, four men in the group – all of whom are said to be in their 40s and 50s – were arrested for breaking bones in Okamoto’s face from punching and kicking him. However, they all claimed that he swung first.
A few days later, on Jan 10, police took Okamoto into custody for assault because at the time he had punched a 48-year-old woman in the group in the head. She was wearing a helmet at the time, but is still said to have received light injuries from the blow.
In a subsequent investigation, the police reviewed the footage on Okamoto’s dash cam and on Jan 20 additionally charged him with “obstructive driving” which is the legal term for road-rage-related reckless driving. He currently denies that charge.
Unfortunately, there still aren’t many details about the nature of the fight that occurred beforehand. But the currently known fact of a lone senior citizen taking on over 10 people at the same time was enough to impress readers of the news online in the following comments.
“He’s keeping healthy.”
“Grandpa thinks he’s Mad Max.”
“It sounds like a bunch of bikers tried to gang up on him, but it was probably just a bunch of normal people riding around.”
“I wonder if the bikes all started swarming around him. I could see that happening.”
“One…on…ten? That’s wild.”
“Over ten of them and they still lost. lol”
“Maybe the bikers were just too afraid to hit him because it might have killed him.”
“I think that lady should sue the helmet company.”
Like in other countries, there are many different kinds of bikers in Japan. The media is using the term “bike shudan” (bike group) rather than “bosozoku” which usually applies to the teenage bikers known for their dangerous riding and fights. That would also suggest that these people were likely more of the weekend-warrior type motorcycle enthusiasts than actual sons of anarchy.
In addition, the fact that the police seem to be pursuing Okamoto’s actions rather than those of the others makes it appear as though he was the real instigator of violence in this altercation.
Source: Chukyo TV, Metere, CBC, Hachima Kiko
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Saitama senior arrested after calling telecom provider 24,000 times to complain
-- Japan’s lazy, free-wheeling youth can’t even be bothered to join biker gangs anymore
-- Himeji City preparing to crack down on nuisance “walking biker gangs” (Yes, you read that right)
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2022/01/24/70-year-old-arrested-after-brawl-with-over-10-bikers/
40 Comments
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gogogo
Busted by his own dash cam!
JeffLee
What was the speed limit? This is key. If the bikers were going well under the limit for no reason, hence blocking traffic, then they bear some culpability. If they were going near or over the limit, then the old geezer is indeed culpable.
It would be nice if Japanese journalists knew how to report news instead of reporting what the cops tell them.
It sounds like she needs a better helmet.
David Brent
We all know the type. Usually a white Toyota crown or a ProBox. I am glad the bikers did the right thing, and brought this tail-gater down a peg or three.
factchecker
The Duke of Hazard is his alter ego
Cricky
He defiantly has entitlement issues, “don’t these 10 or more people know just how important I am?” Think a brawl is a sensationally over the top headline. He punched a woman in the head helmet or not. As a male I find that unacceptable. As for broken bones at 70 just restraining him will result in some injury. He was in such a hurry that initiating a fracas was in his schedule? The man is a self centred vortex that only has negative outcome for anybody he interacts with.
shogun36
of course, he goes after a woman
so he in actuality punches a bike helmet and not flesh. Genius, Kazuharu…….
he also knowingly had a dashcam and still did ignorant things while driving.
1 vs 10. Indeed we are dealing with a delusional moron here.
Disillusioned
Road rage is very real in Japan. Too many drivers think they are invincible in their steel tanks. I'll bet he was driving a Crown or a Cressida. A japanese jiji mafia staff car. This old fella bit off more than he could chew by taking on a group of ten bikers. And, he hit the girl in the group? Shows just what sort of demented jiji he really is. Take his licence off him!
Sheikh Yerboaby
C'mon you gotta give the old boy a bit of credit....he took on 10 people and he's 70!! :D
Well done Grandpa
Harry_Gatto
Okamoto should have worn a helmet too.
Hello Kitty 321
The word "bikers" has bad connotations. If the headline had used the word motorcyclists instead, it would create a completely different image.
Joe Blow
He's lucky he didn't die. Getting punched and kicked at his age is no joke, not to mention getting cold KO'd, falling to the concrete and hitting your head.
They must have hit him pretty gently really.
snowymountainhell
The story took a U-turn. 4 bike enthusiasts arrested first, then days later, dashcam evidence showed the codger was the aggressive driver.
snowymountainhell
Not much of a ‘brawl’ if you punch a woman then have your ass handed to you by her compatriots:
“The next day, 4 men – said to be in their 40s & 50s – were arrested for breaking bones in Okamoto’s face from punching and kicking him.TokyoLiving
The usual bunch of coward bikers history..
TokyoLiving
Solving everything with violence, you like it, right?..
Tom Doley
Anger management issues yet again.
gokai_wo_maneku
I can only say that I am glad I don't work in his company.
stormcrow
He should have just pulled off at the nearest truck stop, had a smoke, drank some coffee and chilled.
Sven Asai
Compared to other countries an outcome still very peaceful and almost not even worth a headline. lol
Fighto!
Bones broken, people kicked and punched, a woman punched in the head, 5 arrested... you have a rather interesting definition of "peaceful outcome".
Yes, it warrants a headline.
This 70 year old needs to be banned from the roads after his stint in the slammer.
Christopher J. Thomas
10 on 1?
And a 70 year old?
Let's think about that for a moment. 10 people. Even this senior was a crusty cranky 70 year wielding a tire iron swinging franticly .
Broken bones in the face? Wow.
Hope these Bikers feel real proud what they did to an old man.
70 years old....Have they no shame?
WilliB
Christopher J. Thomas
Did you read the article? They were close to his own age, and he attacked them. It it is not he was ambushed by a bunch of bosozoku, like you might imagine from the headline.
The "broken bones in the face" sounds very much like a broken nose...
Richard Gallagher
Not a good look by any of the participants.
Cricky
10 on 1 read the article. He attacked them after driving dangerously behind them. In the 70 year olds defence he is an executive at a transport company and rules the road. These bikies ( so misleading) this club should have recognised his car pulled over and bowed. Not thrown their heads so vigorously onto his fists.
Harry_Gatto
There was no need to put the boot in, totally OTT response.
Hitting a bike from behind can be really bad news resulting in the vehicle driving right over the bike and its rider.
The old fool deserves no credit whatsoever and deserves all that's coming to him.
He was on a single lane road not known for having many truck stops.
People haven't carried tire irons/tyre levers in their cars for at least 50 years.
Or nose or jaw or cheekbone. You have no idea what the damage is unless you've been to the hospital and they confirmed it.
kurisupisu
As a motorcyclist, I will always allow (in my car) motorcycles plenty of room and space as they are vulnerable-the old fella needs to relax at the wheel…
ETHAN1001
Legend has it that the man has asked to see the biker gang again and wants them to bring 10 more biker gang men to make it an even fight! 20 v 1.
LEGEND!
Pukey2
When you are 70, regardless of who is in the right, you've got to learn not to pick fights with groups of men all much younger than you.
Oxycodin
He lucky he did not encouter the hell angels biker gang or he be heading down south
Chottobaka
Irrespective of right or wrong, MAD RESPECT!
602miko
He's a terminator or THOSE men maybe they did not hit hard the old man because of his age?
Joe Blow
A 70-year-old has the testosterone levels and chin of a 10-year-old. One solid punch and they're done.
Harry_Gatto
Maybe you didn't read this part?
factchecker
A doctor should prescribe this nut job a lethal dose of arsenic. He'll be relaxed then.
Desert Tortoise
I was thinking he needs female companionship to calm him down, not pharmaceuticals and certainly not arsenic!