Knife-wielding man arrested after barging into koban, demanding money

Sounds like he wanted to get arrested, so he could have a place to sleep and something to eat.

I bet he must have picked that Koban in particular for maximum exposure....

Whenever I find myself short of cash, I always head over to the nearest police box...

 arrested a 63-year-old man

Now he get treatment that most 60-year-old need to struggle using their small pension money, he will get food, place to sleep and people to talk to.

Somehow, deep inside myself I have nothing but pity on this society.

He should have been shot in site, this is why police in Japan need to be trained to use their guns more

A sign of the times in Japan. Things are getting very tough with people’s finances thanks to Abenomics and many of them cannot cope and flip out. The crazy thing is, if this butter had walked into the koban and politely asked for ¥1,000 to buy food, he probably would have got it. Japan does have a vagrancy law in if you have less than ¥100 on you, you can be locked up - and given a meal.

Well, obviously the old boy wasn't thinking right. At first when I saw the article, I thought it was funny, but it's not. It's sad. I hope the old boy gets some help. He's probably a decent bloke.

Obviously he was a man with problems. The officers at the koban will get him the "help" he needs. And they didn't have to shoot him.

Very sad that an old person had to resort to this. Very bad reflection on a society that doesn’t take care of the elderly

He should have been shot in site, this is why police in Japan need to be trained to use their guns more

You're not in Kansas anymore Vince. Well trained police don't need to shoot a guy that has thrown his knife away.

Be looked after in Prison, rather than being homeless and destitute upon the Streets.....

That is the way things are here in Japan.

He should have been shot in site, this is why police in Japan need to be trained to use their guns more

I take it you were joking, but I'm not entirely sure.

For whatever reason he wanted to be attested. A harmless old man.

You spend your golden young time to work, earn money, pay tax, insurance, pension and finally you became burden of your country. Govt. must think about it.

Social security is not a privilege, deserved by citizen.

Most robbers choose banks or high end shops and are usually armed with sawn offs as opposed to fruit knives. He was desperate to get arrested.

Police said Akama repeatedly yelled: “Give me money” after he entered the koban. After police ordered him to throw down the knife, Akama tossed it out onto the street and was then subdued.

Well that was anti-climactic!

Akama : "Give me money! Give me money! Give me money!"

Police : "Throw down your knife!"

Akama : "Ok"