The Tokyo District Court on Tuesday sentenced a 26-year-old man for throwing sulfuric acid at a 22-year-old man at Shirokane-Takanawa subway station in Tokyo in 2021. Prosecutors had sought a six-year prison term.
The court handed down its verdict against Hirotaka Hanamori, a university student at the time, Kyodo News reported. Hanamori's defense team has asked for a suspended sentence, saying he is full of remorse for his actions.
Hanamori, who lived in Shizuoka, threw the acid at the victim as he walked past him on an escalator at the station on Aug 24, 2021. The victim suffered injuries to both eyes and his shoulder. A woman at the subway station also received burns after slipping on the acid Hanamori used in the attack.
Hanamori and the victim had both been part of a film club when they were students at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, according to the police.
The victim said Hanamori had been his senior in the club and did not recall any trouble between them.
After fleeing the scene, Hanamori returned to his home in Shizuoka before taking a flight from Chubu airport in Aichi Prefecture to Naha Airport in Okinawa. He was staying at a friend’s home in Ginowan where he was arrested.
© Japan Today/Kyodo
26 Comments
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Mr Kipling
3 and a half years seems very light for what was at least an attempted blinding.
Fighto!
Incredibly light sentence for such a well planned, cowardly and shocking assault. Bringing and preparing acid to assault someone is not just a moment of madness.
It would be for the best if something happens to this Hanamori scum in prison.
dagon
Sure when he comes out in a few years he will be a well-adjusted and reformed young man anyone would want to for a co-worker or acquaintance.
Strangerland
Your comment came across as sarcastic. If it was a sarcastic comment, do you think he should have been imprisoned for life, or how long?
wallace
Not long enough for this serious offense.
dagon
Very perceptive. It seems like a pre-meditated acid attack would warrant a longer sentence.
Just my opinion.
Strangerland
How long of a sentence do you think would be required until he comes out well-adjusted as someone anyone would want as an acquaintance?
virusrex
I wonder how long it will take for the victim to go back to having a normal life, part of the reason why acid is used is because the criminal wants to do permanent damage to the victim.
Michael Machida
He should get 30 years.
Does he have connections with the Japanese Government or something?
finally rich
Definitely way too light. Given the fact that if a psycho clings to your car for whatever the reason and you drive off in panic even for a few meters you will be arrested on spot for "attempted murder". Many japanese psychos know exactly how the law works here, reason they yell, tailgate and brake check people on the road for no reason (japanese way to "relieve stress") just to use the police in their favor in case anyone dares to even touches the rabid animal. Meanwhile this guy throws acid on total strangers and get 3 years, go figure.
garypen
There is a very good chance that no sentence, no matter how long, could make this sociopath well-adjusted.
He just needs to be removed from society for a period commensurate with the vicious attack he perpetrated upon an innocent person.
That period is definitely more than 3.5 years. It should be a minimum of 10. More than 10 would be better.
But, obviously, a life sentence would be too much, and should be reserved for murder.
Strangerland
Thanks. That's a pretty balanced response.
WilliB
That sounds very lenient. He threw strong sulphuric acid at people and could have easily blinded them. I do not understand the Japanese justice system.
japancat
10 tears minimum !!
japancat
years
timeon
Details are lacking here: what was the reason? What was the result of the psychiatric evaluation that almost surely he had to undergo? Prosecutors themselves asked only for 6 years, so I assume there are some circumstances.
WilliB
timeon
He had a grudge against the main victim and had planned the attack carefully. Others got injured, as the threw the acid at the exit of the station. I remember the victim cried he could not see, and one young woman had her legs disfigured, probably permanently. Does the detailed reason really matter? If he was mentally competent at the time, there is no excuse.
John
What a joke. Victim will suffer life time.
Nihon Tora
Acid attacks are absolutely terrible - victims end up scarred, disfigured, blinded and with horrible, painful burns that are often deep and permanent. Anyone committing such an act should be put into prison for a very long time - I would suggest they don't come out until they are old, if at all. The punishment in these cases should be pretty much completely focussed on deterrent and retribution, not rehabilitation.
There are some people that seem to think giving out light sentences and trying to rehabilitate every last offender is somehow progressive and the sign of an enlightened and civilized society. I take the opposite view - giving out light sentences for severe violent crime is in effect tolerating it - the more a society is willing to tolerate it, the less civilized it is.
The sentencing should be very clear - if you throw acid at someone, then your life as a free citizen is going to be finished, more or less for good.
baroque1888
This psychopath should have received eighty (“80”) years in prison without the chance for parole.
baroque1888
Also, the firing squad will puke be a good consequence for such psychopath.
Uehara
If I had any say in this, I'd ask the victim, for how long are you going to suffer because of the attacker's actions.
And those years he stole, should suffice as a punishment.
masterblaster
It must be great to be Japanese. You can commit so many different kinds of horrible crimes and only get a slap on the wrist.
One has so many frustrations and failures in life. Instead of changing your life and trying to make yourself better, you take out all your problems on innocent bystanders or children.