Japan Today
crime

Diabetic man dies in police custody after not eating for 3 days or being given medication

61 Comments

Aichi prefectural police have revealed that a 43-year-old unemployed man, who was being detained in a cell at a police station in Okazaki, died on Dec 4 after refusing to eat any food for three days. The detainee, who was also a diabetic, was not given any medication either while in custody, police said.

The Act on Penal Detention Facilities specifies that inmates who do not consume any food or drinks must be given medical attention.

After he lost consciousness on Dec 4, the detainee was taken to a hospital where he died later that day, Kyodo News reported. An autopsy showed the cause of death was kidney failure and dehydration.

It has also been revealed that the man was confined in the holding cell with no clothes for over 140 hours, with restraints on his wrists and legs for more than 100 hours.

Police said the man was arrested on Nov 25 on suspicion of obstructing police in the performance of their duty. Police said he became violent, took off his clothes and refused to cooperate with officers.

He later told police he was diabetic but officers did not arrange for him to receive any medication, nor be examined by a doctor.

© Japan Today

©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.

61 Comments
Login to comment

The Japanese police are an absolute joke! Sadly a very bad joke for this poor man!

11 ( +36 / -25 )

This story makes it sound like not eating was the cause of death... the man wasn't eating because he's a diabetic not being given medicine and it would make his sugar spike, he was trying to survive!

This is negligent homicide by the police.

37 ( +41 / -4 )

A man was pulled over in front of my building, yesterday. He was driving a small cheap vehicle; he has a female in the passenger seat looked like a wife or girlfriend and there were 4 police cars around him, and they were so aggressive towards this small in stature guy. I did not stay around to see what happen, but my heart was sad for the guy in the car because having 8 or 9 police is overkill.

Back to this guy, to be chained up for 140 hours with no clothes in my guess a cold jail cell is cruel and not shocking.

28 ( +30 / -2 )

I have no words. RIP 43 year old diabetic police in custody man.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Hard to keep reading the article, every sentence or so the treatment becoming worse and worse. People should be held responsible for this with criminal charges.

22 ( +23 / -1 )

The 43 year old diabetic man arrested by the police and held in a holding cell with no clothes on and with arms and legs restrained for 100 hours was... murdered...... by........ the........... police.

24 ( +28 / -4 )

Should never have happened.

23 ( +24 / -1 )

“Police said he became violent, took off his clothes and refused to cooperate with officers”

Would you have been able to treat this man nicely if you were one of the police officers in charge of him?

-26 ( +6 / -32 )

I think two or three trained policemen s could subdue him and his actions indicated he was at least emotionally unstable.

Procedures are in place when a detainee even stops eating for a day.

"He later told police he was diabetic but officers did not arrange for him to receive any medication, nor be examined by a doctor."

A doctor should have examined him or taken him to a hospital.

"It has also been revealed that the man was confined in the holding cell with no clothes for over 140 hours, with restraints on his wrists and legs for more than 100 hours."

How was he supposed to eat when he was shackled? Barbaric treatment.

If a horse was treated as badly they would be prosecuted.

3 ( +17 / -14 )

Actually this article was already posted in the morning and it says that the police officers are suspected of assaulting the man. I post a link below of the story. Again the J-police forces and again Aichi. This country need a profound reform in it’s police force because right now is closer to a communist dictatorship rather than a free democracy.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20221213/p2a/00m/0na/010000c

1 ( +16 / -15 )

Police said the man was arrested on Nov 25 on suspicion of obstructing police in the performance of their duty.

Still they don't explain why they approach him in the first place? Asking his residence card? He might still live and well today, if they weren't approach him. May he rest in peace.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

"Law Enforcement" is Medieval in this country.

2 ( +15 / -13 )

The Act on Penal Detention Facilities specifies that inmates who do not consume any food or drinks must be given medical attention

Another person dies in custody from being neglected and denied medical treatment. Way to go Japan! Your stance on human rights is shining through.

2 ( +17 / -15 )

Police are just people. Many of them are horrible. Some of them are decent. I hope this guy had some family somwhere to get these useless idiots put away.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Something is wrong in Aichi and especially Nagoya.

How many now in that prefecture?

Stay away until the national government cleans the place out.

All Police, all immigration all prison officers and officials should be fired replaced with people from other regions of Japan.

Something fundamentally wrong in that prefecture.

-11 ( +11 / -22 )

There are many good people in Aichi/Nagoya. Have several friends there. Aichi is home to 7.5 million people. 200,000 foreigners.

Can't paint all with one paintbrush.

21 ( +26 / -5 )

Both incompetent and completely uncaring police in this case. Everyone who had contact with this man and did nothing for his safety or comfort. Taking Japan back 200 years by keeping him chained for 100 hours. Barbaric behavior that requires convictions and sackings for the police concerned and for those in charge at that station. Unbelievable that modern cops in a G7 nation can be so inept and unprofessional and yet retain their jobs like nothing happened.

Better off being arrested in NK or Iran or Russia. Perhaps only China is worse.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

I suspect we're actually going to see some serious repercussions for this, like a warning and stern look at the police, plus a promise of an internal investigation which, if any (more) wrong doing is proven, will warrant a stern look again.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

“ Police are just people. Many of them are horrible. Some of them are decent. “

Honestly I can’t understand why some of you in this site try to justify such behaviour. Yes police officers like immigration guard centres and prison guards are humans, But they are representing the government in the state and when they wear such uniforms they have to behave neutrally and fairly, even to the convicts or suspected people. If not a democracy is turning into a police state.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

The problem as I see it is that the police in Japan are punishing suspects when it is not their place to do so.

There needs to be much more oversight in Japa see society

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I suspect we're actually going to see some serious repercussions for this,

Nah, nothing has changed in Aichi in decades.

Killing an inmate using a fire hose years back.

Investigation then supposed reforms and what did we get a slight break and right back to the same old same old,

Kill a Sri Lankan woman, nothing, abuse prisoners more "investigation" now kill a man by tying him up and denying medical attention.

I have pointed this out for years, something is fundamentally wrong in that prefecture

Why is it I didn't even have to read past the headline to know it was going to be Aichi.

I am not joking I saw just the headline said " Nagoya or some place in Aichi" and I was spot on.

-5 ( +11 / -16 )

Honestly I can’t understand why some of you in this site try to justify such behaviour.

You are surprised?

Why? It is the job of these hardline japanophiles to defend any negative thing about Japan.

Sri Lankan woman dies, her fault, men abused in prison, their fault for not being faster or criminals.

Man dies in police custody, his fault for causing trouble.

Welcome to the excuse machine of nothing can be wrong with Japan.

-5 ( +11 / -16 )

What should happen is suspension of all involved, prosecution and firing.

What will happen? In all probability based on previous incidents, not a lot.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Wow, he could eat without medication and was given none. Someone needs to go-to jail over this, but as usual this is the last we will hear of it...grrrrrrrrrr

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Sad and UGLY, the poor guy never knew what was coming or would have had his medicine with him

6 ( +7 / -1 )

How was he supposed to eat when he was shackled?

Exactly! Sounds to me like the "refused to eat" is just a story they made up after torturing the guy to death...

7 ( +11 / -4 )

There’s just no incentive in being a policeman if you are a capable individual. Only people who have nowhere else to go, but wanted to feel powerful and special, become policemen with exception of a handfulz

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Welcome to the excuse machine of nothing can be wrong with Japan.

> -6( +5 / -11 )

I see from the downvotes on this post (and previous posts up to yours) and there total absence subsequently, that those who defend Japanese police simply stop their activities after about 8:15pm JST.

If they think the Japanese justice system is so wonderful, I invite them to comment why, because I can see nothing defensible about the actions of the Japanese police here.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

First of all!! Correct me if I am wrong the article said "police revealed that a 43-year-old unemployed man, who was being detained in his cell at a police station died after refusing to eat any food for three days. He was also a diabetic, and was not given any medication while in custody as the police claimed. An autopsy that was performed showed the cause of death was kidney failure and dehydration. Question could the kidney failure come from a direct result of kicking or beating him? Why would the man be confined in a cell with no clothes for over 140 hours. So basically this explains perhaps why he refused to eat because he had restraints on his wrists and legs. How can one eat when they are tied up? Did they expect him to eat like a dog? If a person was tied up I can understand why they won't or can't eat because they are being restrained in a way whereas they have to put their head in plates and eat like a dog. The man was also diabetic, perhaps the police refused to not give him medication because of his behavior and a person has to eat before taking medication. Remember this is the police side of the story a dead man can not talk. There's so many inhumane things that was written in the article that tells me the police is covering up the death of this man. The man was detained because of suspicion of obstructing police work was this a pay back? The man was confined in the holding cell with no clothes for over 140 hours, with restraints on his wrists and legs for more than 100 hours. There was no mentioning of the reasons why the man was held this way. There was no mentioning of him being a threat to himself or the officers to be restrained in such a way. Only after neglect and perhaps a possible beating did the police have him taken to a hospital where he died. I get it the autopsy showed the cause of death was kidney failure and dehydration, but those symptoms could easily be proven that being retrained and beaten can bring on the onset of those issues.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Many condemn the police for this, perhaps rightly so, however, the entire incident would never have happened had the deceased obeyed the laws and cooperated peacefully.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Let police do their work and follow the old phrase: “It is not the same to call the Devil, than to see him pass by”.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I see a lawsuit here. 'Bad Cops, No Donuts' as some bumper stickers on US cars say.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Many condemn the police for this, perhaps rightly so, however, the entire incident would never have happened had the deceased obeyed the laws and cooperated peacefully.

Please name one country where there are no police stations because 100% of the population never break a law.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

At

Dec. 14 08:08 pm JST I wrote the following

Honestly I can’t understand why some of you in this site try to justify such behaviour.

You are surprised?

Why? It is the job of these hardline japanophiles to defend any negative thing about Japan.

Sri Lankan woman dies, her fault, men abused in prison, their fault for not being faster or criminals.

Man dies in police custody, his fault for causing trouble.

Welcome to the excuse machine of nothing can be wrong with Japan.

-6( +6 / -12 )

Thank you

Danielsan

Today 02:39 am JST

For being a prime example of what I was saying

Many condemn the police for this, perhaps rightly so, however, the entire incident would never have happened had the deceased obeyed the laws and cooperated peacefully

I said it that these people will defend Japan and blame the victim no matter what and proof.

Daniel.

Question.

In what civilized world do the police or any human tie up another human for over 100 hours naked in a room that is unheated, do not give water medical or basic human rights?

Please tell use what civilised society that is even remotely acceptable?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

nondualism

Today 06:25 am JST

wallaceDec. 14 07:16 pm JST

> There are many good people in Aichi/Nagoya. Have several friends there. Aichi is home to 7.5 million people. 200,000 foreigners.

> Can't paint all with one paintbrush.

> This comment is popular but seems unrelated to the story in the article expect the location.

That comment was in reply ( though he will not admit that) to my pointing out that there is something fundamentally wrong in Aichi.

I only had to read the headline to take an educated guess it was going to be Nagoya or some place in Aichi.

In the early 2000s the prison guards used a fire hose on a prisoner rupturing his intestines killing him (wonder where they put the hose) after that the government promised reforms as it wasn't the first time.

But then we get more and more, immigration abuse killed the Sri Lankan woman last week it was again the prison guards, and on and on.

Nagoya and Aichi are in the news for this far too often. Now I am guessing someone is trying to make a bad foreigners and insinuating criminal problems by mentioning the population of foreigners but that isn't new!

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

kaimycahl

Today 01:19 am JST

To answer the question.

In the case of Diabetic ketoacidosis (when your body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for use as energy.)

Kidney failure is common.

So more than likely his kidneys stopped due to ketoacidosis.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Not only that:

"Camera catches police kicking diabetic who died in custody"

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14792518

5 ( +6 / -1 )

”you mess with us this is what you are going to get!” No clothes in the freezing cold of the winter night; no food, no drinks, no medications, and hands and legs will be tied up like an animal.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Take "Japan" out of this story and insert another country with a less than spectacular human rights record, say Iran, or Afghanistan, the idea of someone in police custody being bound naked in police custody without medical attention or food or water sounds likely. But not modern Japan.

But this is the reality.

The justice system has never really evolved from the Edo period.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Why was the man even being detained?

It looks like he hadn't even been convicted of anythingl he was merely suspected. These police officers tortured an innocent man, not a convict.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

There is not something fundamentally wrong with Aichi any more than elsewhere in the country. It's not the prefecture with the highest crime rate.

This is a brutal case as I said should never have happened. Those involved should be punished and a structure and policy put in place to avoid it happening again.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Renal failure is a tough way to go, but this is just another form of suicide by police. In the US - people do it all the time by challenging police until they get shot to death.

But here- it happened in slow motion. Shame on everyone involved.

J-Police are not police in the western sense of the word, as they have to deal with a very different type of individual here as well all by operating in the wonderfully transparent and effective mishmash of Japanese government/business culture (ha). Imagine any Japanese company you ever worked at and then make it the government - nightmare!

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Every cop involved should be fired and charged.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I find it difficult to say this but............................. I actually agree with @virusrex .............on this ( particular ) issue.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

No matter what he did,

It's a disgrace.

No if ands or buts.

But over here in Asia prisoners rights aren't really considered.

Nothing justifies this though.

Barbaric

3 ( +4 / -1 )

It sounds like another case of "I was just doing what I was told" or following the rule book. absolute bs. How about having compassion and more than 2 brain cells, let's try that first

3 ( +5 / -2 )

obstructing police in the performance of their duty

This is one of those rules that can literally mean anything.

What did he actually do? ...

Was he hiding evidence relating to an important criminal case?

Did he deflate the tyres of the police car so that they couldn't pursue a perp?

Or... did he just exist in a country where homeless people are treated worse than insects?
6 ( +7 / -1 )

hayneda

Today 12:40 pm JST

Renal failure is a tough way to go, but this is just another form of suicide by police. In the US - people do it all the time by challenging police until they get shot to death.

And another blame the victim!

So the murdered man tied himself up and didn't call a doctor for over 100 hour, right?

You are confusing charging at the police with a weapon in the USA and being shot with being left to die over a 4 day period from the cold and disease!

Think about that this man died a slow death over 4 long cold days tied and naked that is a crime against humanity!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Something is wrong with the police time line!

Arrested on Nov 25 died on Dec 4 is around 10 days.

He was supposedly tied up naked for 140 hours that is 5 days 8 hours.

What happened the other 4+ days?

I am getting a much worse feeling about all this if that is even possible!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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