Photo: YOUTUBE
crime

Group investigated for placing bed in center of Shibuya scramble crossing

28 Comments

Police are investigating a group of men who took part in a prank at Shibuya’s busy scramble crossing and then posted a video of it on YouTube and Twitter.

The video, which was posted on March 28 on the Twitter account of @joeANDdream, who is said to have a huge following on both Twitter and YouTube, shows him lying on a bed as it is carried by four men who deposit him in the middle of the scramble crossing as soon as the traffic lights turn red.

Pedestrians can be seen taking photos and filming him. Just before the traffic lights turn green, the four pick up the bed and run off the crossing, dropping it in the process.

Police said the five face a charge of violating the Road Traffic Law.

During peak hours of the day, about 3,000 people move through the scramble crossing when the walk signal turns green, police estimate.

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28 Comments
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The green crossing light was on so no danger to anyone. Japan needs to lighten up.

11 ( +19 / -8 )

Don't give these types of vlogging douchebags a stage.

8 ( +16 / -8 )

Could have at least used a futon.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

But this is a prank, just a prank. By definition a good prank is audacious. Just tell them not to do it again because of the potential disturbance and let then go without further consequence. What's wrong with this country?

10 ( +17 / -7 )

They didn't obstruct traffic, so Road Traffic Law was not violated. Or was it? I forgot, this is Japan...

13 ( +15 / -2 )

Is it October 31st already?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I wonder how many drivers who jump the red lights at that intersection the police arrest? At a guess I would say none at all.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

one of the very few good japanese youtubers. should watch when he tries to mess with a real drug dealer, guess its in one of his most viewed vids

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Lighten up Japan, you've got more to worry about than this

13 ( +14 / -1 )

Japan clearly has No sense of humor.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Its not about lightening up. Its funny when one group of kid do this but if everyone starts pulling crap like this, its a accident waiting to happen.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

Police said the five face a charge of violating the Road Traffic Law.

How so? They placed the bed in the crossing during the time the light was red for vehicles, and removed it just before it turned green. Was funny when they dropped it, but they got it off the street before vehicles started coming, so they didn't obstruct traffic.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

They didn't obstruct traffic, so Road Traffic Law was not violated. Or was it? I forgot, this is Japan...

they will try to prosecute the group on grounds of "damage of public property" when they drop the bed and scratch the asphalt (3:45), the japanese "justice" is a joke

8 ( +8 / -0 )

This is typical of the police here. Nobody was bothered by it, most witnesses seemed to enjoy, no traffic was blocked. Obviously that warrants a police investigation. Better than going after real criminals, after all.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

This is not ‘reiwa’! One must do as that are told so they don't affect the ‘wa’. “The nail that stands up must be hammered down!”

11 ( +11 / -0 )

More bedlam in Shibuya.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Its funny when one group of kid do this but if everyone starts pulling crap like this, its a accident waiting to happen.

okay mom

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Arrest them.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Hilarious! Harmless! Crazy! Creative! Fun!

"Bedlam in Shibuya" indeed, serendipitous 1. Thanks for that.

My question: How can the police arrest them while keeping a straight face? Hssss. Very, very difficult, ne?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Youtube 'influencers' will do anything for youtube ad money and views..

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This was actually pretty darn funny. At least some Japanese people have a sense of humor and the balls to make a video out of it, and it's of course the kansaijin. Good on them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

so Road Traffic Law was not violated. Or was it? I forgot, this is Japan...

This is the crux of the issue: is the Road Traffic Law to be narrowly or broadly interpreted?

In liberal democracies (cf Locke, Montesque, Jefferson, et al) , ideally and often in practice, the People have rights, and the the law provides limits on the government's ability to curtail free action. As opposed to the ancient autocratic norm where the organic social collective rules, the law promotes social order, everything is proscribed and individual freedom of action is permitted only when specifically granted. IOW, no individual liberty.

Since Meiji, Japan has wrestled integrating liberal ideas and practices into its illiberal, hierarchical and 'beautifully harmonious' traditions.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

That intersection is not for prank. It's for vehicles and people to cross the road. Therefore, it's violence for some people and by law.

Prank it with no obstruction, no vioence, no breaking law, then u can laugh as much as u want, nobody cares. But this is totally wrong and stupid on many levels.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'm glad the Japanese police weren't around when I went to a college, particularly during frosh week.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Just what Japan needs-more places to

take a rest!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Very interesting, but also stupid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

At last, Japanese Youth breaking the mold !

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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