crime

University student arrested for pushing his girlfriend off train platform

63 Comments

Police in Yokohama said Monday they have arrested a university student on suspicion of attempted murder after he pushed his girlfriend off a train platform.

According to police, Yuki Ozawa, 21, a 3rd-year law student at Keio University in Tokyo, allegedly pushed his 21-year-old girlfriend off the platform at Hiyoshi Station on the Toyoko Line at around 9 p.m. on Sunday, Fuji TV reported.

Immediately after the woman fell onto the tracks, a station employee pushed the emergency stop button, which brought an incoming train to a halt about 400 meters from the station platform. The woman sustained a bruise on her knee, but was otherwise not injured in the incident.

Police said the woman -- also a 3rd-year student at Keio University -- told them she had been arguing with Ozawa on the platform over whether they should go for another drink after having been out drinking with their university friends. Ozawa has admitted that he lost his temper and pushed her off the platform, but denied any intention to kill his girlfriend.

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Ozawa has admitted that he lost his temper and pushed her off the platform, but denied any intention to kill his girlfriend

"Yes your honor, I did push her in front of a train, but I wasn't trying to kill her, I just wanted her to listen to me" Stupid, and a lawyer wannabe to boot.

23 ( +26 / -3 )

Ozawa has admitted that he lost his temper and pushed her off the platform, but denied any intention to kill his girlfriend.

Nah, he didn't want to kill her, just rough her up a bit with some intimidation and thuggery. This law student is going to learn about the law from the inside.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

This woman was obviously not a "girlfriend". She was probably just a sex toy to him. You don't push someone you love in front of an arriving train. And he is a LAW STUDENT????? I hope Keio University defends its reputation by expelling him.

18 ( +23 / -5 )

This guy's a real $(#%. Apparently she tried to climb back on the platform, and he either stepped on her fingers or kicked her off or something (I missed it on the news, my wife told me this). He prevented her from climbing back up.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Sounds like he would make a good politician!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Law student. Great. He is an arrogant yuppie dirt bag already. Over a drink? Jail him and teach him a long hard lesson in patience, humility and consequences for his actions. And ban him from practicing law.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

This should lead to the best lesson in law he will ever have.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Well at least this time, he can REALLY say he was drunk !

0 ( +3 / -3 )

A agree he is a douche, but I should clarify that students who study law in Japanese universities do not become lawyers. Almost all of them go on to get jobs in other industries. I hope he doesn't get into ant companies, though.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Well at least this time, he can REALLY say he was drunk !

What, you think that other people who say they are drunk are lying?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

You heard it here first folks. Elitist Japanese kids that attend elite Japanese universities... lock him up and send a message that even Keio students can face consequences

6 ( +7 / -1 )

So, did she accept his gallant invitation to go for another drink?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Ozawa has admitted that he lost his temper and pushed her off the platform, but denied any intention to kill his girlfriend.

It doesn't take a student from a famous university to know that if you fall onto a train track, you will have a high chance of being killed. Lock this non-minor punk up!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

is he dumb? or thinking everyone is dumb?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Yeah pushing her onto the tracks when a train is coming, surely he was just trying to scare her. I propose to let him experience the inside of a courtroom and a jail cell, good for his lasw studies.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Doesnt mention how (potentially) drunk they both were. Easy to say "oh he tried to kill her, lock him up and throw away the key" but what about another possible scenario - they were both very drunk (they had been out drinking) and she got violent (something i have seen quite often, and even experienced myself), and in his drunkenness he pushed her away, unintentionally in the direction of the tracks.

I am not saying he is innocent (doesnt matter, i am sure i will get downvoted by the SJWs), but the article does not give enough information, nor can we jump to conclusions if we were not there ourselves.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

what about another possible scenario - they were both very drunk (they had been out drinking) and she got violent (something i have seen quite often, and even experienced myself), and in his drunkenness he pushed her away, unintentionally in the direction of the tracks.

It's definitely possible, but then he prevented her from climbing back up to the platform from the tracks, so at that point, he's a sleazebag in my books.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This law student is going to learn about the law from the inside.

No he won't. He'll get a suspended sentence and be let off. He is a) a law student and b) Keio at that. The poor girl is probably traumatized for life though.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

There are fights, and then there are stupid fights, and then there's this.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

That is the very reason why I do not stand close to tracks.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Wow. Such a gent.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I should clarify that students who study law in Japanese universities do not become lawyers.

This is true for students in undergraduate department of law programs, but most students in the law school system (a separate department at universities including Keio which have them) actually do go on to take the bar exam and become lawyers (or prosecutors or judges). Its unclear from the article which type of law student this guy is.

It's definitely possible, but then he prevented her from climbing back up to the platform from the tracks, so at that point, he's a sleazebag in my books.

The article doesnt actually say he did that (not sure if he did or not in actual fact). Also, if the train came to a stop 400 metres from the station it must have been much further off when he actually pushed her, so attempted murder might be a stretch. Its definitely a serious assault, but you need to have actually intended to kill someone for an attempted murder charge to stick. Pushing them off a platform when there are no trains in the vicinity doesnt in and of itself suggest an intent to kill them, unless you prevent them from getting back up.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Lock this " creep " in a Jail cell for 20 years! This is probably only a start to something that will end up with this Woman getting seriously injured by this " creep "!

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I'd say she's a lucky girl in more ways than one... not the least finding out what a scumbag the guy is.

That is the very reason why I do not stand close to tracks.

Hiyoshi is a bit weird as on the Meguro side of the platform there are gates to try and prevent anyone getting onto the tracks but on the Toyoko side there is nothing. Kind of defeats the purpose having safety measures on one side but not the other.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

You don't push someone onto train tracks without having the intention to kill or dangerously harm, especially arguing about going for another drink or not. How petty! His excuse is a non-excuse playing to the tiniest of violins.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"Ozawa has admitted that he lost his temper and pushed her off the platform, but denied any intention to kill his girlfriend."

Well, hope he 'loses his temper' in prison, and the other inmates lose theirs in turn and Ozawa gets a chance to realize who stupid it is to nearly kill someone over something absolutely meaningless. Unfortunately, it's unlikely he'll get any time. I hope at the very least he is expelled and given a criminal record, and I hope the woman stays far, far away from this lunatic.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

And they say love is dead.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

yawn, his parents will just pay the University more money to sweep it under the rug as they did to get him accepted. Just another baka-musuko getting a free ride thru life.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He should be punished by asking him to do overtime at Dentsu haha

3 ( +3 / -0 )

We Japanese sometimes do get a little carried away when drinking too much. That is why it is common when us Japanese have done something wrong to blame it on alcohol. What he did was wrong but most importantly the the girl is okay. I'm sure he has reflected upon his misjudgment and apologized profusely to the girl and her family for his behaviour.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Another over reaction to something so pointless... Japanese men just seem to react in such an over the top way to the slightest thing. Why is that?

She should dump this waste of DNA and try to forget he ever existed. I'm relieved she suffered only minor bruising

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Another over reaction to something so pointless... Japanese men just seem to react in such an over the top way to the slightest thing. Why is that?

Nothing to do with being Japanese. Men overreact all over the world. But your question about why that is is a good one.

Unfortunately a lot of guys are not good at controlling their temper.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

tiger_tanaka at Nov. 08, 2016 - 05:03PM JST We Japanese sometimes do get a little carried away when drinking too much. That is why it is common when us Japanese have done something wrong to blame it on alcohol. What he did was wrong but most importantly the the girl is okay. I'm sure he has reflected upon his misjudgment and apologized profusely to the girl and her family for his behaviour.

That makes it ok does it? So, you are saying that people can do whatever like like as long as they apologise and bow deeply a few times?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Stewart Gale Please have more faith in us Japanese. Of course we condemn his actions but we believe in reform rather than punishment. It would be a waste of life for a student of such an elite university to spend the rest of his life in a cell. As long has he pays appropriate compensation and apologizes profusely he should be allowed to continue his life as normal, don't you agree?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

As long has he pays appropriate compensation and apologizes profusely he should be allowed to continue his life as normal, don't you agree?

Add 'and gets anger management counseling' to that, and I'd agree myself.

Many JT posters just want vengeance though.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@tiger_tanaka I completely disagree. I believe in there being consequences for such criminal behaviour and I believe in appropriate punishments. Without this there is no deterrent for reoffending or other criminal acts.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

@tiger_tanaka

As long has he pays appropriate compensation and apologizes profusely he should be allowed to continue his life as normal, don't you agree? Until he gets "a little carried away" and tries to kill someone again, this time possibly succeeding?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

she had been arguing with Ozawa on the platform over whether they should go for another drink after having been out drinking with their university friends.

Maybe he already failed to take control of his drinking after the first party if not drank himself under the table. But he definitely crossed the line when he pushed his girlfriend off the platform.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It would be a waste of life for a student of such an elite university to spend the rest of his life in a cell.

Few people are saying he should be punished to this length, but (depending on what happened) a full year in prison would make him really think twice about his action.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As long has he pays appropriate compensation and apologizes profusely he should be allowed to continue his life as normal, don't you agree?

Nope.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

He won't go to prison because he's already denying it and the police need a confession. If he goes to Keio his father probably went there too and has a respectful job and knows people. Japanese males have control issues, hence so many stabbings, they just snap. How is it a waste of life for a student of such an elite university to spend the rest of his life in a cell when he can't think right after a few drink and could've killed the girl if the train was closer? This guy will never be anything anyway.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Strangerland, being a bloke I can understand that macho guys get pushy etc... I don't, and to be honest not many people I know do, but Japanese blokes do seem to have control issues, as Valance said above. I've seen it first hand, pushing their female partners/girlfriends/wives as if they were a bully swatting a kid who had annoyed them.

For this guy to say he didn't mean it... nah, I don't buy it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

To the gaikokujin living in Japan, the Japanese kokoro may be difficult to understand. For us Japanese Keio is an elite university that is highly respected by us and I am sure the young man has studied very hard to get there. Not only himself but also both his parents have most likely worked very hard to support him. He is their pride and honour. The family have already lost face due to his unfortunate actions. To deny him a future over a moment of madnesses would be a waste.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

I wonder what type of punishment will this guy get... also if a foreigner would have committed the same offence then how hard would the prosecutors gone for him. We will just have to wait and see the outcome of this case. Bottom line should be that regardless of nationality one rule should apply for all that is : " Pay the price of you do the crime "

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Strangerland, being a bloke I can understand that macho guys get pushy etc... I don't, and to be honest not many people I know do, but Japanese blokes do seem to have control issues, as Valance said above.

I'm not claiming Japanese guys don't get pushy. What I'm saying is that this happens with guys in all cultures, this isn't something special or particular to the Japanese.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@tiger_tanaka I don't care if it's a highly intelligent student at a prestigious university or a homeless man living under a bridge, if you commit a serious crime you should be punished to the full letter of the law. So, for example, if an elite student from an elite university attacks you and burns down your house you would be quite happy to accept an apology and that would be the end of it? Your argument is very strange and surely not the viewpoint of the average sensible Japanese person.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Stewart Gale We Japanese pride ourselves for our harmony and peace. Our crime rate is very low. Unlike a country like America where guns are freely in circulation and there is a high murder rate we Japanese do not need to have the same strict laws to deter offenders. We are also a country that places great importance on hierarchy and ranking so of course it makes sense to us to favour an elite Keio student over someone who dropped out of high school.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

To the gaikokujin living in Japan, the Japanese kokoro may be difficult to understand. For us Japanese Keio is an elite university that is highly respected by us and I am sure the young man has studied very hard to get there. Not only himself but also both his parents have most likely worked very hard to support him. He is their pride and honour. The family have already lost face due to his unfortunate actions. To deny him a future over a moment of madnesses would be a waste.

The way you describe it, it's pretty easy to understand. The attacker's future is more important than the victim's life. Did you ever stop to consider what a "waste" it would be if the girl had died because this guy got drunk and "carried away"? I suppose her parents didn't work hard to support her, she isn't their pride and honor? It's OK if she gets killed by some guy that couldn't control his emotions just because he happens to go to an elite university?

You say you support reform rather than punishment, but how exactly does apologizing equal reform? The guy goes free, and then repeats the same thing because he knows he can just apologize and get away with no consequences. It's an extremely naive way of thinking.

Saying "I was drunk", "I don't remember anything" and "I got irritated" doesn't absolve you of responsibility. Going to an elite university and studying hard doesn't absolve you of responsibility. Your parents working hard to support you doesn't absolve you of responsibility.

I find it incredible that I actually have to point this out to someone.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@tiger_tanaka You are own your on this thread with this bizarre way of thinking. How harmonious and peaceful is it to throw someone in front of a moving train? While gun crime is not a problem here there seems to be plenty of random and premeditated knife crime but as long as the perpetrator is from a good family you think they should be shown leniency. I find this quite unbelievable and offensive. I hope you are joking.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The way you describe it, it's pretty easy to understand. The attacker's future is more important than the victim's life. Did you ever stop to consider what a "waste" it would be if the girl had died because this guy got drunk and "carried away"?

But she didn't die. If she had, then lock him up forever. As it stands, he made a huge mistake, and should pay. But pay for the rest of his life? No chance of reform? No way to repent? Seems pretty extreme.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@Stewart Gale I am just expressing how we Japanese think to build a better understanding between us Japanese and the gaikokujin living in Japan. The most important thing is the girl is safe with only a few minor bruises. I hope we can find another topic which we will be able to agree upon.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

We are also a country that places great importance on hierarchy and ranking so of course it makes sense to us to favour an elite Keio student over someone who dropped out of high school.

But the young women didn't drop out of high school, did she? She too was a Keio student. So?

Why do you believe in hierarchy? Rules for the rich and different rules for the poor, if that is what you believe, then I suppose you believe it woulbe acceptable for the ruling elite to summarily execute peasants (the working poor)?

To the gaikokujin living in Japan, the Japanese kokoro may be difficult to understand.

There is no "Japanese kokoro," its garbage. Japan is a country, you are a Japanese citizens- not a different race. Japan is home to a unique society with its own customs- not a race. Yoy xannot boil everything down to race.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@strangerland Nobody is saying he should be locked up forever, just punished accordingly for the crime, be that attempted murder or whatever charge is brought against him. I presume there were CCTV cameras on the platform so a clear picture of the circumstances will be able to be seen. @tiger_tanaka I agree, it's good that she was unharmed. That's as far as my agreeing with you will go.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@strangerland Nobody is saying he should be locked up forever, just punished accordingly for the crime, be that attempted murder or whatever charge is brought against him.

I think that we're on the same with that then. I think the difference lies that I think a punishment that pushes for reform is preferable, rather than one that is focused purely on punishment and ruining the rest of his life.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@strangerland What kind of reform style punishment would you advocate? One thing is for certain though, handing over a wad of cash and saying sorry is completely unacceptable.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

At the very least, anger management counseling. Potentially some custodial time as well - maybe weekends, allowing him to continue school, while spending weekends in jail for 6 months or so. Some community hours would be good as well, and a curfew.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

But she didn't die. If she had, then lock him up forever. As it stands, he made a huge mistake, and should pay. But pay for the rest of his life? No chance of reform? No way to repent? Seems pretty extreme.

I never advocated that he be put away for the rest of his life. All I'm arguing against is tiger_tanaka's bizarre attitude of "he goes to an elite university, so as long as he pays appropriate compensation and apologizes profusely he should be allowed to continue his life as normal". This is attempted murder and should be tried accordingly.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I agree with you.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

We are also a country that places great importance on hierarchy and ranking so of course it makes sense to us to favour an elite Keio student over someone who dropped out of high school.

Really hate my neighbour, thinking about killing him- should probably apply for elite university.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Long time ago, a Keio student died from acute alcohol intoxication after too much of bottom-ups drinking(Ikki-nomi) at freshmen/women wecome party (Konpa). He didnot hurt or deceive or rape anyone, and yet, it became quite shocking news among Keio students.

Now rape crimes by Tokyo Univ, Keio Univ, Waseda Univ. Some those students got busted related to frauds and This. What's been going so wrong.

Keio is not particularly a school of elites. IMO by the way.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Keio is seen as an "elite" university by Japanese, but in the global rankings it is nowhere, between 601-800 th place. Just because all the rich kids go there doesn't automatically make it any good.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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