Knife-wielding man arrested on shinkansen heading to Tokyo

I guess it won't be long before we will have airport like security checks at shinkansen stations as well.

That would be sad. I really enjoy the much more relaxing process of boarding a Shinkansen, compared to the zoo that's getting on a plane.

First the guy who set himself on fire and now this douche. I guess it won't be long before we will have airport like security checks at shinkansen stations as well.

He was drunk and can not remember any thing ...

It would be a real shame if people are taking bullet trains for camping trips - and metal detectors are introduced. Hopefully common sense prevails

151 million people ride the Tokaido annually.

Two nutters and everybody wants TSA-like security? That's an overreaction, in my opinion.

Funny about asking somebody what he is doing with weapons...Safety behaviour tells you to take preventive actions(take a blanket ready to throw on), not to trigger the attack in the open. Common sense. Fortunately, brave passengers did the necessary. Houra to them.

Stress relief Japan style.

papigiulio+ everyone else,

I really hope that the Jgov don't use this to implement MORE draconian laws concerning transport security. Sadly, with this happening so close to the Ise Shima summit I fear that may very well be the case.

My advice, start driving everyone. Better that than the hassel of what's to come...

they always seem to go after women don't they... can only pick on those they view as weaker.

Japan, the once 'safe' nation. I blame the economy.

I guess it won't be long before we will have airport like security checks at shinkansen stations as well

Hope not; the bullet trains in China have airport style security and it sucks

@Aly RustomMay.

My advice, start driving everyone.

The roads are bad enough as it is... We don't need any more "paper drivers" trying out their luck... The Shinkansen is MUCH quicker than driving too ! If you're in a hurry - take the train !

@papigiulio You said it first. Coming out of the woodwork they are.

I thought the focus would be assault with a deadly weapon, not just a violation of the Weapons Control Law, which just outlaws the possession of such weapons.

"Passengers subdued Nakagawa until the train made an unscheduled stop at Kakegawa Station in Shizuoka Prefecture"

Go get em passengers!

A complete absence of any violent crime whatsoever?

Evidently. One nut with a knife and suddenly Japan's not safe anymore and we need security.

Her injury was 'daboku', being struck, so he must have hit or pushed her.

All too often, such a madscum appears anywhere conveniently just when we are worrying about the threat of terrorism. And my anger comes out together against gov doing nothing!! As everyone said, It's about time to reconsider the security systems of the Shinkansen!!

@ChrisGlen

"Hopefully common sense prevails"

Arghhh mate thanks, i needed a laugh.

Two nutters and everybody wants TSA-like security? That's an overreaction, in my opinion.

I certainly don't want it, but I see added security as an inevitability.

What sort of individual does this? Either the guy is mentally deranged or there is a more sinister motive?

And statistically, there is a higher likelihoodd of being the victim of a crime carried out by a Japanese than a non Japanese here in Japan.

Even the 'crime' of failing to renew a visa on time still doesn't skew the stats enough to make the foreigner appear a bigger risk ......

Moderator: Please repost without the reference to foreigners, which is irrelevant to this discussion.

My advice, start driving everyone. Better that than the hassel of what's to come...

After you provide proof that you drove in your home country for 3 months then take a test that takes 5-10 times or more to pass.

igloobuyerMAY. 17, 2016 - 02:15PM JST Japan, the once 'safe' nation. I blame the economy.

Another way to think of it- Japan remains such a safe nation that after a violent altercation with an armed passenger on a mass transport vehicle the death toll reached zero people.

As everyone said, It's about time to reconsider the security systems of the Shinkansen!!

Not anything close to everyone said it. At my count there are 7 comments in this thread talking directly about Shinkansen security, and not a single one unambiguously supports reconsidering it. Most fit the pattern of posters being reluctantly resigned to the likelihood that a reconsideration of the security systems will happen, making the Shinkansen experience worse.

No nation is "safe". Japan may be relatively "safer" than most other nations

What would you define as safe then? A complete absence of any violent crime whatsoever? Where is the threshold? a

He wounded a woman and "was arrested by police on a charge of violating the Weapons Control Law"? Think attempted murder should be added as well.

Back on topic please.

"passengers on the train notified staff and the police that there was a man in the seventh car, carrying knives."

At that point I'll bet he had the entire car to himself.

It still is.

No nation is "safe". Japan may be relatively "safer" than most other nations, but I'm starting to wonder if that's only because a lot of the crime goes unreported.

@papigiulio I said the same thing back when the nutter set himself on fire. It's a necessary inconvenience passengers will have to endure.

Japan, the once 'safe' nation.

It still is.

Maybe he just wanted to cut his travel time......

shinkansen in Japan is much more expensive and "luxury" than domestic flight fare, BUT the security is worse than a hypermarket!

Next time, fill him full of lead. That will keep copycat wackos at bay.