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© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Honeymooner pleads guilty to punching flight attendant
By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER HONOLULU©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
54 Comments
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Tessa
What a twit! I hope his wife doesn't stay his wife for much longer.
And by the way, what do his full-body tattoos have to do with anything? I know plenty of people with tattoos, and they are definitely no flight risks.
M3M3M3
Because he might have been a Japanese yakuza gangster who would not show up for trial in light of the fact that full body tattoos are relatively rare in Japan where the defendant is from. Something they weren't able to disprove until the hearing (or in this case the guilty plea).
YongYang
@Tessa, because his tattoos identify him as yakuza, or Japanese gangster. He will not stick around and will be helped to get back home.
WilliB
Sounds like a real catch for his wife... does he behave like that at home too?
Kelvin Ng
'After crew members restrained him in his seat, “Okamoto apologized for his actions by repeatedly saying ‘I’m sorry’ and bowed down on his knees and placed his head on the floor,” the complaint said.' Why he had to disgrace his country after he had disgraced himself already?
M3M3M3
@Reckless
I would generally agree. However the sentence is so severe here because he interfered with the flight crew rather than simply punching another passenger.
You have to imagine if it was the pilot and co-pilot who had come out to speak with him and Okamoto had knocked them both out cold leaving no-one to fly the plane. Remember, the law is punishing culpable actions and not generally the outcomes which may often be fortunate or tragic depending on chance.
justbcuzisay
Assaulting a flight attendant is a felony under FAA law. It is harsh, but anyone flying to the US should be aware that post 9-11 airport and airplanes have strict rules. But the flight attendants should not have continue to serve him either
USNinJapan2
Tessa
Are you being serious? If you really don't know maybe you're not ready to comment on stories on a Japan-related site like this one...
FizzBit
Relax. They always tell the public what he COULD get. That doesn't mean it's final. I'd guess 3 months to 1 year, and that's IF they throw him in jail. There's always the chance they want to make an example of him which could be a lot more though.
Knox Harrington
All the quality hallmarks if a good, standup J-citzen here. Alcoholic "construction"-worker with full body tats. Sound like one of those plentiful small time yaks... Seems like a real catch.
gogogo
Moron, sounds like Yakuza
Mirai Hayashi
His wife really picked a winner. I am sure that she having second thoughts on staying married to this drunken twat
stormcrow
And the village idiot of the month award goes to . . .
shallots
@Kelvin Ng What country is disgraced?
Graham DeShazo
From a construction company in Osaka. Full-body tattoos. Previous assault conviction. Three things that scream Yak.
wowyz
"assaulted a flight attendant while flying from Japan to Honolulu, federal prosecutors said."
"Okamoto didn’t disclose a previous conviction in Japan for assaulting a police officer. "
"Okamoto struck the flight attendant in his arms, which were raised to protect his head, the complaint said."
whoa..that could add up to some serious jail time..and substantial fines
was he so drunk that he forgot he was in the U.S.
These days TSA dont play...regardless of what country you're from,
He better hope yak inc, can cover his legal fees, and bonds ...he's screwed...
kimuzukashiiiii
knox .... "All the quality hallmarks if a good, standup J-citzen here. Alcoholic "construction"-worker with full body tats. Sound like one of those plentiful small time yaks... Seems like a real catch."
I happen to believe that this guy was a drunken idiot, who had too much to drink and made a stupid mistake. PUnching a flight attendant is never okay.
But on the other side of this - all of the tattooed construction workers I know (many, by the way) are excellent citizens, husbands and fathers. More so than their "suited" counterparts. One of the biggest surprises I have ever had was when a very shy, slightly otaku, male coworker rolled up his sleeves at the office revealing a tattoo sleeve, which he then begged, BEGGED me to not tell the company about. (Of course I didnt!)
You wouldnt call all salarymen names if one of them did something similar on the plane - so lets leave off the negative stereotypes.
nath
If he did that in South Carolina or Virginia's , jurisdiction he'd be lucky to see daylight...they dont make them any dumber that....poor wife?
lucabrasi
Gotta love that US justice systems Only twenty years, potentially, for hitting someone's arms
Why not 200000 years to life?
mataka
Yet another loser interfering with good folks who go about their daily life. It's a shame that society is blighted by these scum. 20 years is perhaps a bit long as a sentence. I feel about 19 years and 11 months would be more appropriate. But only on condition that his "business associates" (Yamaguchi-gumi in this case) are made to foot the bill.
Horenzo
"He said the incident happened “like a flash,” according to the court document, and that he doesn’t remember what exactly happened" why does this excuse sound familiar?
"Okamoto got upset when one of the flight attendants wouldn’t take his meal tray away" "Okamoto later apologized while crying".....SMH
"Delta banned Okamoto from flying on the airline" more like a lifetime Delta ban. Liss those frequent flyer and mileage perks goodbye LMAO
Serrano
"According to a criminal complaint, Okamoto was flying first-class from Osaka for his honeymoon last month ( May )... he married on April 20, 2014,”
This is the problem with Japanese honeymoons - the vast majority never start on the wedding day like they should, instead they are delayed, sometimes for several months.
"Okamoto got upset when one of the flight attendants wouldn’t take his meal tray away, the court document said. The flight attendant told him his hands were full."... The Delta Air Lines flight crew told authorities that Okamoto later apologized while crying, remained calm for the remainder of the flight and eventually fell asleep."
See, this is the problem with Delta flight attendants, any Japanese airline flight attendant would have told him "I'll be right back to take your tray, sir," with a nice smile, lol.
slumdog
He was able to bow to his knees and place his head on the floor after being restrained to his seat? That is one flexible construction worker.
Something tells me that the wife knew what she was getting before she got on the flight.
Knox Harrington
kimu...,
And I happen to believe that this guy is scum. He does the familiar little re-active Japanese fake apololgy dance, complete with crocodile tears and what have you. He is in construction, and while that might not speak against him, he chose not only to have tats (which is fine) but full-body ones which, in Japan, would peg him as slightly, shall we say... Connected? He acted like an idiot, thinking he could boss, or intimidate American airline staff around like he no doubt has done when flying domestic plus he has previous records for attacking a damn cop. It doesn't take much to realize this guy is not one of the good ones. Put him in jail for a few months and let him feel all cool and mighty with the locals for a while...
StormR
Dumb is as dumb does, nitwit will be crying in prison I now suspect.
nath
airline at fault for giving him alcohol, just like a nightclub !
scoobydoo
Inebriated honeymoon husband, may I suggest self induced romantic frustration due to excessive alcohol consumption. A very serious drinking problem I'd say.
sillygirl
Hope he gets jail time. The airlines don't mess around with this crap anymore.
HowardStern
Chimpira are expendable. On the other hand having a connection in the Honolulu pen could be beneficial. I doubt he gets any support from his "company"
Frungy
... hold on a second, so the flight attendants noticed he was drunk, and continued to GIVE HIM alcohol.
The alcohol he drank before the flight is his fault. Everything right up until he got drunk is his fault. But by continuing to give an obviously drunk man alcohol the flight attendants now share some of the blame.
Hawaii has what in the U.S. are referred to as "Dram shop laws". This means that the airline is partly responsible for the damages and injuries caused by this guy.
I'm not saying he's innocent, just that the airline also acted irresponsibly by offering more alcohol to an obviously drunk individual, and as such should take some of the liability.
Laguna
Right, Frungy; however, life works differently for those in first class (but only to a point, as this gentleman is quickly learning).
Badge213
From Japan to Hawaii, Delta doesn't have "first class" rather it is "Business Elite", Delta flies a two cabin arrangement on most international flights.
Any case, while I do not condone the guy for fighting with flight attendants, they knew he was drunk before but continued to serve him alcohol.
Also, from reading the report, it "does not surprise me" that when he asked the tray to be removed the cabin attendants "hands were busy" . This is Delta, a crummy airline with many pacific airroutes inherited from Northworst airlines. The situation of the tray removal would of never happened for premium customers in Singapore Airlines or any other 5 star airline, which is probably why US airlines only rank as high as 3 stars.
Any case, I don't condone what the guy did, but the airline did continue to serve him drinks.
StormR
Two attitudes at play here, his and the flight crews, but what you do when drunk is your responsibility that's why he is in the honolulu slammer and not the flight crew.
Sure the crew served him more and they will unless you exude some bad attitude or other exchange, maybe something happened and the crew were short on this guy which in turn he took exception when they didn't take his tray and left him sitting with it, then the situation escalated and he over reacted. I am in now way defending him or the crew, i just know how things can happen and end upside down.
No one else ever got drunk on a long haul flight?
Elbuda Mexicano
Tessa, I guess you have NEVER been to Japan or just have no idea about Japan and Japanese people. If a Japanese man or woman has FULL BODY tattoos we are talking about the YAKUZA! The Japanese MAFIA, oh and this scum bag from KYOTO?? If you do not know, KYOTO is one of the worst places in all of Japan with YAKUZA, Japanese mafia. I hope they throw the book at this idiot fool Okamoto and that he does spend a few years behind bars in a US JAIL, to teach that idiot fool and others not to behave in airplanes as if they were in their local, crappy izakayas back in Osaka, etc...
avigator
Very unfortunate. I hope he truly repents for his actions and will see the light. "Alcohol is a ridiculer".
slumdog
Sure have. However, I have never ever felt the need to punch a flight attendant. Drunk or not, it's his own fault.
NathalieB
Youre not in Kansaskawa anymore Okamamoto - youre in a place where there are actually consequences for your actions. Cry and stick your head on the floor all you like - it doesnt wash outside Japan. Time to grow up.
Disillusioned
What a complete and utter moron! He probably got away with being an idiot at his local izakaya, but things are different in the real world. I reckon the judge will end up giving him a 3-5 to let him grow up and hopefully he will realize the real world is not the same as his his local momma and papa izakaya. I feel sorry for his bride though. I hope she now realizes what a Richard head she married.
wowyz
"What a complete and utter moron! He probably got away with being an idiot at his local izakaya, but things are different in the real world"
He probably got away with being an idiot in other places too. (stinking thinking)
thanks Disillusioned, blind denial is a disease...
Wolfpack
I never could understand why people who get mean and angry when they drink will continue to drink knowing the effect it has on them.
I do not think he deserves 20 years in jail given that he did not really hurt anyone. But since he was being belligerent on a airplane he was diverting the crews attention from their job watching out for all passengers safety so he deserves more than just a slap on the wrist (or arm).
DaDude
Pretty sure she knew what she was getting herself into being arrested for assaulting a police officer before and having a body full of tattoos.
toshiko
‘I’m sorry’ and bowed down on his knees and placed his head on the floor,” the complaint said.
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He apologized the same way of prelude before yubitsume ritual. All body tattoos. tattoo parler artists do when they have sponsors called to perform. (Japan). USA? I don't think USA tattoo artists are experienced on Kurikara Mon Mon Japanese tattoo arts. He probably had boozes in his luggages. It is not ordinal Japanese people's apology to place head on the floor. Usually Suminasen deshita with a little bit bow.
king+and+slave
In Japan, that apology would've worked. But not in the States. Okamoto's about to find out just how hard life can be when he finds himself getting raped in an American prison.
toshiko
@king+and+slaveJUN. 15, 2014 - 06:19AM JST In Japan, that apology would've worked. But not in the States. Okamoto's about to find out just how hard life can be when he finds himself getting raped in an American prison.
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No. he apologized with yakuza's custom. Japanese people get scared of him. Either before little finger chopping off ceremony time or showing to intimidate yakuzas behave like that. Beside that, he showed his full body tattoo. Typical yakuza.
Horenzo
I hope JT will keep us updated with the outcome of this JN yak case.
kaimycahl
From a construction company in Osaka. Full-body tattoos. Previous assault conviction. Three things that scream Yak.
No!!!! From Kyoto Full-body tattoos. Construction. Previous assault conviction. Three things that scream Yak
He should rename himself "Bud Weiser"
kurisupisu
Please take my meal tray.....
Problem solved!
MyJT2014
This shown you that money cannot buy you class.
I'm A Monkey
Horenzo, I agree.
JT, please come through with the September 22 outcome.
Aaron Loki Brummett
This is so sad. He said he was sorry! 20 years for this is ludicrous. Let the flight attendant punch him back for about ten minutes and call it even.
Better yet, how about making him a into flight attendant. Make him deal with other rude people who choose to fly.
Wolfpack
The stewardesses themselves on most American carriers are very often rude to the point where one half expects them to take a swing at you. Still this chap got himself overly worked up by his perceived poor service. For a guy on his honeymoon it doesn't seem like his mind was directed towards his wife's happiness.
Fadamor
@Reckless,
@lucabrisi,
You do not interfere with the duties of the flight crew. EVER. Even MORE importantly, you do not threaten or assault the flight crew. EVER. Once he did that, he fell under anti-terrorist laws and your pitiful attempt to make this about "hitting someone's arms" fall laughingly into the dirt. Do I think he'll GET 20 years? Extremely unlikely unless they discover more things he didn't bother revealing.
JTDanMan
Construction business and tattoos. She knows who she is to marry.
I lived in Kobe for over eight years. You meet a lot of people when you live somewhere for a long time. Trust me: she is just as awful as he.