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Police in Tokyo have arrested a 32-year-old employee of public broadcaster NHK on suspicion of assaulting a taxi driver.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 2:20 a.m. Monday in Shinjuku Ward, Fuji TV reported. Police said Ryosuke Sayamoto, who works in NHK’s newsroom, was walking on the street in Yarai-cho. The taxi driver, who is in his 60s, drove up behind him, stopped his vehicle and warned Sasamoto that it was dangerous for him to be walking on the street.
Police said the driver told them that Sayamoto lost his temper and began punching and kicking him. The taxi driver sustained a minor injury to his right shin.
Police said Sayamoto has denied the charge. He was quoted as saying, “I was drinking with my friend in Kagurazaka. I was drunk and don’t recall doing anything like that.”
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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Albert
A typical excuse when reading about drunk people. To scared to take responsibility.
And NHK let their employees go out for drinking during COVID. I thought NHK is japanese public broadcast who has to give example during this period. Always they mentioned about avoid busy areas etc.
Toasted Heretic
Unfortunate but, compared to what some non-Japanese media employees get up to here, mild.
Still an entitled plonker, mind.
Robert Cikki
What, he was punching and kicking the driver, physically assaulting him?! He should be in jai..... ... oh wait, he was drinking with his friend in Kagurazaka! Oh then nevermind, everybody calm down! This is more than an excuse.
He'll bow few times, gets scolded by his boss, maybe sent around few neighbouring apartments to take out NHK fee and in few months it'll be as it always was.
ThonTaddeo
Let's back up for a minute.
The man was walking on the street, but the article doesn't say what kind of street. I've spent lots of time in Yarai-cho (it is one of very few places in Tokyo to have banchi that go over 100) and most of the streets there are thin and pedestrian-oriented.
And the taxi driver drove up behind him and got out of his car to have a chat with Mr. Sayamoto.
If you're walking on the street and someone in a car does this, your fight-or-flight instincts are going to be in overdrive. And at 2:20 AM!
I've seen how hot-tempered and abusive taxi drivers can be with anyone other than the person they're driving around. The article says "warned", but that could be a euphemism for much more aggressive language.
We don't know what kind of street it was, which makes all the difference. Was it one of those thin single-lane alleys? I can easily imagine an entitled taxi driver being angry that he was stuck behind a pedestrian and threatening him. Even if Mr. Sayamoto was walking right down the middle of the street and not keeping to the left, you just don't pull your car over and accost someone like that in the middle of the night.
rgcivilian1
More details JT. What kind of street? No sidewalks? etc.
kurisupisu
Instant promotion to the NHK fee collection team then!
borscht
This crime illustrates why I drink everyday. The go-to excuse of 'I was drunk and don't remember' will come in handy. (Maybe I should start drinking earlier?)
Thomas Tank
NHK will go to great lengths to get their fees! Watch out, people!
sir_bentley28
Times you can use that excuse :
"Bro, you went home with that old lady last night!"
"I was drunk and I don't recall doing anything like that!"
"Mate, we had a meeting yesterday! Don't you remember the topic?"
"I was drunk and I don't recall doing anything like that!"
"Ay man! Why did you give thst homeless guy half your paycheck last night?"
"I did what? I was drunk and I don't recall doing anything like that!"
In these examples, this excuse would be perfect! Not when you commit a crime by assaulting an innocent 60yo guy who showed concern for your safety and trying to get away with it without facing your wrongful actions!
Oxycodin
See another case of Alcoholism. Alcoholism destroys peoples lives and everyone around you....