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72-year-old man arrested for spitting at convenience store employee

37 Comments

Police in Awaji, Hyogo Prefecture, have arrested a 72-year-old man for spitting at a convenience store employee who was behind a plastic sheet used to prevent COVID-19 infections between customers and staff. 

The incident occurred on April 27, Sankei Shimbun reported. According to police, the man, who was arrested on Wednesday, has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying, “ I wanted to see the woman’s reaction and did it partially out of fun.”  

Police said the man first approached the 24-year-old employee and pointed at one of the plastic sheets installed at the checkout counters. He then asked, “Is this to prevent the coronavirus?” before spitting on the plastic curtain and at the woman. The employee was not hit by the spit, but the incident was captured on the store surveillance camera.

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37 Comments
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I know I shouldn't laugh at this, but this news was partially funny to me. Though disgusting in its nature, funny at the same time.

-35 ( +9 / -44 )

So stupid...society is falling apart!

18 ( +21 / -3 )

Most likely this old man was recently released from the slummer and wants to go back.

They get free food and a place to sleep.

There are so many cases like this esp amongst the old.They intentionally commit petty crimes so that they can be arrested and hauled in.Once released,they rush to commit another petty one.

6 ( +14 / -8 )

" I wanted to see the woman’s reaction and did it partially out of fun.”  

pop goes the weasel...

8 ( +8 / -0 )

I've always felt the biggest danger to Japan during the state of emergency has been the wandering maskless oyajis donning their baseball caps and fishing vests with no sense of social distancing and nothing to do all day but wander around or ride the trains looking for something to do.

24 ( +26 / -2 )

Just another idiot doing stupid things

10 ( +11 / -1 )

He was rude and disgusting- sure. But arrest him? The old guy didn’t even spit on the woman. Just at her onto a plastic sheet. Just seems over the top.

-21 ( +6 / -27 )

“ I wanted to see the woman’s reaction and did it partially out of fun.” 

A resounding, “WTF!” to that. I hope they can find a padded cell for this old loon.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

The fact that this makes news in Japan is quite amazing.

-14 ( +8 / -22 )

Another pathetic sad old man with too much time on his hands the last 20 years. Their lives are so filled with anger and self resentment that they need to take it out on innocents. It’s funny because his age bracket it most at risk too

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Old geezer is lucky he lives in Japan. Forget social distancing and no touching, a proper asswhipping would have been on tap in many other places.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

send that surveillance video to FailArmy on youtube

1 ( +1 / -0 )

There's something seriously wrong with some of the elderly people in this country. I've known this a while now, but its becoming more prevalent during this pandemic. It's as if they are increasing becoming more disconnected from reality, and totally oblivious to what is going on around them. I don't know if its dementia, senility, or just stress, but I see it almost every day now.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

I think a big part of the problem is that seniors in Japan actually have nothing to do. For men especially, they have spend 40 plus years grinding it out at work. THey didnt develop hobbies, outside interests, or even good relationships with their wives. So now suddenly they are retired, wandering around, wives want them out of the house because they are cranky and demanding tea/snacks/massage all day...

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I was once spit on by a racist oyaji. Wonder what would of happened if I went to the police? Probably would of blamed me. Just another daily occurrence in Japan, yawn.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

High chance of him getting the virus in prison. Enjoy it jisan

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Anyone spitting and coughing at another person is committing an assault. Should be an automatic prison sentence.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

deserves a kick in the ass

These are the kinds of people who haven't had their ass kicked in years and been humbled.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

THey didnt develop hobbies

Seems like every Japanese guy has a hobby, but they're usually expensive ones (usually collecting clothing, cars/motorcycles, model trains, nice fishing tackle, loads of camping gear, antique radios or lamps, etc.) . Now that they're 70+ they may or may not be able to engage in those hobbies as much as they like.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Joe, you may be right, but what people call t heir hobbies, they don&t actually do! I have been told by guys, "my hobby is golf", and when I ask them how often they play, they say something like, "well, I played two years ago....". You are right that lots of folks think that they need all the expensive accoutrements in order to call something a hobby.

How about taking walks with your wife? Visiting parks? Photography? Lots of very lonely seniors in this country. I can think of few places in the world that I would want to retire in LESS than Japan.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What is it with these older people short on tempers and acting out?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

What is it with the vitriol against old or elderly people here in Japan?

I've not witnessed the hate from actual Japanese, in fact, I've noticed young people being very respectful and defferential to older folk.

It has to come from somewhere. Maybe from some young people, somewhere, who believe they'll never get old, never have a bad day, never be frustrated with rapid change in an often confusing world.

And then there's dementia and/or alzheimer's. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I don't condone the man's actions. But we don't know the circumstances or his mental health.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Guess he's not gonna get a date with her.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Filthy old animal. Hopefully the scum gets at least a stint in the lock-up. Spitting at others is disgusting at the best of times, let alone in a pandemic.

I hope the poor cashier mentally recovers from this assault and is able to work there again.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

@ TheLongTermer

"I was once spit on by a racist oyaji. Wonder what would of happened if I went to the police? Probably would of blamed me."

It is said: unfortunately that and the increases of murder, and etc., will surely bring the curses and wrath....

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Probably early signs of dementia.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Hokkaidoboy:

I know I shouldn't laugh at this, but this news was partially funny to me. Though disgusting in its nature, funny at the same time.

You may find it funny, but a railway worker (ie essential worker) and her colleague at a London railway station were spat upon, for no reason, by someone who claimed to have caught the virus. Two days later they both fell ill, and not long after, one of them died. I really don't find it funny, just malicious and disgusting, and nothing short of murder.

And someone has to clean that plastic curtain, not to mention, the virus is airborne.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Firstly I am going to say this is a disgusting habit at the best of times, and especially now! in the UK there has been a case like this, where a train ticket vendor was spat at, he said to the lady I've got C19 virus! The other day this lady died of C19 virus, this is no laughing matter and should be treated seriously. potentially this could be classed as manslaughter. I see this guy has been arrested, and I hope he's tested for C19 virus and if any thing happens, charged accordingly. Thank goodness there was a plastic screen between the staff and this dumbo.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Anyone spitting and coughing at another person is committing an assault. Should be an automatic prison sentence.

Would it be assault if someone were standing on the other side of the counter at a conbini and threw a punch that hit a plastic sheet two feet away from the employee? I'm not defending the guy for being rude and disgusting but the attendant was not struck by any of his nasty spit. There isn't even any evidence here that he was infected. These facts betray the idea that he committed any kind of an assault. Gross and rude? Yes. A criminal deserving jail time? Come on, be serious.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Anyone spitting and coughing at another person is committing an assault. Should be an automatic prison sentence.

Would it be assault if someone were standing on the other side of the counter at a conbini and threw a punch that hit a plastic sheet two feet away from the employee? I'm not defending the guy for being rude and disgusting but the attendant was not struck by any of his nasty spit. There isn't even any evidence here that he was infected. These facts betray the idea that he committed any kind of an assault. Gross and rude? Yes. A criminal deserving jail time? Come on, be serious.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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