Man arrested after menacing Tokyo subway passenger with awl

That's awful. (wtf is an awl anyway?)

Who on earth would threaten someone with an awl?

Again? Another case of mask debating on public transportation in Japan. Best to just avert your eyes…

… and leave such matters for the police to handle.

Agreed @Reckless 5:04pm: “Best not to be a mask enforcer, it really seems to make some people angry” -

The mind boggles.

Throw the book at yet another grumpy old man!

An Awl is a leather stitching tool. Bit like an ice pick. What a stupid oyaji!

thought it must have been over the other passenger making too much noise which is what usually gets the oyajis riled up

Interesting the author would think this implement is a common enough item to not explain.

Japanese media often publicizes a suspect’s occupation (neither is the name given, this time). If it’s not related to his hobby or trade, why was he carrying an awl ?

- @Sanjinosebleed 5:23pm: “An Awl is a leather stitching tool. Bit like an ice pick. What a stupid oyaji!” -

This country needs serious investing in mental health

That's awful. (wtf is an awl anyway?)

Really? Well, it looks kinda like an ice pick. Do you know what that is?

paddletimeToday  05:42 pm JST

This country needs serious investing in mental health

How? Which country could give this country a lesson?

"Really? Well, it looks kinda like an ice pick. Do you know what that is?"

Why don't you teach us?

Well, I ain't surprised. Just like all those anti-vaxers, those refusing to mask up can be expected to act accordingly. This is especially the case w/ those prima donna, self-entitled オヤジ who can't face reality.

Some assassins choose to jab such instruments into the small indentation at the base of the skull as it will most likely injure/sever the spinal cord, partially/fully paralyzing the victim and cause their vital systems, voluntary & involuntary to shut down. Death is then imminent.

*- @Reckless 7:28pm: [I think you would have to stab someone in the eye or brain to do any real hurt.] “Add throat, ear canal, soft flesh such as testicles, and rectum to that list” -*

The penetrating wound from an awl or ice pick can be quite minute, almost undetectable in a thick scalp of hair and the victim’s subsequent behavior may appear to be ‘drunken’.

To drunkenly emerge from the train and fall down or from the platform is common in Japan?

Such a penetrating wound could be overlooked if blood is not thoroughly cleaned from head wounds during medical attention and/or autopsies. A murder could easily appear otherwise and the case closed as an “accident”.

The BMJ reported 4 such cases where the initial wound was overlooked, thinking the victim was presenting what appeared to be “drunken” behavior like staggering and slurred speech and therefore, released to ‘sleep it off’.

2 died a short time later and the other 2, a lifetime, functional deficits.

50% of victims from inter-cranial injuries develop some form of palsy later in life.

To conclude, the suspect was arrested and “Nobody was hurt during the incident” so, an “Awl Points Bulletin” by police is therefore unnecessary.

Agreed @paddletime 5:42pm: “This country needs serious investing in mental health” -

Yes.

In all, “Good News” to hear ‘another looney on the train’ was stopped well before another tragedy occurred.

The tozai line is one of the busiest lines in Tokyo. I used to use it regularly to get to work. Even on Saturdays it is busy. How many more deranged loons are carrying weapons on that line?

oh brother........

Some people just can't wear a mask, and some hate them. all you can do is avoid them.

There's different types of awl and they have bin in use since the stone age.

Used for making fishing nets or sewing or carpentry type work.

The suspect told police that he wasn’t wearing a face mask, and he felt the other passenger was looking at him in a scornful way, so he took the awl out of his bag and waved it at the passenger in a menacing way.

Let me tell you something buddy, they were, and you explained exactly why they did it.

Now put your little tool away, before you stab yourself by accident.

What is a awl ???

@paddletime

"This country needs serious investing in mental health"

You can say that a zillion more times!

thanks :)

Smart not to use a knife, since that would be illegal.

An awl is used for wood working - sorta like an ice pick.

If a 50s guy threatened passengers with an awl on the London underground, the police would have to rescue him.

How come so many people don't know what an awl is? Education standards must be slipping.

Off to the asylum old boy…

TARA TAN KITAOKAToday  12:20 am JST

What is a awl ???

Why are you asking? It has already been explained here in the comments several times. Don't you know what a Google search is?

An all is

a small pointed tool used for piercing holes, especially in leather.

In case no one has already Google’d it

I don't wear a mask on the train.....IDGAF if passengers are looking at me, let them look. It even gives me more space than the usual "gaij buffer zone" of regular J-aversive behaiviour

another grumpy old man causing trouble on the trains.... what else is new

Isn't there a rule that passengers have to wear masks in the train stations and on trains?

RegBilk

Isn't there a rule that passengers have to wear masks in the train stations and on trains?

Just polite requests and social pressure I think. In the event, I took the subway recently and noticed after 10 minutes that I had forgotten to put on the face nappy. Looked around, and nobody cared. No evil looks, nothing. Everyone in the car was wearing the thing, but about 1/3 of them just as a chin decoration. I think people are gradually getting tired of this.

It's not like knowing what an awl is is a critical aspect of the education system. I would have probably gone through a 100 years without ever hearing about one if it wasn't for this article.

It's really irritating when a passenger in train, bus, etc doesn't use a mask. Japan needs to be more strict not just 'one gai shimasu' .....

Isn't there a rule that passengers have to wear masks in the train stations and on trains?

no, there is no rule.