Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
On Aug 22, four youths between the ages of 15 and 17 were apprehended for robbing and injuring a man in the streets of Tokyo. While in custody, one of the teenagers confessed they had taken the man’s money because they “wanted to get some special attack uniforms ["tokkofuku"] and go to an AKB48 handshake meet.”
According to police, on Aug 11, as a 27-year-old male graduate student was leaving a convenience store, he was approached by the four teens. The boys took his mobile phone and the drink he had bought inside the store. They also demanded that he “get out the money.” The man reportedly suffered minor injuries during the confrontation.
According to police, the suspects were hoping to attend an AKB48 handshake event where fans are able to meet the members of the idol group for a very limited time and, well, shake their hands.
Of course, going to such an event, you’d have only a few fleeting moments to catch the eye of these lovely ladies, so dressing right is key. That’s why these youths wanted to get some slick special attack uniforms.
Special attack uniforms are outfits resembling the uniforms of kamikaze forces from World War II. They’re stereotypically enjoyed mainly by Japanese biker gangs and other rambunctious youths.
A special attack uniform consists of a slim-fitting jacket either long or short which is embroidered with various words or phrases constructed phonetically but in unorthodox ways from kanji characters.
Source: Sponichi Annex
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Most Patient Bank Robber Ever Arrested in Fukuoka, Foiled by Courteous Staff -- Think you have a creepy boss? Lotteria has you beat with Manager Sadako! -- Family of 91-year-old dementia sufferer struck by train ordered to pay JR compensation
© RocketNews24
28 Comments
Login to comment
NeonFraction
So a group of guys mugged someone and everyone's focus is on 'OMG I don't like AKB!' Priorities: They are not straight.
LiveInTokyo
Ask anyone who has suffered through this kind of incident. They really are traumatic. The threat of violence, not knowing what is going to happen, will they be killed, will they be harassed by the perpetrators at some later date? A lot goes through the victim's mind. Just to say it's not so bad as no weapon was used is really making light of the whole situation.
Scnadal.Lova
As a akb48 fan I dont believe its tha t important to shake the members hand. I mean its not their gonna remember you.
dbsaiya
Idiots, all just to go see BKA 48. Get a life man...
Cricky
Wearing a Kamakizi type uniform makes an impact! Defiantly making it obvious you are not looking for a long term relationship.
DaveAllTogether
A statement from Akimoto condemning these "fans'" behavior would be nice. I stand a better chance of having a bacon cheeseburger at the Western Wall.
Lowly
alphaape-
1 vs 4 is not good odds even for someone with skills. We and more importantly he, didn't know if there were more than those four just around the corner. They often travel in packs of 10 or 20 or more. He has no idea if they have hidden weapons or will follow him home, etc etc
Ok, so you make your judgement and you figure they are just 4 punks with no real courage beyond the group bond and you successfully take one out. The cops might be on your side when/ if they come, but they might not. You could be arrested. You could be held for several or 20 days. You could be charged. If the kid is injured you could be held responsible for any injuries.
Generally, give them your 2,000 Yen is the best answer for this situation.
Himajin
They wanted to buy outfits with their names embroidered on them, and they go for almost 10man an outfit! Losers.
Alphaape
@ wtfjapan: I guess you are right. I am a larger than normal Black American and I have seen these types try to harass people but when I walk around they sort of scurry by. It really is a shame that in this country, if one does the right thing and tries to defend oneself, you can get blamed. What happened to the samurai code? I guess these punks know this and realize that they can run the streets to a point. Funny though, if they had been foreign, and the guy tried to defend himself, I am pretty sure that he would not face charges.
Mocheake
As one previous poster wrote - get a life! Nothing like waiting in line in some silly costume to be the 600th person to shake hands with one of those girls. The antibacterial solution must cost a fortune.
Dennis Bauer
AKB incites Violence! Ban AKB!
Alphaape
Why should I give up my hard earned yen for some punk? I get it that money isn't to die for, but if this is a college student, and if he had to struggle with money like I had to in school, I really didn't have the extra money to give to some punks who want to buy costumes for some girly group.
I just find it amazing that some have informed me on the laws here, and that there is no inherent right to self defense here in Japan. So I guess they just expect one to "just lay there and take it" and leave it to the authorities to do it, all part of the great circle of things. Japan at times amazes me.
Lowly
ape,
sorry, just can't say it is smart. weapons, friends nearby, possibly/ probably unfriendly cops coming along.
when the deck is stacked you got to call a spade a spade and pay up. it isn't an injustice, it is a 2,000 Y ticket to freedom, health and a longer life.
When put that way, it is a cheap ticket you are buying, no?.
wtf,
it is nice you are big, i am 193/ 90kg, i am not really afraid of a skinny 14yo, most likely I would try scolding him like his mom, or be friendly and laugh and try to get "in" with him, and avoid s/t physical. But 4 skinny 14 yo's is a pack of hyenas w/more friends nearby possibly. Scary.
At the end of the day, knives cut Russians as well as anyone, a pipe to the back of the head will knock out/kill anyone. size is a plus but only a plus, better not to be cocky imo.
Resurfaced
Losers....
albaleo
"Self-defense is not a legal defense like it is in many countries."
Article 36 of the penal code: "An act unavoidably performed to protect the rights of oneself or any other person against imminent and unlawful infringement is not punishable." So it would appear to be a legal defense.
The same law also states: "An act exceeding the limits of self-defense may lead to the punishment being reduced or may exculpate the offender in light of the circumstances."
I'm not sure this is so different from most other countries.
Frungy
... This was a college student, not a martial artist. Also, a wake-up call. The correct response is to step backwards into the combini and ask the cashier to call the cops. Self-defense is not a legal defense like it is in many countries. Self-defense is a plea in mitigation of sentencing. In other words, in most countries you can say, "self-defense" and walk away. In Japan the cops arrest you, question you, and you're charged with assault. If you plead guilty, show remorse and state that it was in self-defense and you had nowhere else to run... then you'll get a slap on the wrist (probably the minimum fine) and it'll all be over quickly. If you act like you had a RIGHT to self-defense then you'll probably piss the cops and judge off and get the same as your attackers.
Francis Urquhart
Good grief!
FightingViking
@Scnadal.Lova
I guess that would depend on whether it's the same kind of "handshake" as given to President Palmer (in "24"...)
wtfjapan
@alphaape the best way is if your in a fight is to get the hell out of there once youve beat the scumbag down, both parties are to blame if the police catch you, being a resonalbly big guy 187cm 112kg and a almost shaved head 3mm. I just give an annoyed look and thats enough to shut up most of those punks. when Im my Russian buddy in Japan 194cm 130kg (man mountain) you walk down the street and everybody stands aside. LOL
Magnus Roe
Do us all a favour and ride your bikes into a phone pole instead. That ought to get someones attention.
Every man dies, not every man really lives!
What next?
Probot2000X
AKB48 for real, for that some mainstream pop trash!!! Serving jail time for that sucks!! Get real!
bass4funk
Sick. Why waste time for a bunch of talentless girls! Get a life study and leave people alone, if you can't afford it and your parents don't give you the cash, oh, well!
CalvinMontblanc
"these lovely ladies"?
Journalism is going to the dogs.
Anyway, someone should have told these dumb punks that they are not allowed to have boyfriends anyway, a crime in itself if you ask me.
Aaron Loki Brummett
Um FYI, some of the AKB48 members are computer generated. So a handshake might have been a little hard to come by in the first place.
Wakarimasen
As good a reason as any for petty crime. Seems they were pretty useless though.
nath
Makes sense. The AKB programming on the TV over the last weekend was fabulous - can see why these 4 would want to meet them in person.
Alphaape
Not saying that violence is always the answer, but reading this article, it states that no weapon was used by the teenagers. Not sure the status of the grad student, but I would have at least attempted to take one of them out. Normally from what I have seen around here, the "toughs" are usually scared when one of them gets taken off and run away. I guess they had this guy marked.
Still a bunch of silly little boys who probably are the ones you see hanging out at Don Quxoite late at night.