The Japanese justice system is famous for its high rate of confessions. Accused thieves and conmen regularly reply with “There is no mistake that I did those things” when presented with a list of the charges being levied against them.
But on Jan 10, Suguru Takahashi had to assert that he did not perpetrate one of his alleged offenses. The 22-year-old college student was being accused of robbing a taxi driver in the city of Masuda, Shimane Prefecture, back in October. Prosecutors said that Takahashi, who was in town attending a driver’s license school, robbed the driver of 30,000 yen in cash, telling him “Give me 30,000 yen!”
That’s not how things went down, though, Takahashi insisted on the first day of his trial. Sure, he took the taxi driver’s cash, but he wants the world to know that he most definitely did not tell him “Give me the money.” Instead, he claims he said “Can I have you give me money? I’d be OK with 30,000 yen.”
For you linguists, prosecutors quoted Takahashi as saving dase, the rough command form of dasu (give), while he says his choice of words was the much more polished and polite dashite moraemasen ka?
It’s an odd point to contend. It seems like it could be an attempt on Takahashi’s part to frame the incident as him humbly asking for financial aid that the driver then agreed to provide, instead of him trying to threaten or intimidate the driver. If that really were the case, though, it seems like charges wouldn’t have been pressed. Also, during the trial Takahashi reportedly admitted to “robbing” the driver, further negating the chance of playing the whole thing off as a misunderstanding, so maybe he really is just that particular about good manners or averse to being misquoted.
Prosecutors claim Takahashi used the money for transportation and visiting adult entertainment providers such as hostess bars.
Japanese Twitter commenters have had the following to say:
“So misquoting people is where he draws the line in his personal code of conduct?”
“If you robbed somebody, what you were saying at the time doesn’t really matter.”
“Ditz. What’s the point of splitting hairs like that?”
“He seems hopelessly dumb for a university student.”
“Getting hung up on his exact words like that seems childish.”
“I think he knows that correcting how he’s quoted isn’t going to lighten his sentence any, but I’m also the kind of person who can’t let little stuff like that go, so I can kind of relate.”
So remember, there are some things it’s just always going to be impolite to do, no matter how courteously you speak.
Sources: FNN Prime Online via Yahoo! Japan News via Hachima Kiko, Twitter
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© SoraNews24
20 Comments
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Hercolobus
Rude or not, robbing is serious crime.
diagonalslip
didn't use impolite language? oh, that's okay then! my LOL moment for the day.... thanx.
Disillusioned
"I formally request you give me ¥30,000 kind sir." Does he really believe his crime is lessened because he used polite Japanese? This pathetic excuse should increase his penalty for lying.
fish10
Was JT hard up for Japanese pictures? When is the last time you saw a Hyundai taxi anywhere in this country? Pic is from SE Asia somewhere that they also drive on the left... Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.
3RENSHO
"...robbed the diver of 30,000 yen in cash..."
What diver?
Moderator: Sorry for the typo. It should should be driver.
Spidey
Indeed. I also spotted that.
S
Yubaru
Hyundai Japan imported their EV's last year and MK Taxi Japan is evidently using them in Kyoto/Osaka.
kyushubill
I am not always robbed, but when I am I prefer to be told, "Stand and deliver."
japancat
The bad news is.....I'm going to rob you !.....The good news is I'm going to be super polite about it !
purple_depressed_bacon
The man clearly cheated his way into uni if he thought "politely" robbing someone who get him off the hook. SMDH.
purple_depressed_bacon
Would*
geronimo2006
Taxis will install cameras with microphones next.
Wellington
Hilarious !
This reminds me of a scene from an awesome 2003 Aussie movie, "Gettin' Square" with Sam Worthington and David Wenham.
One of the inmates tells the parole board that he has learned a lot in prison. If he is released he realizes now he must be polite with his next victims and arrive at the crime scene in a timely manner.
The boss of the parole board thanks the convict, turns and asks her colleagues, "Who is running our Recidivism Program now ?
Rodney
Give the guy some respect. Being robbed is very stressful.
shogun36
Moron.
I guarantee He is one of those "college students" that couldn't get in on his own merits. His parents had to pay for him to go to a third rate school.
Well, rule number one, don't commit robbery inside of a vehicle. Looks like he already failed.
How long did he actually think 30,000 yen would last on a night of taxi hopping and drinkie bar touring? He would have been lucky if he could even make it home without losing his shirt.
Certainly not the sharpest spoon in the drawer.
Kumagaijin
Yes, and no mask or plexiglass. Must have been pre-Covid.
Sheikh Yerboaby
Excuse me old bean, but would mind terribly if you placed...oh I don't know...￥30,000?? In my hand? Splendid!! There's a good chap. Toodleloo now!