crime

Knife rampage aboard bullet train kills 1, injures 2

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What a terrible crime. As usual, the TV will focus and give all the details about what happened, but will not try to explain why such things happen in Japan.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

I think I'll keep my loved ones in the comfort and safety of the family car.

I think if you actually took the time to look up the actual statistics, you would find your family is much more safe on the train than in a car. Probably more comfortable too, though that depends on how you define comfort.

13 ( +21 / -8 )

In today's Japan, a highly organized, income-based society, to be without a job can be a crushing experience depriving individuals of an identity, a perilous, psychological state for a Japanese schooled in conformity that often leads to mental disintegration and violent outbursts (suicide or murder). Such is the price of living in an affluent "safe country", yet inadequately provisioned for treating vulnerable people with no income and fragile personalities.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

I ride the shink all the time and will probably keep an extra eye out for crazies. But the nut in this pic looks like half the young guys on the train.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Kid couldn’t get a job out of school and went full psycho.

Simple as that?

unemployed! shocker!

And the demonisation of the unemployed continues. There are millions of unemployed people who aren't mentally ill and don't go around attacking other people.

I'd like to know the root causes of these rare attacks, but as usual, we never get the details.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

@JeffLee

The security business is an indictor...and it's a boom industry in Japan right now. More Japanese are paying more money to protect themselves.

A booming security business is an indicator of... a feeling of insecurity (warranted or not) combined with special pricing/advertising. It is not a valid answer to @Strangerland's request for relevant statistical data regarding real crime numbers.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I hope we don't have to go through metal detectors to board Shinkansens...

8 ( +11 / -3 )

oldman_13Today 07:56 am JST

Just horrible, truly nowhere is safe anymore. On a bullet train now???

It is no coincidence these incidents are increasing.

You don't live in Japan as you said yourself so how do you know? And why is it no coincidence these incidents are increasing?

7 ( +11 / -4 )

I 'd like to say this is a random thing but until we get a grip on helping people with mental health issues this is only going to get worse.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

A lot really needs to be done in Japan regarding mental health and looking for signs of when someone is about to snap. This whole "ganbatte" attitude is a blight on the Japanese culture.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@oldman

It is no coincidence these incidents are increasing.

I do not quite understand that statement.

I also agree with Strangerman; I think statistically one is much safer on a train than in an automobile. I use the Shinkansen alot and will continue to do so.

@US Reamer - That is a very good post. In my 20 years here I have seen and benefited from the highly organized society and convenience of Japan. I also recognize the inadequacy of services for those with psychological problems (perhaps due to stigmatization). This is slowly improving but I wish it would improve faster.

In spite of all of this Japan is still proven to be by statistics one of the safest countries in the world to live in. Much safer than the country of my citizenship.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

@Cochise and Jeff ...yes absolutely, people on here are in denial , the concept of 'Japan is a Safety country' is total nonsense nowadays... of course it is safer than London or New York but that doesn't mean it is 'safe'.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I heard that the train guard used someone’s briefcase to defend himself and overcame the killer with the help of other passengers. Don't go defending the nut job. I experienced homelessness and unemployment as a youth. Nothing can condone what this coward has done. His first victim was a woman. He is a pathetic worthless animal who has taken a brave man's life, disfigured and ruined two young woman’s lives. Good thing the death penalty is in place for scum like him.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

After being hospitalized to treat a mental illness, he started to work in Okazaki but left the woman's house, where he had lived with her since around the age of 20.

Previous history of mental illness most likely never recovered from.

However, the high-speed trains have not been immune to crime. A few serious crimes have been committed on the trains, most recently in June 2015 when a 71-year-old man set himself on fire on a train, killing himself and another passenger.

At this stage travelling on trains in Japan is still relatively safe, China and Europe have high speed train networks wonder how they manage the safety aspect.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

JeffLee, well said.

lots of posters on this thread in denial.

watch your backs out there, people. It IS more dangerous now.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Just horrible, truly nowhere is safe anymore.

Nowhere ever was. Nothing has changed other than your realization of the truth of the situation.

It is no coincidence these incidents are increasing.

Are they? I've literally seen nothing to indicate they are. Can you support this claim?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Oh, I know. Let's have everyone who rides the shinkansen carry a knife in order to stop such attacks. All it takes is one 'good guy' with a knife to stop the carnage! (/sarcasm_alert)

3 ( +5 / -2 )

The man who died saved the women who were initially attacked.

As usual in Japan , target women first...

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Hmm ... not mentioned in the article was the NHK news comment that the young man had been the victim of bullying while in school. And this, just days after the 10th anniversary of the Kato-Akihabara massacre.

The law of unintended consequences ... What goes around, comes around.

And, as typical of our species, collectively — we are as dumb as hammers. Neither the capacity nor willingness to learn from history.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The deep dark depths of the unnutured and lost soul. A young man living in hell taking revenge on existence. Very sad to see how far people can fall , and the victims they leave in their wake. Nowhere to run on a Shinkansen. How was he subdued?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

mmwkdwToday  05:19 pm JST

“How can it be "attempted murder" when he's actually killed one person ?”

Not to worry. Such initial charges are upgraded to murder after confirmation.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The famous cliché ""feeling frustrated" and just wanted to kill someone and that anyone would do" strikes again.. no news here. other than it was at a Shinkansen, but not enough to go ape bat crazy like the US with over kill security systems, etc...

1 ( +3 / -2 )

He was subdued by police at Odawara Station.

The man who died saved the women who were initially attacked.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Horrible story and RIP to the victim. Japan really needs to start looking at the cause of these crimes. When a child is unloved unnutured and devalued they can become what is cause B cluster. Hence the high amount of narcissists and borderlines in Japan. Love your children unconditionally would be a start.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"he was "feeling frustrated" and just wanted to kill someone"

Probably he had to go to the local city office more than twice within the past year.

The availability of knives is not to blame for this, the man's mental state is.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It is terrible news. I use Shinkansen sometimes. I’m really scared.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Now, how was this guy stopped? Sounds to me from the article and from what I saw on the news last night, it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This makes me so angry because I have a strong feeling that this guy will not be sentenced for life. Probably 10+ years or even less. In Japan, criminals get away with it too easily.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It IS more dangerous now.

I'd like proof. You may BE right, but to me Japan doesn't seem any more dangerous now than when I arrived in terms of violent crime.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What good does a security camera do if there is nobody on board to help you?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Lots on TV about the history of this guy and exploring the reasons why he did it. He had a very troubling life. His parents were told by his daycare center that he probably had a developmental disorder when he was 5 years old. Around that time he had a lot of fights with his parents. He was seeing a counselor for the issues (so its not a case of his mental problems being ignored), but at 15 he moved out of home to go live in a shelter (his own choice). I believe his parents didnt have much to do with him after that.

I'm not so sure where it all went wrong though - did the parents not raise him right? Was mental help too late/not enough? Its not like you can 24/7 monitor everyone with a developmental disorder

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sorry for my ignorance but I just have a few questions here: Were there any security checkpoints (metal detectors or atleast pat downs) before boarding the train? Don't they have police in civies or train marshals on shinkansen? I understand that Japan's security is relatively lax but considering how critical (and tempting of a target) shinkansen are, they should at least beef up the security.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just read this news seconds ago, I was wondering what the blood was doing on his face and glasses, then as I continued to read, the horrible heinous coward act became clear., by the POS.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What a STUPIED thing to do when your feeling Frustrated .... Why not go for a jog, work out, ride a bike, get laid, give rosé palm a turn, Anything then stabbing people.  This guy deserves a slow and painful death. I feel for the Brave man who sacrificed his life to protect others on the train, I hope the Government & the train owners are willing to financially support his family for his bravery.  R.I.P BRAVE ONE.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The guy who died actually got back up after being stabbed to keep trying to stop the lunatic. Definitely deserves a lot of respect and honour.

The crazy guy had written in his diary that he only saw 3 possible outcomes for his life: Suicide in a mountain hut, jail, or mental asylum. I just wish he had chosen the first option (though that probably means someone has to find him, and then there would be the cleanup... But option 3 probably wouldnt happen without him doing something like what ended up happening...)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Raid his apartment and I bet you find a room full of AKB paraphernalia

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How can it be "attempted murder" when he's actually killed one person ?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I could also cite law-enforcement and national security budgets, which are growing bigger and bigger and bigger (not just in Japan but nearly everywhere else). But if you're right

Right about what? A request was made for numbers. So far we have no numbers, and a couple of vague references that don't really indicate anything.

if you're right, this is mostly a waste of money, right? And taxpayers should be demanding huge cutbacks to police forces since they're not needed, right?

Let's first figure out what the actual numbers are.

watch your backs out there, people. It IS more dangerous now.

And again the claim is made. And again there is nothing to support it.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

It is reported that the suspect has been hospitalized by mental disease.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

No accidents due to derailment or malfunction? Well congrats for that. There's plenty of taxi, bus, train, cruise and airline companies who can all say the exact same thing. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people all over the world who are psychotic enough to want to hurt others by any means necessary. So rather than staffing your shinkansens with an army of food card pushing women, perhaps consider a security plan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Oh, going the fear route Sam. Logical.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It seems that the man who was killed had tried to stop the psycho murdering bastard, and gave his life trying to protect those two women.

He should be posthumously awarded a Red Ribbon Medal of Honor by the Japan government for such a heroic act.

As a side note, I hope that little pimple-faced killer gets shanked in prison, and bleeds to death on the tile floor of the prison ofuro.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The unfortunate reality of this is that, while the victims will of course be mourned, the perpetrator will become infamous for his actions and will be remembered far longer than those he shamelessly killed with out remorse! Acts like this are nothing more than cowardly actions by desperate and sick minded individuals who couldn't make anything else of their life and craved a lasting legacy through violent means. I wish in future cases like this the media wouldn't even publish the perpetrators names ONLY those of the victims, that way their so called acts for fame and attention would fails and only those who deserved to be mentioned and remembered are so! The noose awaits!

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

On the Shinkansen even, like a bad movie plot.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

It is not a valid answer to @Strangerland's request for relevant statistical data regarding real crime numbers.

Yes ilt is. True, part of massive increase does indicate perception but another part reflects demand/need, some by corporate clients whose security budgets are based on risk analysis, not touchy/feely stuff. And the need for greater security reflects a more riskier state of affairs.

I could also cite law-enforcement and national security budgets, which are growing bigger and bigger and bigger (not just in Japan but nearly everywhere else). But if you're right, this is mostly a waste of money, right? And taxpayers should be demanding huge cutbacks to police forces since they're not needed, right?

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

@strangerland

Are they? I've literally seen nothing to indicate they are.

The security business is an indictor...and it's a boom industry in Japan right now. More Japanese are paying more money to protect themselves.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/645475/smart-home-security-revenue-in-japan/

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Kid couldn’t get a job out of school and went full psycho.

RIP, man and this gets with the families...

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Japan should think again what is the most important in life.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

All the abuse thrown at those stating the obvious on this site: Japan is becoming crazily more and more dangerous.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

In China, Bullet Train riders have to go through metal detectors and then receive body scans. I am okay with that.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

What is the point of security cameras on board is there is no security personnel on board to react? You think the women pushing the food carts are going to save you? Seems better to start carrying your own item(s) for self defense.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Just horrible, truly nowhere is safe anymore. On a bullet train now???

It is no coincidence these incidents are increasing.

-9 ( +6 / -15 )

unemployed! shocker!

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Right we have been through this before:

Boarding a train is much the same as boarding any form of shared transport: We have arrived in the day of body and baggage checks no matter where you live in the world :

Traveler ~ Conductor : I would like a safety trip ticket to where I am going please

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Easy to get on a Shinkansen. Perhaps some greater gate control should be in order.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

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