crime

Businessman suspected of slashing up to 1,000 tires in effort to meet women

47 Comments

Suspected of violating laws related to acts of violence, the first trial for company employee Yoshihito Harada, 25, was held at the Nagoya district courthouse on April 16. Harada stands accused of puncturing the tires of parked cars that were driven by women in an effort to strike up conversations with the drivers. When asked if there was any truth to the indictment, Harada admitted, “It’s true, I did it.”

According to the opening statement by prosecutors, between April 2011 and December 2012, Harada used a screw driver or other sharp object to puncture the tires of five different cars. The cars had all been parked outside supermarkets in the cities of Miyoshi, Nisshin and Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. In all cases the stated reason was so that Harada could establish contact with the women.

When the women returned to their cars from the supermarket, Harada would approach, calling out, “Looks like you’ve got a flat. Let me fix it for you.” While changing the tire he would strike up a conversation with the women and exchange phone numbers with them. One woman who fell victim to Harada’s scheme told a female friend of hers, “I recently got a flat and a man offered to change it for me.” Upon hearing the story the friend exclaimed, “The same thing happened to me!” Suspecting a scam, the women reported the matter to police who launched an investigation.

Harada appeared in court wearing a gray shirt and slacks. At times it appeared he would break down in tears. When questioning the defendant about further similar offenses, his lawyer said, “There were about 1,000, weren’t there?” Out-of-court negotiations are proceeding with other victims.

Source: Esuteru

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47 Comments
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Sound like a BS story to me.

“There were about 1,000, weren’t there?”

Perhaps he did this a few times, and that's dysfunctional enough, but 1000 times? Come on...

16 ( +18 / -2 )

This is the worst pick up line ever!!! If I had to guess a number between 0 and 1000 for the times this guy got any action (apart from changing tires) I would say ZERO!!! He should be thrown in jail for that reason alone!!!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

When questioning the defendant about further similar offenses, his lawyer said, "There were about 1,000, weren't there?"

His own lawyer said this? That's not very defendy of him, is it.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

Wow :D Am i the only one here who finds it kinda sad that its the only way he can aproach women? :D

9 ( +14 / -5 )

It never ceases to amaze me now often Japanese criminals will readily admit to their transgressions whereas in the West the mentality is to fight tooth and nail even when it's plainly clear that the person is guilty. I like that about Japan.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

@Yurie Yoshida No, you're not; I find it very sad, too. Pathetic, really.

@Maria I was thinking the same thing. That sounds more like what you'd expect to hear the prosecutor saying. Perhaps it's a mistranslation, but I don't see how that could happen. Actually, if it's accurate, Harada deserves no pity for the crimes but some pity for the quality of his defense lawyer, IMO.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Had his plan worked he would have had a good year.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

The puncturing of women's tires is textbook Freudian sublimation.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Do we know if any of these encounters resulted in dates or the like?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@combinibento nice pun. I wonder how many Goodyears he actually did have...

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I used to carry jumper cables to help start someone who had battery trouble. Never got any phone numbers tough. Hope there won't be any copy cats from the tire slasher.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

WOW! I busted up laughing as soon as I read he headline. LOL!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

1000 Tires? that is a fulltime job. 1000 / 4 = 250 cars minimum. Did some of those women carpool or something?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

OK, this is just weird. You can't make this stuff up.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

At times it appeared he would break down in tears.... his lawyer said, “There were about 1,000, weren’t there?”

So, he looked deflated and his own defense fell flat.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Seems to me he had his priorities mixed up all along. He wants to stick things into women but used the wrong tool in the wrong place. He needs to be sent back to school.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

With the high price of tires here that could be 7 million Yen in damage alone.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wonder how many women he actually scored using this technique!? LOL!!!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Really sick. I had a friend that was silly as he was proposing help to women that had a baby and well, that worked with certain women... but he got his nose broken by a baby's father and that kind of troubles. Now this guy, it's a disease maybe ? Like the firemen that provoke arsons so they get work to do.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Well, aside from actually being the cause of the damage, his idea of meeting women is not too far off. Sadly, it's just one step away from lighting fires just so you can be a hero...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't believe this tale, I think rocket news have taken this from an old 'urban myth' and changed it slightly. Unless of course, the culprit heard that same tale and thought that it would be an effective way to meet women (only not attempt to kill them).

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Ewan, don't be rash in your judgment. This is a true story.

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/topics/news/20130416-OHT1T00192.htm

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Laguna:

Please spare us the tiresome puns.

At times it appeared he would break down in tears.... his lawyer said, "There were about 1,000, weren't there?"

So, he looked deflated and his own defense fell flat.

1 ( +3 / -3 )

Wolfpack: "It never ceases to amaze me now often Japanese criminals will readily admit to their transgressions whereas in the West the mentality is to fight tooth and nail even when it's plainly clear that the person is guilty. I like that about Japan."

I suppose you don't mind many are forced confessions.

-1 ( +4 / -4 )

Do you have ANY idea how much damage that is? Chances if you tire is slightly worn you need to replace two tires. depending on the car. a consecutive estimate at 20,000 yen a tire (mine cost closer 30,000 yen). times 1000, 20,000,000 yen. or 200,000$

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Another Japanese guy taking advantage of a slashed rubber with girls...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Haha, wow that is dedication!

Someone should have just referred him to Japan Lair..

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

his lawyer said, "There were about 1,000, weren't there?"

What's the name of the law firm that represents him? Pray do let us know so if we ever need a lawyer we would know whom NOT to contact!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

wow...1000? he must've been really lonely

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Just go match.com

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The wheels on the car go round and round!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

That's just desperate.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I knew a guy who did this and actually got married... later told his wife about it and they laugh about it. She thought it was romantic.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Man, I have to try that. Great idea....

1 ( +1 / -0 )

But the fact of the matter is that this guy must be good now in changing wheels of any car model! However I would not say he is ready for F1 pit stop!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

HE HAS SOME POWER!!!!!!!

1000 tires? using screw? Holy crap....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ahhhh, he's such a hopeless bummer

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Wow :D Am i the only one here who finds it kinda sad that its the only way he can aproach women? :D

Who said anything about it being his only way he can approach women? He probably tried it over and over again not because it was his only way but because he found it to be extremely effective way to setup dates.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He was a businessman? I used to be surprised when I read businessmen doing things like that...but after living in Japan for a while...and hearing 100s of businessmen talking nonsense to themself on the train for hours I'm not surprised.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Forever alone.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He was apparently trying to unlock some kind of achievement.

Word has it he's going to try to punch holes in the prosecution's case. 2013 won't be a Goodyear for him.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

what a tiresome story. after the crime he dun lop off his ears. rubber stamp him guilty and wheel him away

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I too would be really curious to know how many times this actually worked!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

if the women haven't been so gullible to his scam maybe he wouldn't have been so encouraged to continue

but i applaud his mettle, its not easy work changing that many tires...musta been worth the poon

0 ( +0 / -0 )

sounds like they decided to book him for all the unsolved tire incidents over the last decade so they can chuck out the paperwork. A little bit of coercion and sleep deprivation is all you need to get that 99.99% confession rate.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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