Police on Sunday arrested a 39-year-old married man for torching a hotel in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, where he had canceled his wedding to another woman the same day. Nobody was injured, police said.
Tatsuhiko Kawata was arrested for allegedly torching the hotel at 2:20 a.m. on Saturday by spreading oil on the floor in a corridor. About 150 people, who were staying at the hotel, were evacuated.
According to police, Kawada, who is married and lives with his wife, child and his parents, booked the hotel for a wedding party to another woman which was supposed to be held on Saturday afternoon. But he canceled the party on Sunday after he torched the hotel.
Kawata was quoted by police as saying, “I thought I could get out of the wedding if the hotel was burned down." Police believe he tried to conceal the fact that he is married.
© Japan Today
35 Comments
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frontandcentre
Completely bananas!
Saying to her "Sorry - I'm married" might have worked rather better
thepro
oh man that is hilariously nutty
Altria
Wow, just couldn't bring himself to tell her, huh...
fatloser
He should have humiliated himself so that she wouldn't marry her. When in this situation it is important not to panic. A fertile immaginagtion is key!! Woman are fickle creatures and something as simple as scratching your head too often can make them hate you. This unfortunate man should have hired a prostitute and demanded that bride watch their acrobatics. THAT might have done it or convinced him that she is the correct woman to marry!!
noirgaijin
I bet the 150 people staying at the hotel did not think it was funny, but I do... LOL
ptolemy
What about the "bride"? Did she get any kind of revenge at all? Details, please.
xindy_fang
unbelievable....it is crazy, almost so many men like him... only hope more man is responsible.
fatloser
This case remeinds me of an episode of Columbo in which a vinyard owner chose life in prison over life with a woman who "loved" him. I wonder what his story is...it must be very interesting! Does anyone think he felt a certain thrill in taking her to the alter?
timorborder
Is this a virtual crime or a real one? Surprised the dude was actually arrested (lol). Seriously, this just goes to show how dishonestly can get serious out of hand. Straying from home is one thing (that I nevertheless detest), however, arson to cover up his indiscetions is another.
All in all, however, after this guy gets out of jail, he will probably be in a position to marry the girl of his dreams because he current wife will no doubt divorce him. Do you reckon the jilted lover will take him back?
ptolemy
Depends on his bank account I'm sure.
franz75
Hahaha, a good start for this week.
tclh
What? he planned to marry on saturday, but canceled the wedding on sunday,one day later. So ,the wedding did not happen on saturday ,why he had to cancel it on sunday?
Betting
This idiot has just ruined his life completely. Let alone the fact that he cancelled a "fake" wedding, betrayed both his both of his wives and family, but he's also caused considerable damamge to a wedding hall. I'm just wondering how much he'll have to pay for those damages ... once he's let out of prison hehe.
some14some
wise man, preferred short term prison than going for marriage.
nisegaijin
and the moron of the day award goes to....
TokyoGas
LOL
jerseyboy
"Police believe he tried to conceal the fact that he is married"...No, do you think? Wow, what could have possibly led them to that conclusion? Brilliant.
BBLeo
He didn't have to burn down hotel, but instead not turning up to get married. This could really be a big 'BBQ.' Lucky people, now they should all but lottery tickets. What a nasty little scumbag he is. What could he achieve to have two women? One in daylight and the other one at night was his bride to be, loaded with money? He also must be a charmer and 'Casanova.'
jmarc
stupidity has no limits.. how in hell did he got in this situation in the first place having to marry a second woman ? probably only wanted to have sex with the woman, but couldn't resit when she asked him to marry him before.
555Book
Gosh, you sure don't get to read stuff like this at the NHK site.
gogogo
Moron, where is this guys logic?
keshii
BBLeo: My guess is that that the arson wanted a convenient 'out' of the wedding, but still wanted to keep the girl. I can imagine he would tell her after having to cancel the wedding - due to the hotel having burnt down - that "getting married seems like bad luck". Completely ridiculous!
ALHQQ
Ya think? Obviously if he prosed to the woman and she said yes, she probably did not know he was already married. He should have just cut it off with the woman; why propose if their was no way he could marry her in the first place. I guess going to jail for arson and attempted murder will get him out of the marriage as well...what an idiot
WilliB
I think this is the type of man who would be in the market for a million-dollar banknote...
GG2141
Sounds like en episode of Fawlty Towers.
realteacher
Here's a scoop that I hope JT will pick up on. I happen to know a journalist in the Yamanashi area and they said that the dude was marrying the sister of his wife. Now that's keeping it in the family. Imagine what dinner will be like tonight....
usaexpat
Wow not the sharpest tool in the shed. I hope the hotel is insured.
PuffinMuffin
bwahahahaha! what if hed gotten away with it for a while
KitsuneYoukai
Stupdity yes undeniable; but do want to bet that he really doesn't love his current wife???
Zuleyka
this news really confused me.. why did he settle for marriage to a woman when in fact he is not divorced yet!shameful! moron!...
Kimigano2
he burned it down after the wedding was supposed to happen? Is that a bender?
ichinensei
Another example of an self centered idiot. He could have burned someone to death...
temporaryVisa
Wow. The lengths to which Japanese will go to avoid saying "No" will never seize to amaze me.
norinrad21
thats hilarious, i certainly don't know any 25+ year old who would pull off something like this let alone a 39 year old. Glad no one was hurt by this man's actions.
Samantha Ueno
He wanted to be with both women. He is a selfish scumbag who tricked both his wife and girlfriend and has no consideration for their feelings. I think his punishment should be to marry both women, and divorce them, giving each of them 50% of what he has, and if he has a kid with his wife his paychecks from then on should go to the child support, and leave him with close to nothing, because it's exactly what the idiot deserves. He can live in a park and eat instant ramen every day, alone. He should also be forbidden to date/marry ever again. But the real story is one of his girls will be the more spineless one and take him back. I've heard so many J-wives say things like "If he cheats once, it can be forgiven"