Police in Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, said Friday they have arrested a 34-year-old employee of the Tokyo Fire Department for spitting on a woman aboard the JR Tokaido Line.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Sankei Shimbun reported. Police said Yasunari Nozaki, who lives in Totsuka Ward in Yokohama, spat on the 32-year-old woman who managed to grab his arm and hold onto him until the train reached the next station, Chigasaki, where staff contacted police.
Prior to his arrest, Nozaki was drinking alcohol with a colleague in Yokohama City. Police said he was drunk at the time of his arrest and and has denied the allegations by claiming he “doesn’t remember the incident clearly.”
© Japan Today
23 Comments
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jcapan
They must teach this nonsense in seminars somewhere. In any event, these are not excuses and if proven he should lose his job.
Strangerland
Or get this, there is this weird phenomenon where people get too drunk and can't remember what happened. I know it's hard to believe, but I assure you from first hand experience - this very week even - it does happen. You wake up, and can't remember parts of the night, and other parts are kind of hazy. It's true!
Where did you get the idea he would think this would get him excused?
Cosmos1
Spitting is disgusting , spitting at a fellow human is an insulting crime
jcapan
I dunno, maybe in the final paragraph:
No worries, I'm sure you didn't get that far.
Strangerland
No, I read it. When a suspect doesn't confess, the police report it as a denial.
What it actually means is they said 'tell us what happened', and he said 'I don't know, I can't remember'.
Do the hustle
Being too drunk to remember should be part of the offense, not part of the defense.
buffalo
Finally someone talking sense! Concur Strangerland
Blattamexiguus
@strangerland.
got to agree. Heavy drinking causes blackouts. It's not an excuse. Simply a statement of fact.
I don't drink now but when I did I woke one morning with two (painful) broken ribs. No idea what happened.
smithinjapan
Strangerland: "Where did you get the idea he would think this would get him excused?"
Japanese society, where it happens all the time and why it is such an acceptable excuse.
smithinjapan
Strangerland: "What it actually means is they said 'tell us what happened', and he said 'I don't know, I can't remember'."
Now you're putting words in their mouths. Sorry, but people literally use it as an excuse here, not just a statement of fact, and often accompanied with an apology it serves as being "enough" and all can move on. You can see this behavious in any office, and yet, the very next enkai Taro is allowed once again to attend, get blackout drunk, and engage in offensive and sometimes unlawful behaviour. But I guess when even police use this excuse half the time after being caught Breaking the law, you can't blame the rest of society for trying the, "Come on, man... you know how it is, right?"
He won't be charged for anything, and if the woman tried, she would be chased off like a pariah.
Jonathan Prin
Although disgusting, spitting is a very mere offense, very far from a crime. We are not "aliens" (from the movie).
He had to be arrested for being drunk, not the spitting.
Then, being fired is irrelevant while out of duty. Some people are full of hatred...to wish others to lose everything because of a spit.
jcapan
Go spit on the 10 men nearest you and call us after Dr. Frankenstein has reassembled you into a functioning human being.
Andrew Crisp
What the heck is going on with Japanese guys when a 32 yr can grab hold and detain a guy of similar age so easily - I agree the "crime" isn't in good standing.
Jonathan Prin
Don't ask me to say spitting on somebody is not a bad move.
At the same time, I won't feel that much offended since spitting are for the weaks (I don't live in Yakuza world). As said, it is disgusting.
About drinking, everyone knows it's a law self defense position to tell you can't remember a thing in Japan.
Sure many witnesses to help the lady who had to undergo such pitiful incident.
Strangerland
You say it’s an excuse, but yet never can provide any examples of anyone being excused of their crimes for being drunk.
Whatever made you think it’s acceptable? Whatever made you think anyone ever gets excused from their crimes for being drunk?
Strangerland
No, it does not work like that. Whatever gave you that silly idea?
Chip Star
Smith answered this when he described his experiences.
Bugle Boy of Company B
I read this article with a junior high student of mine and he asked incredulously, "Spitting is a crime!?"
I explained that it is one kind of assault, and we started discussing what the appropriate punishment would be.
I would guess no more than a fine of 10-30,000 yen. And I would hope that it goes to the victim and not the police.
Strangerland
Um, no he didn't.
Anecdotes are simply that. Not any kind of evidence.
Chip Star
Agreed, as you well know my penchant for reminding guitars of that point. That said, I was pointing out in Smith's words where he thought he had answered that question.
Next time I'll be far clearer with my writing.
Luddite
Spitting onaperson is assault and can be harmful and is almost always distressing to the victim.