Man wielding knife shot by Osaka police officer

Is this the first shooting in Japan this year? I like that Japanese police don't shoot to kill but to disable.

“I thought that carrying a blade of this length wouldn’t be violating the Firearms and Sword Possession Control Law.”

It doesn't matter if you threaten someone with it anyway, genius !

It seems the cop played it as best as possible. Nobody else was hurt, good job !

Good on the cop.

Agreed.

The Japanese police should use their guns more often so they are not seen as pushovers.

You lost me here. They should use their guns judiciously.

The cop did his job and very well.

a shooting happened because of police harassment.

Ha! No, dude.

I bet if those guys had stabbed someone, there would be a ton of people here crying "but why did the cop didn't do anything when he thought something odd was about them?"

Seems the cops suspicions were well placed. And why assume aggressive questioning?

For example perhaps simply asking the knife nutter if he worked in the area (i.e. employment status) to gauge the response.

The Japanese was probably the standard 'Shokumushitsumon' 職務質問, which means simply they 'questioned' or 'attempted to question' the two men who were acting suspiciously.

(Not about their employment status.)

In Japan, the police act like police. In the US, they act like life is fictional movie.

I wonder why employment status had any relevance to the situation? Anyway seems like the cop had no choice.

The suspect was swirling knife, went toward the officer. I praise officer.

Glad the officer was ok

The perp verbally threatened to kill and attacked the officer with a knife... if this isn't justifiable what is?

There are many people carrying knives. Just be careful who you tell to “Fob off!” They might just be one of these wacky knife wielders.

I like how the perp is meant to have quoted the exact name of the law as part of his defence. As if!

The police officer, 38, spotted two suspicious men in the area and proceeded to question them on their employment status

Why ask anyone their employment status? Is this a communist country now?

For once I respect the actions of a Japanese police officer.

Oh My God! Young people can't possible be that dumb!

RULE #1

DONT BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT!

People do not have knife to approach police. Self defense. He could be shot in his heart.

@paradox: How about shooting head or heart, just like in USA? Are you skipping USA police academics? Is it better to shoot head than shooting a leg or thigh?

well done police officer, you did well at least you did not kill him.

I think you are misinformed. I do not know of any police agency in the world that deliberately aims for extremities. In the US, police certainly do not ever deliberately attempt to shoot the head.

Again, every single person who seriously trains for pistol combat first shoots the chest. Head shots are a special technique and they do not find much place in law enforcement, though you might see them in the military or among mercenaries or hitmen, or maybe police sniping.

This is the problem when people who have no idea what they're talking about start talking about gun related issues. Have you ever considered what happens to a bullet when it misses the arm? Hitting someone's arm is FAR more difficult than hitting the center of their chest. If you think it's so easy to do, you ought to go try doing it yourself at a target practice range. You will not do as well as you think you will.

So when you miss that hero-arm shot, your bullet ends up flying behind the intended target and killing an innocent bystander in the background. Good job hero!

The reasons for shooting center mass are well researched and well founded. Pulling a gun is the last resort. My experience shooting with JP officers has not been positive. The reaction times and accuracy are low and the range qualifications are very relaxed compared with other police forces around the world, even compared to the UK where some police do not carry firearms.

That’s because they rearely have to use their weapon.

Don’t know the details, but this whole thing could have been avoided if the initial inquiry by the police was done in a less aggressive manner. Asking someone’s employment status doesn’t usually draw a knife in response.

In Australia the cops have just shot a 16 year old in the chest with a Glock 23 .40 S&W, The 16 year old threatened the police with a knife, the police responded by putting a .40 round in his chest, claiming they shoot at the chest because at the legs or arms, they might miss, yet the Japanese police always hit the hip, legs or arms. Seems the Japanese police are better trained with the use of firearms then the Aussies.

He menaced a cop with a knife, not a civilian, a cop. Let him mooch on looking for an easy target or disable him ASAP. Leg shoots are dangerous but not as dangerous as letting a nut case wander the streets stabbing anyone. Police arrive my first reaction is compliance not attack. It's a job that apparently not all understand. Depending on his social status might get a suspended sentence or 20 years. Understand that as a medieval justice system with 99% conviction rate the policman might be looking at jail time. Happy, joy Japan.

Shooting in the leg to disable is a fallacy.

In case you forgot basic human anatomy, the leg is home to the wonderful femoral artery, which if ruptured by even a weak revolver bullet like Japanese police use, will probably result in your swift death, especially in a country like Japan where doctors are NOT familiar with gunshot trauma. Shooting in the leg can and is about just as lethal as shooting in the chest.

This guy is lucky that the police officer was either showing restraint or was a poor shot.

To be honest, it is more likely the officer is a poor shot because every police agency in the world teaches officers to shoot center mass (Heart shots) until the threat is stopped. Unfortunately (Or perhaps, fortunately) most Japanese officers are a horrendous shot with their sidearms and this knife wielding guy survived this encounter because of that fact.

 not as dangerous as letting a nut case wander the streets stabbing anyone

he didn't wander the streets stabbing people. he had a knife. police threatened him. he was suspicious. not enough information. were they drunk and shouting and scaring people?

question them on their employment status

wtf? your just hanging out and you get hassled? a shooting happened because of police harassment.

Good on the cop. The Japanese police should use their guns more often so they are not seen as pushovers.