Threat forces 'bon' festival to be canceled in Tokyo

Again another stressed Pachinko man ...

People who send this king of idiotic nonsense will not carry out the threats. Cancelling this matsuri is over-cautious and unecessary.

Wow!! an anti-bon extremist? I wonder how they were led to the dark side.

So the troll wins....

Say what you will, but this was the correct decision. Because if indeed something bad happened you know there would be hell to pay.

Now if only they could track it to a source....

Will they also cancel the Olympics if a threatening letter is received? This seems like an overreaction.

It was probably sent by one of the students that they are going to make dance. It's good they are taking the threat seriously, but it's very sad they have to.

Dangerous precedent. Make a threat, give in to the threat, and you welcome all the other &%&$'s to do the same thing.

Between this guy, drones, and the escalators, I'm frozen with fear.

Will they also cancel the Olympics if a threatening letter is received?

It's not the Olympics. It's a festival at an elementary school, with mostly kids. They have to cancel it. I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of those miserable neighbors who complain about the kids making noise at school.

Will they also cancel the Olympics if a threatening letter is received?

Hey! Good idea!

Some TV network will pick this story up and some lunatic watching will think he/she can do the same. This will only lead to similar letters. I truly understand the organizer's concern and think the right decision was made.

@Thumbs Down:

You realize that, if the event happened and indeed the threat was carried out that the news would be full of "But they had warning before!??" and these very boards would be flooded with "Typical J style! Ignore it until it's too late!" ...right?

Heh-heh, japanese have become this weak? Boost up police patrols. Be bold, go out to the festival no matter what. Don't let "terror" deter you from your way of life.

Millions of Americans celebrated just another birthday earlier this month despite worries of lone wolf attacks and or larger scale scenarios. Here in Tokyo too. Another worry free 4th July.

“Cancel the bon dance, or bad things will happen. If you ignore this message, you will be responsible.” Just don't eat the laced Curry. . . like that festival in Wakayama Pref. long ago, where they ate curry & got poisoned. For most part, (all these Festivities) and Japan itself are very, very safe. Take your chances-

They must investigate all those who have a grievance with the school, such as complaining about the noise, etc. I bet the culprit is one of those....

Pissed off monster mom?

Kaynide............excellent point.

I think it's high time to grow a pair or get the police to Do Thier Jobs! O-Bon is a very Sacred event as well as a time for remembrance Don't get put out, take a stand against this type of nonsense or risk losing any kind of life.-as you know it!

Interesting. Seems to be a growing problem, and not just for Japan...

seriously this just make it open day an all nutbags, provide extra security, have police check peoples bags before entering. now ever festival is going to be canceled from every threatening letter, just imagine if enough threatening letters are sent between now and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will they have to cancel that as well!? sadly Japan doesnt really have knowhow to confront terrorism even domestic. they just take the kneejerk reaction everytime., before thinking about the ramifications

As always, two sides to the argument. I'd have made the choice of continuing with the festival, with increased security, after explaining the threat to the students and their parents, letting them make the choice whether or not to attend. The only way to fight back against threats like this is to explain them, take precautions and let people fight against such threats with their own willpower and courage to confront their fears. Their fears are what the antagonist wants to take advantage of.

Astounded at the down votes I get for stating the obvious. I can only assume those people here who criticize the cancellation are all talk and have no kids. It's one thing to stand up against terrorism by putting yourself on the line. It's an entirely different thing to stand up to it by putting your young children on the line.

Comparisons of a local elementary school festival to the Olympics are completely facile.

the letter said: “Cancel the bon dance, or bad things will happen. If you ignore this message, you will be responsible.”

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police must be analying this leterr nows. Did it say dance or odori? etc

The letter was probably sent in by the teacher who had forgotten to order the necessary equipment or costumes for the dance. Copying that example of the teacher who had forgotten to order the buses for the school trip a few months ago.

They will track it down.

I hope so. One should be able to have festivals without this kinda of nonsense going on

I hate when non-Japanese comment nasty things. It's funny how they say it, yet people of their own countries do the same damn thing and they (the people commenting above) don't say a damn thing about it! Yall are saying that it's ok to endanger kids because a letter may be true or may not be. The Olympics is a different matter. If I remember correctly the last olypmics held in Russia was heavily patrolled when threats were issued. Why are people haters to Japan? It's sad and pathetic.

@Mori

Got a link? I've never heard of any threats in regard to the Moscow Olympics.

Boycotts, yes. But no threats.