crime

Man explains why he pulled knife on teenagers for littering

55 Comments

Japan is known for being one of the cleanest countries in the world, surely a point of pride for many Japanese people. But is it enough to pull a knife on someone for littering?

Last month, Tokyo police arrested a 60-year-old man for threatening a female high school student with a knife after she and two friends threw their trash on the ground of a public park.

In the early morning on Aug 27, the man, unemployed, was cleaning up trash as a volunteer at the local public park with his wife. Locals had just begun to gather for morning radio calisthenics and three high school students, one female and two male, were sitting at a bench. On the ground near the bench were discarded cans and snack wrappers, which had been left there by the same three students from the night before.

In an interview after his release, he said: “The three just sat their with their legs spread out over the scattered trash and watched silently as my wife began picking it up. When my wife asked them to move their legs so she could clean, they just asked her: ‘Are you the cleaning lady?’ and instead of helping her, they just sat their without moving their legs.”

Angered, the man approached the three high school students and, taking out a clasp-knife from his pocket and holding it open near his waist, warned them: “Don’t get yourself attacked. There’s guys like me out there carrying things like this.”

The female high school student screamed upon seeing the knife and the three ran away from the park.

The man went back to picking up trash but was soon approached by several police officers and escorted back to station for violent behavior. He was released the same day after it was found he had cancer and was therefore deemed “unable to tolerate” custody.

“I was just trying to warn them. The park is in a quiet neighborhood, but you never know what kind of people could be out at night; it’s dangerous. It’s the parent’s or school’s job to warn them, but they probably won’t say anything. I thought I needed to tell them firmly myself.”

Regarding why he was carrying a knife, the man explains: “I use it to cut flowers for placing on my family’s Buddhist altar.”

According to local residents, the park had indeed become a gathering place for groups of young people who often disturbed the silence after dark by causing a ruckus. One female resident defends the man’s actions: “It might have been wrong for him to pull out a knife, but someone needed to warn the them.”

A Japanese editor at RocketNews24 commented on the incident: “Recently in Japan, adults don’t seem to know how to scold or warn young people. Parents and teachers aren’t as disciplinary as they used to be.”

Even if the man was justified in his actions, pulling out a knife on a group of kids in a public place is just asking for trouble. Still, you can bet they won’t be throwing their trash around that park anymore.

Source: MSN News

© RocketNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

55 Comments
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Punk kids.

29 ( +28 / -1 )

therefore deemed “unable to tolerate” custody.

LOL....

-9 ( +4 / -14 )

He should have forced them at knifepoint to pick-up and discard their rubbish.

28 ( +26 / -2 )

After moving from Tokyo to a quiet Yokohama suburb I was amazed at the amount of trash littering the roadsides. I even offered the Town Hall to help clean it up, but what really bothered me was WHY there was so much trash in the first place ! It seems that not only do parents not bother to teach their children good manners, they throw litter around themselves ! Good upbringing is an extremely important thing however, if the parents themselves don't have it, they can't teach their children. These parents are probably the same people who throw cigarette butts out of their car windows. The children in this story are obviously very badly brought up. The man shouldn't have needed to ask them to move their legs - they should have immediately done so - but even better, they shouldn't have littered the park in the first place. They should be made to clean the park every day for a month.

12 ( +12 / -3 )

I don't know why they keep saying "cleanest country".

I notice ppl littler w/ o holding back here, esp. young. I would imagine cities are so clean because, since there are no trash cans anywhere, and since it is considered rude to eat and walk, ppl don't often carry around something they want to throw out dntn. But parks, and worse, in forests/ river areas in/ nearby cities where you can have your lunch/ go with your family to picnic and bbq, the bring-home-your-trash ethic is atrociously nonexistent over all age groups.

W/o pulling a knife, he should have shouted at the kids til they picked up there own crap.

7 ( +10 / -5 )

oops-

littler= litter

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

good for him.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

I don't know why they keep saying "cleanest country".

Well "one of the cleanest" is absolutely true. Which is what is written.

Young (and by that I mean young men throwing empty cigarette boxes from their car window) people littering sucks but littering is actually an outward expression of how you feel about yourself. Feel trashy about yourself, trash the park.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I go pick up trash around my area too few times a week so i know exactly what this man is feeling, because I see the same types of loosers almost everyday going around and turning local parks and streets into a garbage bin.

Well what do you expect since kids can't be disciplined anymore old fashion style with a good belt. Many kids these days equal no morals, no respect for anything.

We need about 5 of this 60-year type dudes in each town in we'll be all good. parks will be clean and things will be decent. Knife is just a reflex by default when disrespecting loosers pop around.

Peace!

8 ( +8 / -1 )

Yes, some high school brats need a good slap or two! The sloth and insolence abounds!

17 ( +16 / -2 )

Good on the dude,glad he got released and the kids deserve a beating

9 ( +8 / -0 )

Japan is known for being one of the cleanest countries in the world, surely a point of pride for many Japanese people. Tommy-rot ! If the parks and roadways around my way are anything to go by, it looks like the aftermath of a five year all-out Womble strike !

2 ( +5 / -3 )

No sympathy for those kids who cried wolf. They usually act big when in a group, but confronted by someone who'll take action, they'll run off like a scared little child.

11 ( +10 / -0 )

“Recently in Japan, adults don’t seem to know how to scold or warn young people. Parents and teachers aren’t as disciplinary as they used to be.”

So true. Most parents just say "Shoganai"

I applaud the man for trying to educate these kids. He had no intention of hurting them and he, in the same breath, stood up for his wife. JP needs some "scared straight" programs.

10 ( +8 / -1 )

They are brave when they're with a group, but weakling when alone...three cheers for the man who was brave enough to tell them off...I often see kids near convenient stores doing the same when there are trash cans near them...always thought of calling their attention...hmmmmm...I think I will one of these days, but not with a knife, with my big huge dog, that should scare the cowards away!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Japan is known for being one of the cleanest countries in the world

This is not true. The countryside is full of illegally-dumped rubbish, the beaches are covered in detritus (mostly from Japan, not Korea or China as some people would tell you) and the towns are just as bad. Around here the city centre is quite clean but that's only because the shop keepers and residents pick it up every morning. Where they don't do that you can find PET bottles and empty bento boxes blowing around in the streets.

All this rubbish is thrown away by the Japanese: there is no blaming foreigners for this one.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

with my big huge dog, that should scare the cowards away!

But only after they've cleared up the trash I hope !

(Hadn't thought of that ! I've got one too and he's an "ex-cop" !)

5 ( +4 / -0 )

I can just imagine how rude these kids were and I can imagine how disgusted the old couple were with them. I personally dont think Japan is all that clean. Some of the roadsides and parks are pretty badly littered. Some of the young people care about nothing here. Last night saw two punks park their car lengthwise across 3 wheelchair parking spots. Just backed the car in perfectly across three spots near the doors of the home centre. They looked so pleased with themselves. Have never seen anything so inconsiderate. I wish I had recorded it on my cell. I used to tell people like this off but my wife and son wont let me do that anymore.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I wonder if this gentleman has seen "GRAND TORINO"? (Get out of my yard!) Good for the guy!

6 ( +5 / -0 )

Still, you can bet they won’t be throwing their trash around that park anymore.

Want to bet otherwise? This guy better watch his back next time.

No, it should be a job for the police, but they don't feel it's their responsibility. We should chip in and buy the guy some pepper spray for next time.

I disagree. It takes a village, as the saying goes, to raise a child, and a HS student here for the most part is still a child in a young adults body.

While pulling a knife was not the smartest thing to do, he probably felt that with the way many Japanese HS kids are today, it would be the only way to get their attention. I see more and more JHS and HS kids doing much of the same thing and their lack of respect for adults is alarming at best.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Good upbringing is an extremely important thing however, if the parents themselves don't have it, they can't teach their children. These parents are probably the same people who throw cigarette butts out of their car windows. The children in this story are obviously very badly brought up.

This is only part of the problem... You have this City Government Attitude here in Japan, that every single thing that happens in the City is the responsibility of the individual... How much do you pay in Juminze? How about taking just a tad bit of responsibility and put some trash bins, in heavily traffic areas.., And Maybe, Just Maybe people wouldn't dump so much garbage on the streets...

I am NOT talking about a place for people to dump car batteries, old tires and appliances, I am talking about some public trash receptacles for cans, bottles, paper and plastic waste.

Or we can just let people dump it where-ever they may, because you want to uphold this philosophy of 180% personal trash responsibility...

I mean, they are almost there with the lack of public toilets... I'm surprised that public toilets haven't gone the way of the Dodo.... I mean, it is after all, you're own individual responsibility to carry your own faeces and human waste with you no matter where you go or what you do... Right...? Silly Japan... LOL...

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What can a member of public legally do in these situations without getting into trouble themselves???

6 ( +6 / -0 )

They definitely need a good kick in the rear. See kids at マクド always leaving their trays piled high with trash and run off like it's "cool."

If the police were worth anything in this country they should be giving people clean up duty when found littering.

Btw, I live in Osaka. This place is filthy and anyone who has been to 80% of the beaches here know that they are nothing near clean. I don't understand why the governments don't open more public jobs for clean up and landscaping. I see more elderly out cleaning up sidewalks and parks than the city. Japan has the potential to be even lovelier and even create a few jobs along the way. I guess if it's not an overpriced construction bid then it's not interesting.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Back on topic please. Posts that do not focus on the story will be removed.

I ask young and old alike when I see them litter if they are Japanese. When they say yes, I ask them if they are proud of their country. When they say yes, I firmly tell them to pick up their junk.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

My friend lives in the country in a house with an attached large vege garden area. Soon after he moved in, we saw an old lady ride her bike up to his garden and surreptitiously drop a bag of rubbish into his garden while pretending to adjust something on her bike. I yelled 'gomi suteru na!' at which the neighbours turned and saw what was happening. The old woman quietly picked up her rubbish and left. It's not just punk kids, it's punk grannies, too! By the way, if you want to see Japanese pride in not littering, visit any beach... I've lost count of how many times I've talked to locals who like to blame the piles of rubbish etc on their beaches on tides from China and Korea.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

it's punk grannies

LOL.... Those damn obasan's....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

One thing that I can't understand is why there are no trash cans or bins in public parks and other places. If there were and signs in Japanese saying, "stow it, don't throw it" placed around, these things would not happen. I see city hired help cutting bushes and trees in parks often which costs much money but we can't find a few trash bins here and there.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I totally defend his actions too. Someone somehow has to teach these brats a lesson.

Around where I used to live, right in front of the station the yankees would come, eat a bunch of crap and litter EVERYWHERE. After they were gone the whole entrance to the station was just a garbage dump.

Still, you can bet they won't be throwing their trash around that park anymore.

You betcha.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Strange we don't have that problem in my town nor the areas of Tokyo I visit frequently. Heck, we don't even employ street-sweeper trucks.

BTW, even throwing a cigarette butt away is forbidden in my town, really cleaned the town up after the ordinance was passed.

Not saying Tokyo is the cleanest city(haven't visited all of them) but way cleaner than many cities I have been to worldwide.

As for throwing rubbish most Japanese hold onto to it till the next Combini and deposit it there.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

this last generation of japan is nothing like the previous ones, however , are no better and no worse than other same generation in other countries. What really bothers me though is they benefit from the good reputation of the previous generations. Most have no manner whatsoever, no common sense and losers to say the least.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

funkymofo:

It's not just punk kids, it's punk grannies, too!

I'm glad you wrote about that. People who litter and show bad manners come in all shapes and sizes - the young don't have a monopoly on rudeness and irresponsible behavior. I was once on the train with relatives who came to visit me. My aunt was just marveling at the cleanliness of the whole place, while this ojiisan sitting in front of me, was knocking his knees into mine, dropping peanuts over my feet and when he'd finished eating his food, just dumped everything under the seat.

If it wasn't for the fact that there are decent people out there cleaning up other people's crap, this place would be a lot lot dirtier. Illegal dumping is also a problem - there are 5 neglected bicycles downstairs where I live. If they have numbers, the owners should be traced and made to pay a large fine.

onniyama:

Just backed the car in perfectly across three spots near the doors of the home centre. They looked so pleased with themselves.

And I'm sure that's why some cars get scratched.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

These three kids certainly lacked manners and/or education, but such people don't fall off trees. They are a products of the society, and more specifically, they are a product of some adults: parents or teachers who did not fulfil their roles. You need to blame the adults who raised such kids as well!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Still, you can bet they won’t be throwing their trash around that park anymore.

More likely to throw it in the old geezer's front garden.

What's all this 'Good for him!' rubbish? He pulled a knife on a bunch of kids, ferkrissakes. What kind of lesson is he supposed to be teaching them? That there are demented old blokes with knives in the local park? What has that got to do with littering?

discarded cans and snack wrappers, which had been left there by the same three students from the night before.

And this information comes from.....? the nutter with the knife? or are we just assuming that because the three kids weren't joining in with picking up the litter, they were responsible for dropping it all?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

On the ground near the bench were discarded cans and snack wrappers, which had been left there by the same three students from the night before.

So the old guy had been spying on them from the night before?!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I'll try the JapanGal Approach the next time I see some "shonen" littering in public ;)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A knife is no good. He should have threatened them with a large stick instead.

In my experience though, simply telling the kids to pick up their trash does the trick.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Just like here in the US...complete lack of respect...Japanese teens are becoming more like what we export from "Thugland USA"!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Good for Him! Although next time he should lose the knife.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I wish Japan brings back rubbish bins for parks, toilets and public areas. I don't know how they expect people to keep all their trash all day long to take home with you. Tax money just doesn't seem to get spent where it needs to and they spend it on things that we don't need (like a dozen keep off the grass signs...) I just don't get it, the trash just gets passed along anyway to the city and if your a tourist it probably the hotel or different convenience store to where you bought the stuff that has to dispose of it instead. Any other developed country in the world seems to be able to keep rubbish bins in the park, why not Japan?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Reminds me of Robocop 2 where Robocop sees a man smoking and shoots a bunch of bullets around him telling him it's impolite to spoke in a non-smoking area.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan is known for being one of the cleanest countries in the world, surely a point of pride for many Japanese people

I don't know where MSN is getting this from, but this is so untrue. There is trash in the streets, opened drink cans and cigarette butts everywhere, etc etc. I think its just as dirty/clean as any other heavily populated country in the world. "One of the cleanest"?...surely not.

As for the man pulling a knife on teenagers. I totally understand how he feels. I totally get angry when I see people hurl cigarettes on the ground and out of cars, or see mothers pull their kid's pants down so that they can urinate in public, teenagers in parking lots of kombini's, leaving food wrappings and other trash items in parking lots after loitering there all night.

Having said that, I totally wouldn't condone violent behavior. I would have photograph the kids and made a formal complaint to the police (of course...they probably won't do much)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ Mirai Hayashi: I don't know where MSN is getting this from, but this is so untrue. There is trash in the streets, opened drink cans and cigarette butts everywhere, etc etc. I think its just as dirty/clean as any other heavily populated country in the world. "One of the cleanest"?...surely not.

If you want to compare and see real dirt, filth and obnoxious smells, go to any city in Pakistan or India. Compared to them, Japan is clinically clean...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

So many of you actually support drawing a knife in this situation? Simply incredible!

On the ground near the bench were discarded cans and snack wrappers, which had been left there by the same three students from the night before.

How in blue blazes is this known?

Regardless, he could have yelled, screamed, jumped up and down, threatened to call the cops, and basically scared the hell out of them without really breaking the law or threatening their lives with a weapon. He could have thrown their own trash at them and still got my support even though that would be a physical assault.

Even before taking out his knife, he could have taken out his private parts and waved them around and got my support. But a knife? You have got to be kidding me!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

... helping her, they just sat their without

there!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Still, you can bet they won’t be throwing their trash around that park anymore.

I bet they will be throwing their trash there again, and again ...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Rubbish Japanese parenting style.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Admit it, Japan is going to the dogs. Young people have no respect for the their elders, lacks manner, and do anything they want to. Forget the schools or teachers trying to teach them proper behaviour, it ain't gonna to happen.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Dogs are even better, more sentsitive to other peoples needs!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Warning them not to litter, that's fine. Warning them that "they might get themselves attacked", is obviously a threat and should be called one. If I were one of these kids I certainly wouldn't respect authority if that's the way it treats me.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

“Recently in Japan, adults don’t seem to know how to scold or warn young people. Parents and teachers aren’t as disciplinary as they used to be.”

...including this unemployed guy. Obviously he had the intent to threaten them or he wouldn't have brought-up their treatment of his wife as an excuse.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Tokyokawasaki...I agree...who's this guy kidding? Japanese people are quite literally OBSESSED with cleanliness to the point of being germophobes...no way is the city as dirty as this guy claims. It's not exactly spotless but it's far from filthy. I live in Shinjuku with my uncle for two years and I still find it to be one of the CLEANEST cities I have ever been in.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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