Kickboxing gym operator arrested over fatal hit-and-run

If true 'drinking and over the limit'. I think he deserves life in prison for manslaughter and a real good kicking for being a totally inconsiderate person, which led to the death of an innocent young man.

And so finally we get the real facts to put all of those stupid assumptions to bed. It appears that this guy was drunk and hit the motorcyclist and drove away. The deceased did not break any traffic laws and there is nothing to suggest that he was not wearing the correct safety equipment.

Well said northlondon.

Police believe he may have been over the legal drinking limit when the incident took place. An acquaintance in the car with Shibaizuma at the time of the collision told police, “We were drinking together nearby just before the crash.” This drunken idiot killed someone with his car, then tried to escape, what a bastard. I wish he could get the death penalty for this.

The deceased did not break any traffic laws

northlondon - how do you know this ? Did you witness this incident or is this just your assumption?

how do you know this ? Did you witness this incident or is this just your assumption?

Yesterday we had posters making up all kinds of stories about the deceased. And this morning, despite the arrest of a hit and run driver who had been out drinking, you still want to carry on with these childish stories.

Moderator: All readers, please stop sniping at each other. Focus your comments on the topic and not at each other.

I bet the rider did not have a helmet on.

Wow, two people in the car and both of them didn't have the brains to get out and check?! Morons! I hope they drop the hammer on both of them.

The car was broadsided, (big dent in the driver's door) so it looks like the 'minibike' hit the car and not the other way round. We still do not know the details, but if the car was in the wrong it must have run a red light.

Maybe the motorcyclist ran the red light and the drunk took off coz he was drunk, how can any one make the assumption the bike rider was blameless??

Maybe the motorcyclist ran the red light and the drunk took off coz he was drunk, how can any one make the assumption the bike rider was blameless??

Then how do we know that the kickboxing gym owner didn't smash-up the side of his car to make it look as though it was the motorcyclists fault ? This guy has already broken the law twice by drink driving and leaving the scene of an accident so there is a good chance he is trying to divert evidence as well.

northlondon you sure are speculating alot there, try looking at reality for a change

Then how do we know that the kickboxing gym owner didn't smash-up the side of his car to make it look as though it was the motorcyclists fault ? This guy has already broken the law twice by drink driving and leaving the scene of an accident so there is a good chance he is trying to divert evidence as well.

@northlondon, you seem to be adding more conspiracies than others (including myself) posted yesterday. Using simple physics assumptions by looking at the picture, if the driver would have overtaken him, then the damage would have been on the front fender. He could have overtaken him, and tried to avoid hitting something on his left, causing him to impact into the driver, but looking at that dent, they both would have had to been going at a pretty high speed.

Either the driver of the car ran a red light, or the motorcyclist tried to run one and hit into the driver.

What is not being said, is that the passenger is also liable, and he just threw himself and the driver "under the bus" with his comments.

You know, looking at the damage to his car, if it had been my car I would definitely get out to check. I mean, the driver's door is nearly hanging on by a hinge. Even drunk I would've thought, what the ...? And checked. Unless I was just drunk enough to know I was in serious trouble. Now, of course, he's in more serious trouble.

asahi man/ Alphaape, do I seriously have to spell it out for you ? It's called irony. If the rest of us have to read your fairytale stories then I thought I could try my hand at it as well. Can't believe you don't understand irony when it so blatantly smacks you in the face.

northlondon you sure are speculating alot there, try looking at reality for a change

Kind of rich coming from the posts that you have been producing over the last day or two.

Got some issues there lad have ya?

Good lord dude, take a hint, everyone thinks you are a tool.

Looking at the photo of the car it could also be possible that it was parked and the driver opened the door into the path of the bike, seen this happen often too, people dont check there mirrors before opening their door.

Since this story broke yesterday, we have had pretty clear facts from the police regarding the tragic death of a young man killed by a hit and run driver. Nothing from the police to suggest that the deceased was breaking any road laws or not wearing the correct safety clothing. We then get more news today that it was indeed a hit and run car driver who had been drink-driving and who hit the motorcyclist on a crossing and then escaped from the scene. Nothing at all in the news about the motorcyclist losing control of his bike or running red lights. And yet, ever since yesterday I have had to read disrespectful made-up stories about the deceased. About his poor riding. About him not wearing the correct helmet. About him speeding or running red lights. And all of this from internet posters on a chat site and none of it from the police investigators. So, why do I have to read such trash when a 28 year old man is now dead ? Do you think the victims family want this rubbish printed ?

Can someone at JT tell me why this man's occupation is relevant to this story?

Moderator: Because it sounds better than just saying "man" in a headline.

northlondon you dont have to read it you can click off this story anytime you like, it is a forum for people to voice their thoughts comments etc if you can not deal with it then it's entirely up to you to continue reading or not.

I hope both people hang for this one. Under Japanese law, doesn't the drinking place owner / server get arrested too?

Japan is way too lax on drinking alcohol. This kickboxing gym operator sounds like an idiot, but too bad that the place were he was served the alcohol can not be legally attacked, as far as I know, only the guy drinking has responsibility not the drinking establishment. Just remember how Beat Takeshi almost died in his own traffic accident after having way too much to drink and the bar owner that served him all that alcohol, just fine right?

Elbundamexicano, not any more. Both the person riding with the drunk driver and the establishment serving alcohol can be held responsible.

northlondon, speculation is not disrespect. And frankly, I think the living are entitled to just as much respect as the dead.

So anyway, if someone is driving completely straight, driving the speed limit, obeying all traffic signs and signals, but is broad-sided by a motorcycle, its the motorcyclists fault unless the driver has been drinking? Uhhh, not in my mind, sorry. The driver is responsible for DUI, yes, but it does not make him any more responsible than if he were picking his nose frankly. Its not like that finger could have instead hit the Speed Racer jump button on the steering wheel and avoided the accident.

I don't know who is at fault, but the fact that the motorcycle hit the car...obviously...means the odds are strong that the motorcyclist was the one at fault. Still a chance the driver ran a red light and is at fault, but its less likely. Sorry, I know some of you want to think drank = blind drunk and DUI means automatic fault, but that is just not the way the universe works Einsteins. Japan might think it does, but it doesn't.

And you know what no skid marks tells us? Not much. Skid marks would tell us he saw it coming. No skid marks could mean several things. I won't even play the odds on that one.

The fact that "hit and run" is used here, does not mean the accident was caused by the car driver. It could be that the car "was hit" by the bike, but he chose to run due to being drunk. Whatever the truth is, drink driving is a crime, as is leaving the scene of an accident and negligence for leaving the biker. Car driver is in the crap, biker is dead.

Hmm, "Hit and run" means last time I checked that faulty party HIT someone and RAN away.

Unless they changed the legal definition since I took my licence.

Biker will lose most of of the times unless it is a true biker that wears proper protective gear and knows how to fall, etc.

Road rash is NOT fun, yet many people insist on riding a bike in shorts and T-shirt, etc and that includes super-bikes. BTW, jeans don't offer protection but cause severe burns when coming off.

@Zenny

Hmm, "Hit and run" means last time I checked that faulty party HIT someone and RAN away.

Exactly. Until the full facts are known, the car driver is guilty of leaving the scene and negligence. DUI can possibly be back calculated (depending on time lapsed). Whose fault it was needs investigation. Although, this is Japan, lock the driver up until he confesses all, job done.

Someone who has been out drinking and driving and who escapes from the scene of a fatal road accident is guilty of the crime. Forget all your ridiculous little scenarios. If you go out drinking and driving, hit someone in an accident and drive off, then you are TOTALLY guilty of whatever happened. And that is exactly why educated nations have drink-driving laws. Although I get the impression that I am banging my head against some thick brick wall here.

Not sure what happened. Alcohol aside from the pic it looks like the car jumped a red light and got t-boned.

Speculating here. Don't know what bike was involved(matters a LOT).

Perfect scenario for t-boning a car is that the biker gets thrown over the roof of the car and lands clean(good gear will protect).

Bad scenario is a a super/racing bike where the biker will bassically dive into the car.

Again many factors involved like Bike type, speed and protective gear.

Said I have seen an accident where a bike t-boned a car and the bike cut off the car drivers legs while on the way through from the passenger side.

Zenny11... The J media is calling it a 'minibike'.

Japan is way too lax on drinking alcohol.

No! Japan has very good laws in place for drinking and driving. The problem is, the cops do next to bugger all about it. I had a cop pull me over in an RBT a few years ago during Golden Week campaign and he stuck his head in my window and ordered me to breathe into his face. WTF! I had a hard time not laughing in his face! - Everyone knows the J-flops have a regular routine of RBTs and they are always set in the same place and very irregularly. Drink driving is way too common in Japan because the people know there is a very slight chance of being caught. - Also, just because this goose was drinking doesn't mean the motorcycle rider is not guilty of being an idiot. At 2am you can bet he was speeding, as 99% of motorcyclists do. And, there is also a high probability he was running a red light, as 99% of motorcyclists do in Japan.

"Bad scenario is a a super/racing bike where the biker will bassically dive into the car."

This is pure speculation, and is worthless.

Even if you go back and read the J Nikkei and Sankei articles, the situation is not clear. In the Sankei it says: 男性の数メートル先には前部分が破損したバイクが倒れており、車道を走行中に車両とぶつかったとみられ、警視庁竹の塚署はひき逃げ事件とみて捜査している。同署によると、男性は同区一ツ家の会社員、木村進さん（２８）。現場は片側１車線の見通しのよい交差点。 As he was travelling along the road, he collided with a a car. The Police are calling it a hit-and-run, but perhaps 'failing to help an injured person, leaving the scene of an accident, and suspicion of drink driving' are the actual charges.

The Nikkei says: 同区竹の塚２の交差点を直進してきたミニバイクをはねたのに逃走

Taking off after hitting (batting, sideswiping?)a minibike (rider) which was was going straight through the crossroads.

3rensho.

Read the whole post. I was SPECULATING. There was extra info in the article and it LOOKS like he was thrown over the car from the pic.

My guess is that he either incured a neck injury during landing or had a cheap helmer(all too common).

In 27yrs of biking(daily for commutes) I have seen many accidents and also lost some good friends(2 in front of me).

What I wrote was accurate as I have seen it many times and is common knowledge.

Actually the Sankei article above says he was found in the middle of the crossroads and his bike, with the front section crushed, was found several meters beyond him.

As speculation seems to be the in thing - I think the biker was wearing shorts, t-shirt, wasn't wearing a helmet and was going way to fast - perhaps he was drunk? I absolutely do think the driver was most probably drunk, either messaging on his phone or changing a CD - either way he probably didn't see what hit his vehicle.

Drivers in this country need to be more careful.

Zenny11 wrote "Hmm, "Hit and run" means last time I checked that faulty party HIT someone and RAN away."

Well then, what to you call it when someone gets hit and runs because they know they will be blamed for drinking? A "get hit and run"? Never heard of it. "Hit and run", like many terms that define a multitude of situations, cannot be read literally and strictly. Its not a precise term. The fact that it was used tells us nothing about who is at fault or who hit whom.

Well then, what to you call it when someone gets hit and runs because they know they will be blamed for drinking? A "get hit and run"? Never heard of it. "Hit and run", like many terms that define a multitude of situations, cannot be read literally and strictly. Its not a precise term. The fact that it was used tells us nothing about who is at fault or who hit whom.

Thats what I was getting at earlier. Firstly, drinking and driving is bad, don't think for one minute I think otherwise. If a car is parked at a junction and not moving (driver drunk), suddenly someone drives into the back of him, what do you think would happen? Drunk driver, although his condition didn't actually CAUSE an accident, would quite possibly disappear. That would be "being hit and run". Of course the verdict of the lynch mob is already out. For the record I drive a car and ride bikes, I see the worst of both when I drive.

I completely agree with Northlondon on this one. It's a shame that so many people out there try to mitigate the actions of a criminal just because they don't think drinking and driving is a big deal. The law is very clear in Japan.

Here is a suggestion for those who worry about being blamed for an accident just because they were drunk behind the wheel even when the accident wasn't caused by them. Don't break the law, don't use poor judgement and don't put yourself into that kind of situation. Take a taxi, call daiko, walk, stay at a hotel, have a friend pick you up, designate a sober driver before drinking or anything else you can think of... it's not as if there aren't options. If you drink and drive and anything happens, whether it's your fault or not, you can't play the victim if you've already broken the law.

"It's a shame that so many people out there try to mitigate the actions of a criminal just because they don't think drinking and driving is a big deal."

Interesting that you accuse people of mitigating for that reason, then go on to admit that its possible the driver was not at fault. Ever consider we just don't want to blame people who are not at fault? Meanwhile, you want to shoulder them with the blame just because the did something else wrong. Have you ever heard that two wrongs don't make a right?

Basically what you said is the same as blaming a guy who got rear-ended for the solitary reason that his DL expired. Why not blame the person responsible for the accident and keep the DUI and running parts separate? Its not that hard. Its also fair. Do you really want to live in a world where one mistake makes you responsible for the mistakes of others?

The way I see it. Car might have jumped a red light or the bike might have jumped it.

Fact is the driver of the car took off and that is ONE criminal offense, If he was DUI that is ANOTHER unrelated criminal offense.

Biker might have lived if he got quicker needed care, can't say for sure.

@71077345,

Interesting that you accuse people of mitigating for that reason, then go on to admit that its possible the driver was not at fault

I did no such thing. In fact, I said the exact opposite. I have no sympathy AT ALL for someone who gets in an accident while they are drunk driving whether it's their fault or not. If you break the law for something so easily avoidable (i.e. drunk driving) then you suffer the consequences. The argument you are making is that it's ok to drink and drive as long as you don't get in an accident and don't get caught. That is exactly the same reasoning that EVERY drunk driver uses when they get behind the wheel. Of course they never think "Tonight is the night I'm going to crash and kill someone" but the fact that it's an **accident as you like to point out does not mean that it was unavoidable. Every driver in Japan knows that any amount of alcohol is illegal and therefore they are CRIMINALS for driving drunk. You think that just because someone doesn't get caught committing a crime they are not criminals????

BTW, I never said anything about expired DL. Expired DL can happen for a number of reasons including forgetfulness. Drunk driving on the other hand is deliberately breaking the law... it's not as if someone can claim they didn't know it was illegal... The more you argue this point they more it seems you are trying to justify your own illegal activity. Bottom line is DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.