The Shibuya scramble crossing in Tokyo has become something of a hotspot for foolish shenanigans in recent years, with one person rolling through the busy intersection in an inflatable ball and another setting up a bed on the road for views on YouTube.
The latest stunt on the scramble wasn’t just foolish, it was incredibly dangerous, as it involved a man setting off fireworks, without any concern for the crowds of people around him.
According to bystanders, the incident occurred at around 10 p.m. on Nov 14, when the man began walking across the intersection, said to be one of the busiest in the world, with a firework in each hand.
The fireworks appeared to have been lit as the pedestrian signals turned green, and by the time the man had made it to the middle of the crossing, fireworks had begun exploding into the sky.
Not all of the fireworks were aimed overhead, however, as one shot out vertically, narrowly missing a number of bystanders.
▼ This news report shows the scene as it unfolded.
As the video shows, the fates of two men in particular, one standing on the street, and the other walking by, could have been very different if they were just centimeters from where they were positioned.
These men narrowly avoided the high-speed flare, and it’s amazing that nobody was injured during the incident, especially considering around 50 fireworks were discharged in total. Once the fireworks had finished, the man used a loudspeaker to shout incomprehensibly into the sky, although his attempts to be noticed seemed to go awry as the traffic simply continued, albeit at a slower and more cautious pace, around the man as he continued to stand in the middle of the road.
Eyewitnesses say they believe his shouts were expressing dissatisfaction with the world, and once he was arrested, he reportedly told police that he “wanted to stand out”. Police say the man was a self-employed individual in his 30s, and they are continuing their investigations into the incident.
Source: Shinichi Hatori Morning Show via YouTube/日テレNEWS via Yahoo! News via Jin
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Man crosses Shibuya scramble crossing in inflatable ball
-- Japanese YouTuber sleeps on a bed in the middle of Shibuya Scramble Crossing【Video】
-- Amazingly beautiful animated fireworks show Japan’s fireworks are on a whole other level【Videos】
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2022/11/17/man-shoots-fireworks-through-crowd-at-shibuya-scramble-crossing-%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/
17 Comments
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kurisupisu
Could it be that some Japanese are beginning to protest against the state of the their world?
So; he wanted to ‘stand out’ but what else did he say?
Alas, the mass media in Japan will not cover the story further.
However, I expect these types of events to increase as society here shows its cracks more plainly…
uaintseeme
That was pretty cool, actually. Even saw people stopping and taking pictures and videos.
William Bjornson
In America, when an isolated mind goes off the rails in this way this is done with a gun, in a school, in a shopping mall, in a drive-by, but with the same loss of conscious coherency and the same “wanted to stand out” but a different cultural mentality that does not blame a faceless 'them' or require victims. Could this be the flip-side of hikikomori...?
tooheysnew
yeh, real cool, until someone cops a firework to the face
Brian Wheway
@uaintseeme, "that was pretty cool"
Are you serious? that was dam right stupid! have you been to a hospital ward where people have been badly burnt from fireworks? my friends house was set on fire and was almost totaly distroyed by fire works, do you think its acceptable to let off fire works in such a crowded place? the two people who almost hit by these fire balls, they would have been burnt or scared for life, please think again before you make such silly comments.
finally rich
1:11 that was close
Newgirlintown
It’s all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
TokyoLiving
What a pathetic clown... Hope the law gives him a good punishment..
If you were frustrated with the world, you don't have to take it out on people, solve your problems and change your environment, be part of the solution and not the problem...
Well, at least it was with a loudspeaker and fireworks, in the US he would be a madman resentful of the world and with an assault rifle...
I prefer 1000 times the Japanese locos than the US ones
MilesTeg
The Shibuya koban cops sure took their time to respond. The koban isn't even 20 meters from where he was setting off fireworks. Not as if they couldn't see or hear them.
ushosh123
Didn't seem like much, the cop didn't even need to subdue him, he was still yellin on his mega phone in one hand and empty fireworks in the other.
Just another Wednesday.
kaimycahl
WOW, if any one thought this was cool needs to go get help immediately. I am surprised that no one got injured but there was a close call. What if that guy got hit in the eye with the fireworks. The idiot was lucky the Japanese police are too nice had that been in the US if not someone in the crowd tackling the person I am sure the police would have come in and tackled him or worst case with the loud bangs shot him!!! I hope he goes to jail very selfish act. What was his point? What was he trying to get attention for. LOCK him up!!!
Jonathan Prin
Come to France on 14th July or 31st eves to see what is crazy. Some people throw fireworks in your legs, som exploding. Just go away, that is what people did here.
This is strictly a non-event, no one was hurt or meant to get hurt (if the guy is holding them upward, that is not his entent).
He is still a stupid fool, still always a risk. As if Japan had no crazy kind people or youtubbers going for their hall of fame moment.
For sure he is gonna be going to prison as if he had done something criminal while it was rather fun to watch.
WA4TKG
You couldn’t do it anywhere except Shibuya Crossing ? Drrrf.
spektral
"as one shot out vertically" ✖
"as one shot out horizontally" 〇
I think the above phrase needs to be corrected in the article.
sir_bentley28
I saw this in the news last night! What an absolute doughnut of a bellend doorknob! There are several productive ways to stand out in Shibuya withouth putting other's lives at risk.
justsomeguy8008
he wanted to stand out? lots of ways to do that. should of picked a less dangerous way to stand out