Drinks and flowers continue to be placed at the site of the May 28 stabbing rampage in Kawasaki. Offerings have already been removed three times since the attack but people still keep coming. Photo: KYODO
crime

Mourning continues 1 week after Kawasaki knife attack

15 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

15 Comments
Login to comment

It means something since I used to live near where Iwasaki lived. In fact I used to walk my dogs near the house

for over four years. It is hard to believe a hikikomori could live like that, in a room upstairs. It is a quiet neighborhood with quite a few elderly residents.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the stresses of modern day society might be at the root cause. I don't see how 'the government', 'mental health professionals' or anyone could have prevented this.

I think you are being disingenuous. Prevention, intervention, treatment could have stopped the attack.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I think the stresses of modern day society might be at the root cause. I don't see how 'the government', 'mental health professionals' or anyone could have prevented this.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

...to be fair, that kind of knowledge is still in its infancy in most countries, not only Japan. I don't think anyone has "got it right" at this point. But Japan is clearly behind other modern, developed nations in this sense.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Arturo Jamilla: Addressing mental health issues only works if the person with such issues seeks out help.

Yes, exactly. Yubaru and Chip Star made some useful points about the infrastructure of Japan's mental health facilities, and those issues certainly need to be dealt with. However, equally necessary is "general education" of the public regarding what mental health entails. The average person knows what a broken arm looks like, and knows that you need to take care of it like this, and go to see this kind of doctor, and follow that doctor's treatment and instructions in order to get better, and that you can't go playing basketball for a handful of months, and etc. I've never broken my arm, but I know that. However, that type of general knowledge does not exist regarding mental problems. Most people in Japan can't recognize these issues, don't know what to do about them, and fear the social taboos that go along with it. Until those problems are addressed, then improved facilities and an increase of workers in the field can only go so far.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Addressing mental health issues only works if the person with such issues seeks out help. Unless you are suggesting now that all people within the borders of Japan must submit to mental health screening and treatment.

For those recluses who want to remain holed up in their apartment counting down the day until they completely meltdown, there is nothing you can do except be vigilant and learn to defend yourself. People are not inherently good, sorry to say.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

"Why do japanese people put drinks on the sight of death ? Flowers are okay but drinks?"

The location can serve as a temporary shrine in Buddhist Japanese culture where you can place offerings to the deceased, like the Butsudan found in Japanese homes.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

A question off-post

Why do japanese people put drinks on the sight of death ? Flowers are okay but drinks?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Japan Times had a pretty good article about Hikikomori the other day.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2019/06/01/lifestyle/prison-inside-japans-hikikomori-lack-relationships-not-physical-spaces/#.XPW4UI9S-M8

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The uncle/aunt had two other kids a couple of years older than him, and they both attended Caritas, an elite private school. He on the other hand went to a lowly public school. It was because of this, and seeing his cousins excel at life, that he thought that their schooling was the reason for their happiness. And thats why he attacked Caritas students and their parents.

I've been hearing too that their grandmother took them to the barber shop and she told the barber to give the cousin a stylish haircut and for him to get a crew cut.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The article i read this morning says he went to live with his uncle and aunt after his parents divorced. The uncle/aunt had two other kids a couple of years older than him, and they both attended Caritas, an elite private school. He on the other hand went to a lowly public school. It was because of this, and seeing his cousins excel at life, that he thought that their schooling was the reason for their happiness. And thats why he attacked Caritas students and their parents.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

One, people want to know the excuse, the reason, the logic, the WHY, because they want to be able to point to something beyond the "mental" issues

Fair enough, however, that will likely never be determined with any amount of certainty. Pumping out information on how this geezer planned and carried out the attack only serves to give other head cases ideas.

Dont hold your breathe waiting to hear anything about mental health issues here.

I know I'd die of lack of oxygen if I did.

Psychiatry is not one of the most popular areas of medicine here, and the government NEEDS to get more qualified doctors and specialists involved. THAT would be a start.

Exactly my point.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I'm not certain why we keep hearing about this. We should be hearing about the government taking effective steps to address mental health issues that pervade this country and contribute to these tragedies.

One, people want to know the excuse, the reason, the logic, the WHY, because they want to be able to point to something beyond the "mental" issues.

Dont hold your breathe waiting to hear anything about mental health issues here. Down here in Okinawa I can name, without pulling out any directory, 10 different "mental" hospitals, and all are running at full capacity. There are plenty of people who are seeing psychiatrists, but the wait takes a hell of a long time, my wife went to one for a work related issue and had to wait 6 weeks for the EARLIEST appointment.

Psychiatry is not one of the most popular areas of medicine here, and the government NEEDS to get more qualified doctors and specialists involved. THAT would be a start.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The relatives had told city officials Iwasaki had not worked for a long time and was becoming reclusive.

He mostly stayed in his room, hardly speaking to the couple, and ate meals prepared by the aunt alone. He possessed no computer or smartphone, according to the police.

And yet the city employees, with whom the aunt and uncle consulted with, followed their wishes and stayed away from contacting the man.

Difficult situation it was.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I'm not certain why we keep hearing about this. We should be hearing about the government taking effective steps to address mental health issues that pervade this country and contribute to these tragedies.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites