Last Aum fugitive Takahashi arrested in Tokyo

Yes - it is ridiculous that it took 17 years to nab these terrorists - but Japan will be safer with these mob behind bars and likely swinging from a rope.

YEAH!!

Finally.

Looks like the guy ran out of options. Check mate.

I'm glad he was apprehended. It was the employee of the ("マンガ喫茶" ) comic book cafe that tipped police.

Ladies and gentlemen...we got him!

His arrest was only matter of time. All TV news almost everyday shows many recent photos on how he looks like now. He alone can't keep running ever.

There were a couple of naysayers in the other thread who said this wouldn't happen.

will the comic book employee get the sen man en reward?

Oh God - please tell me this terrorist was not another comic-book otaku? Maybe there will be a crackdown against the damn things now!

He's the most wanted man in Japan, and have the whole country looking for him, and he hides out in a mangacha? Wasn't this guy suppose to be really intelligent?

He left his bag in a coin locker in Tsurumi Station.

If only they had intensified the search like they have for the last couple of weeks, this would have been all said and done long, long ago!

Looks like Hirata rolled over on his former cult members. Perhaps by giving the police information as to where and how Kikuchi and Takahashi managed to live in freedom for 17 years while the police "searched". Good work on the police for a) waiting until Hirata was finally allowed to give himself up and b) listening to a manga cafe employee.

Now that they've all bees arrested, can someone please return the trash bins to the stations?

and the Cafe worker walks away with the bounty. Congrats to him/her!!!

They definitely had every available police looking out for him. I noticed that there was a cop posted at every exit at all the train stations....even the small stations had a policeman watching. Since none of them didn't bother asking to see my visa, I figured they was looking out for him. With the help of an intelligent citizen, I am glad that he is finally captured the last member.

Happy he is caught but did this guy WANT to get caught? There is a worldwide manhunt and you just walk into a comicstore with your face? I expected him to be caught on a ferry somewhere in fukuoka or something.

Oh well now the whole aum line up can be hung in one fell swoop.

lol! i knew otaku can become killers one day. anyways im glad they're jailed but why did it take THIS long to find them? i mean they caught the girl then suddenly they find the last guy....somethings weird...oh well hurray!!! ^o^/ death penalty!!!

Oh well now the whole aum line up can be hung in one fell swoop.

Wind chimes come to mind.

Wasn't this guy suppose to be really intelligent?

He is definitely smarter than all the policemen of Japan put together. He managed in hiding during 17 years. He was not hiding at all in the last days. Look at that "hidden camera" photo. If they researched you, would you go out like that ? There are millions of cosmetics and props you can use to not look like your police station poster. He probably wanted to make a present to his preferred manga kissa staff that will get the reward.

They definitely had every available police looking out for him.

And 17 years ago , they were not already supposed to all look for him ?

The capture of Takahashi brings to an end a police hunt

A hunt? Posting the same pictures in a Koban for 17 years isn't a hunt. Having the first guy be rejected by the police who thought he was joking isn't a hunt. Having the neighbours call the cops about the second isn't a hunt. This guy got caught by a manga cafe employee. Clap, clap, clap J police. Well done.

Now that all the terrorists in Japan have been caught, will they do away with fingerprinting and taking our pics? Oh, right, never mind.....

He obviously wanted to get caught, and sure it was the other AUM member that tipped the police off that started this intensive man hunt over the last 2 weeks. We can all rest in peace now.

He obviously wanted to get caught, and sure it was the other AUM member that tipped the police off that started this intensive man hunt over the last 2 weeks. We can all rest in peace now.

Would have been better 17 years ago.

I'm still not sure how the statute of limitations wasn't expired on this. The statute was 15 years for murder, and the new law took effect 15 years and 1 month after the attack, and explicitly doesn't include crimes whose statutes had already expired. Not that I think he should be, but why isn't this guy legally home free?

Was there some other statute in effect for the crime? Something longer than 15 years?

Good question-- maybe 15 years for each victim?

The guy definitely wanted to be caught -- no way he would be sitting in public like that otherwise, especially with the 5000 or so police mobilized for the week. While I'm not sure what will happen thanks to the ridiculous statute of limitations Japan has, I'm glad they nabbed the last fugitive of this story that needs to be closed.

Now that the last member is captured, will the Japanese Government make an exception and execute the Aum Shinrikyo cult members at once in a Sarin gas chamber? Hanging is too good for these guys and gals. The family members of the gas attacks victims should insist on death by Sarin gas.

Kudos to the cafe DUDE!

Wind chimes come to mind.

hahahaha! Love it!

A hunt? Posting the same pictures in a Koban for 17 years isn't a hunt. Having the first guy be rejected by the police >who thought he was joking isn't a hunt. Having the neighbours call the cops about the second isn't a hunt. This guy got >caught by a manga cafe employee. Clap, clap, clap J police. Well done

Please, there are folks here who are definitely spoiled by media's portrayal of police work. Many major criminals throughout history were caught because they were seen and tipped off to the police. The hunt is in relation to the recent news media spectacle of it brought upon the recent arrests of the two other members. If it wasn't for that, then this would of probably never happened. The FBI was hunting James Whitely Bulger for 16 years, before he was arrested because of a television news report tip.

The guy definitely wanted to be caught

I disagree, it would be easier to get lost in a crowd than out in the country side. Either way glad he is caught.

I don't think I would have known him. He looked different from his pictures and what we've seen on TV. Guess he blended in with those around him. He was brave to venture up toward the Tokyo area, where he is said to have avoided as much as possible during his days on the lam because of all the surveilence cameras.

Next in line for Aum Shinrikyo are the executions. Seventeen years later and nothing has happened here. Perhaps in another 17 there might be enough of them left to start carrying them out.

Finally got the son of a bitch! Hopefully justice can now be brought down on these cult members for the victims of the sarin gas attack.

About bloody time that they caught them all. I think they should hang them all at once and show it on TV. That ought to stop other cults from getting any wild ideas and we can let up on all the anal security around the country. Wish I was in that manga cafe to spot him and get the bounty. I'm sure that employee quit the minute the police showed up.

I wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't a cover up for the girl snitching him out

Didn't he say he was going to stay out of Tokyo?

Never too late, good job, well done !

The manga cafe guy said that the police first said it wasn't the right guy and left! So the manga cafe guy had to call the police back a 2nd time, and they finally sucked it up and asked Takahashi. Note that Takahashi could have just said it wasn't him and left if he wanted to. Typical Japanese police. This is why it took 17 years.

Great news!

Quick fast death sentence and execution

Good on Japan's LE Divisions. Sometimes it takes time, but it was good that he was caught. Creep's A Special level of scum

Good on Japan's LE Divisions. Sometimes it takes time, but it was good that he was caught.

Like I said, the police did nothing. The manga cafe guy had to convince them to talk to the guy. Police said it wasn't him at first.

So what has happened to the speculations that he's gone to Kansai..or whatever? I still wonder how the guy lived the last 17 years. Someone must have seen, met or talked to him. Why no one reported him to the Police?

Who knew that manga can help stop terror?

RowanM: in 2004 they already extended it to 25 years for murder.

Thank goodness.

Yes - it is ridiculous that it took 17 years to nab these terrorists - but Japan will be safer with these mob behind bars and likely swinging from a rope.

Statute of limitations is what again? I don't think a rope is in their future.

While I'm not sure what will happen thanks to the ridiculous statute of limitations Japan has, I'm glad they nabbed the last fugitive of this story that needs to be closed.

I'm not sure where to begin.....

Please excuse my ignorance, but is it common for 54 year old men to frequent comic book stores in Japan?

Well, that's one way of getting an "Employee of the Year" award.

is it common for 54 year old men to frequent comic book stores in Japan

@Konjo4u. yes, it is. You can see such people in the train everyday. It's a culture I guess...

BurakuminDes: You should definitely look up the meanings of "manga" and "otaku" before making such hilarious statements.

konjo4u: Yes, it is. To spend the night on a cushioned floor, for example, after they didn't quite make it on the last train back home. Unlimited Internet access as well as "free" drinks and a shower before they go back to the office again.

therougou, that is not correct. The police did not leave the shop, they were still talking to the staff. Takahashi then walked past and tried to go out of the shop. The police suspected it was him, followed him out, and stopped him to question him.

They found him within a week of mobilizing thousands of officers. Look how easy that was. Could've done that years ago and closed the book.

The police did not leave the shop, they were still talking to the staff. Takahashi then walked past and tried to go out of the shop. The police suspected it was him, followed him out, and stopped him to question him.

Sounds to me like they're going to deny comic book guy his reward..... they're going to say that an officer found him outside .