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In late October, Kohei Ohori, a 28-year-old resident of Shizuoka City decided to sneak into a local public high school and steal some things. With this criminal endeavor successfully completed, on another day he decided to pull a second caper by burglarizing a nearby private combined middle/high school for girls.
Eventually, though, the law caught up to him. Ohori’s trial in Shizuoka District Court began on Feb 16, and while breaking into a school already falls under the category of strange crimes, his motive, as well as what he chose to steal, are causing the head-scratching to intensify.
“I wanted to get a taste of the world of 'Love Live,'” Ohori told investigators, invoking the name of the mega-hit anime franchise about schoolgirls forming idol singer groups. As for what he stole, it’s a baffling random collection of items.
▼ As is often the case in Japan, the authorities meticulously arranged the recovered property.
According to police reports, Ohori stole at least one long desk/folding table. It’s not clear if the rest of the furniture seen in the video was stolen, but among the items that definitely are being displayed as evidence are amplifiers, a cable spool, multiple trophies and awards plaques, basketball jerseys, one school uniform, a plastic sack with a few dozen tennis balls in it, and several stacks’ worth of textbooks/workbooks.
It’s worth pointing out that while the Sunshine branch of "Love Live" is set in Shizuoka Prefecture, it takes place in the town of Numazu, which is about an hour and a half east of Shizuoka City.
The stolen amps and cord sort of fit with the "Love Live" motive, and the large amount of sports paraphernalia is probably a result of the man breaking into both schools’ gymnasiums during his incursions. “I wanted to immerse myself in the memories of my student days,” Ohori also said during police questioning, but it’s hard to see how that desire would lead him to steal what looks to be about 50 textbooks, as doing a whole bunch of homework isn’t usually what people get wistfully nostalgic for when looking back on their youth.
On the opening day of the trial, Ohori admitted to the charges, saying “There is no mistake” in regards to the accusations against him. His lawyer has also indicated that he has no intention of contesting the charges, and that compliant attitude is likely to help Ohori avoid jail time when he’s sentenced, though if he does end up having to serve time, maybe it’ll just feel like a teacher giving him detention.
Source: SBS News via Yahoo! Japan News via Jin
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© SoraNews24
18 Comments
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Toshihiro
I've seen my fair share of hard-line anime fanatics, but nowhere near as hardcore as this. It's true that having a connection to a certain anime or an anime character is something that a non-anime fan cannot understand but, keep it on a leash. I'm a bit of an otaku myself, but the most dedicated thing I did over my love for a certain anime was to buy camping gear (I watch Yuru Camp). Let's hope this dude learned his lesson, how about just buy all the merch he can afford.
Michael Machida
28 years old, I started my first global company. At 28 years old, this Japanese guy is stealing anime themed high school owned items. Makes me understand why Japans' economy has been in a downfall for over 20 years now.
GBR48
I suspect the guy was trying to furnish his own bit of the LoveLive! ecosystem so he could live within his favourite anime. He may enjoy it more than reality. This isn't unique. Some folk have rooms that look like bits of the USS Enterprise. Others build their own TARDIS.
He could probably have bought most of his haul online or from flea markets if he had the cash, and Japan isn't short of deserted, decaying schools well stocked with furniture that nobody would miss. As for the retro sentiment, I own a set of the maths textbooks and a copy of the hymn book we used at primary school. I would quite like one of the old desks from my school, but I think they have got rid of them. I also have a small collection of 1970s food packaging (some unopened), some 80s TV on Betamax, some train destination boards from the 1980s and an 8ft long railway station sign. All purchased, not purloined. Ebay, you sly temptress.
Maybe the killer app of the metaverse will be the ability to recreate and live in a favourite bit of your past. If you are young, spend a day photographing your everyday environment - home, school, shops, station - and record the radio or TV. Your older self will enjoy a trip back.
I wonder if any fans of 'Girls und Panzer' are hanging around SDF bases hoping for an opportunity to liberate a tank.
virusrex
I am really relieved that the head line beginning with "man breaks into high school..." did not end much worse, at least this time the losses were just material and the criminal already caught.
Lindsay
A 28 year old breaking the law to live out his manga fantasies. I have two words to say, “Grow up!”
starpunk
At age 28 I had been in the military and was in college. I went to my HS 10-year reunion and some of my classmates never matured beyond thiose days, even though the world had radically changed by then. I certainly never wanted to go back to those days, and not like this.
This is totally sad and pathetic. He truly needs to move on in his life.
Sven Asai
You already call such a case with some stolen desks and ‘accessories’ for an overly cute ‘love life’ anime replay ‘hardcore’? Maybe you missed out quite some of the former tentacle or rope anime and manga. lol
ushosh123
Almost tempted to call this behavior "cute"
Paustovsky
Sounds like a real catch.
shogun36
The last thing anyone wants to remember is being in a high school classroom.
What's wrong with the criminal?
garypen
Don't lump Star Trek in with anime, manga, or Dr Who. That stuff is total fiction.
Star Trek movies and TV series are actual historical video records sent here from the future!
Sheesh.
Chico3
Man! Just when I thought I've seen and heard everything in Japan. I guess not. This is a new one for me. They're sure alternative types of criminals here.
602miko
Haha,
snowymountainhell
“*Saved By The Bell” *?
kaimycahl
The lights are on but nobody's home. This guy is in real need of therapy. I wonder what his parents are like because they say the apple doesn't fall to far from the tree.
Thomas Twatt
Aye, course you did, mate. ;o)
TT
Sleepytanuki
There's a lot of second hand shops where you can buy school furniture and other school items for very very cheap. Why steal it?
snowymountainhell
Not encouraging further theft or piracies @GBR48 10:37pm, but you may have the makings of a profitable YouTube channel. Unlike this idiot above, your legitimately acquired memorabilia could be profitable.
Check the copyrights of those “80’s TV” shows. Regardless of genre, tapes off old shows not retained or lost by broadcasters are a big draw for nostalgic fans, particularly “Talk Shows”, and even commercials,
(Might be a rare or overlooked interview of someone now famous, … or infamous; )