crime

Visually impaired school girl kicked from behind in Saitama

45 Comments

Police said Wednesday that a visually impaired high school girl suffered injuries on Monday after she was kicked from behind while walking along yellow Braille blocks near JR Kawagoe Station in Saitama Prefecture.

According to police, the girl was on her way to school just before 8 a.m. when the incident happened, Fuji TV reported. The girl told police she had exited the station and was walking to the bus stop to catch a bus to Hanawa Hokiichi Gakuen, a school for the blind and visually impaired. She said that someone in front of her hit her white walking stick. She said the person then kicked her right leg from behind, knocking her to the ground.

Police said the assailant apparently ran away without anyone seeing him and that they are looking at street surveillance camera footage to try and identify the man, Fuji reported.

Police said the girl's injuries will take about three weeks to heal. She told police she was frightened because she couldn't see what was happening and didn't know what to do.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the All-Japan Council of Visually Impaired, interviewed by NHK, said there have recently been many incidents of people bumping into visually impaired people as they walk on the yellow Braille blocks, hitting them and their white sticks with shopping bags. In some cases, bicycles are left parked on the blocks.

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45 Comments
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When bystanders do nothing these scumbags will continue to do as they please.

17 ( +18 / -1 )

Poor girl. I hope she wasn't too traumatized and can still trust people will be kind to her.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

I really can't believe nobody saw this. It was 8am, train stations are usually pretty busy. I hope they find him, and charge him with assault.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

What's wrong with this people? Whoever did this deserves to have their eyes gouged out and hit with a bat!

8 ( +11 / -3 )

"man"

8 ( +9 / -1 )

That's a real d!ck move. Hopefully, someone saw it happen and reports the perp.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

In some cases, bicycles are left parked on the blocks.

If there is a rule against this, why not give heavy fines for people who do this? I often see non-handicapped people parked in handicapped spots because they know nothing will happen to them.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Police said the assailant apparently ran away without anyone seeing him and that they are looking at street surveillance camera footage to try and identify the man, Fuji reported.

How are they sure it is a man?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The decline of human civilization.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

I need to stop reading JT, really not good for my heart.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the All-Japan Council of Visually Impaired, interviewed by NHK, said there have recently been many incidents of people bumping into visually impaired people as they walk on the yellow Braille blocks, hitting them and their white sticks with shopping bags. In some cases, bicycles are left parked on the blocks.

I bet most of them were using their smartphone. Unfortunately common sense is hard to find nowadays.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Okay, Saitama, you've done it. You crossed the line. We're turning you into a parking lot.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

I wonder if this is the same lowlife who stabbed the guide dog or whether it was someone who just snapped and did it on impulse.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I think this earns you a ticket straight to hell.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It's always Saitama lately.

No it's everywhere. You would be incorrect to attribute a higher incidence of criminal activity to one particular prefecture when there isn't any. That's called confirmation bias.

For those interested in more details of this terrible story, Yahoo had a slightly more detailed report a few days ago, and most of the TV news programs ran the story last Tuesday. Kawagoe Station on a monday morning is extremely busy and there are CC TV cameras on the pedestrian overpass where this happened. Hopefully police will have enough to identify the attacker soon.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I find it hard to believe that nobody saw this at reasonably close quarters. After 15 years living here, I certainly don't find it hard to believe that nobody did a thing about it.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The decline of human civilization.

If this is the decline of human civilization then we as humans have been in decline for literally thousands upon thousands of years.

And episode like this is the random act of an idiot

4 ( +4 / -0 )

First the seeing dog attacked, now this girl. Find him, quickly.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It's highly unlikely the two events are connected and perpetrated by the same person. There are many angry people wondering around in public having I depth conversations with themselves. This is a really sick act, but it's more worrying that there are so many crazed people.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Many years ago at Kawasaki station, I was kicked in the back just as I was about to board the train at the crowded station. I never knew who did it. Of the millions of good Japanese there are some bad apples. They are always hiding in the shadows. At stations, I always watch my back.yoo bad someone didn't catch that SOB and lay into him.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

What? Who would do such a thing? This is disgusting. I hope the girl can recover and regain some confidence to be able to go out again. Plod had better catch this creep soon.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I hope this girl is privileged to see that blindness is no handicap to the true administration of justice.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Such incidents make it to the news in Japan because it is quite uncommon. I had heard of a hate crime a couple of years ago in another country where a man was pushed to his death in front of a subway train arriving at the station. I take the Tokyo metro daily and never had to worry about someone doing that to me just because I was different (there'd be several other justifiable reasons, though). Of course I feel for this little kid but by and large such incidents are pretty rare in Japan no?. And please don't gouge the perpetrator's eyes out for this. We've all seen way bigger crimes brushed under.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Come out perpetrator, kick me instead... If you can handle the echo!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Recover well young girl.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@smith

So every now and again if the topic is relevant (ex. talking about society goods and bads, or what have you) I'll ask him why this kind of crime always seems to happen in Saitama and he goes ballistic

Might that be because you are misinformed and that your assumption is offensive to him?

To state that any one particular prefecture is dangerous because it -seems- that way to you is misinformed. Crime statistics per prefecture in Japan are easily found online.I can save you a few minutes if you aren't bothered to take a look for yourself; Saitama ranks 7th.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

What an a-hole. Kicking a blind person... really now.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Abused become abusers. Experts should cure society's ills at root to arrest decline

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Jack Stern - Many years ago at Kawasaki station, I was kicked in the back just as I was about to board the train at the crowded station.

Subway commuters' version of road rage?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The problem, catch 22, is that neither we nor the cops are ever there. But this whole thing is a sad commentary on some fool.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I believe a law needs to be enacted to where anyone 'not' helping' to stop these crimes from happening are arrested and charged for the same crime.

I have more that once stopped things like this happening in Japan with a swift intervention and a good rap side the head.

People must start acting to help people not ignoring the whole problem.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Saitama again & again! Poor girl, my heart goes to her...be healed!

0 ( +6 / -6 )

It's always Saitama lately. But what a completely despicable act. I expect some twisted subhuman thought it was fun.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

@smith

Tell me... where did this happen? Where did the dog get stabbed? I said, "this kind of crime",

I'm sure you didn't intend to omit that you posted "...this kind of crime -always- seems to happen in Saitama." So I've included it in my quote in the interests of clarity.

What you mean by 'this kind of crime' is a little unclear if you are referring to dog-stabbings, well I know of one instance. That's hardly enough to qualify "this kind of crime" "-always- seem(ing) to happen" in Saitama now is it ?

"Crime statistics per prefecture in Japan are easily found online" They can easily be fudged, too -- just ask Osaka Prefecture.

It's outrageous that you are suggesting that the entire field of statistics should be disregarded because it may be possible for results to be 'fudged' Or is it only the statistics relating to crime in Japan ? Back it up with proof.

In any case, where did I say THE MOST crime happens there? I said 'crimes like this',

You certainly did not say the most crimes happen there, in the absence of statistics that measure precisely what it is you mean by 'crimes like this' It's logical to use the statistics we do have.

and you cannot deny that some very sick things often happen in Saitama

Some very sick things happen all over the place. That's rather my point. Saitama is no different in the amount of or nature of it's reported crimes to Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Kanagawa or any other densely populated area. To state that it is somehow different (as you did) is in fact misinformed and therefore makes you misinformed.

I do notice that you regularly mention Saitama by name in crime articles on Japan Today but you don't make similar comments when something terrible happens somewhere else.

(just look at all the people who say, "Saitama again", and are right about it).

A group of people saying something is true does not make it a fact.

"All the people who say, "Saitama again". Would be as equally misinformed about it as you are.

In any case, next time I'll counter his "best and most beautiful in Japan" with 'ranked number seven in crime' if he is feeling uppity again,

Or you could just be pleasant and not insult the guy's home.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

All readers back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

That person who did it was really insane! Poor girl she cant defense herself from that crooked person!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Oopps! Saitama did it again.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

I was also wondering if it some denizen of Saitama who has it in for visually impaired people. Time for a keysatsu or 2 to go undercover disguised as a blind person. A kind of Japanese Longstreet (Nagauchi?) if you will.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

What kind of a sick s.o.b. would do something like that?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

If i saw someone kicking/attacking a blind person, i would not ignore it and just walk away.

I would stand up for someone who cant defend themselves. I would beat that man to within an inch of his life...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I will do what I can to watch out for visually impaired or otherwise physically impaired people and elderly and small children and guide dogs and stray cats and homeless and othered people when I can and others will, too, and pretty soon the streets will be safe for all anywhere, any time. (There are stations that have more visually impaired people due to there being a "school for the blind" nearby. I went to one for shiatsu treatments years ago).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I know this guy who hangs out at the same izakaya that I usually go to, if I go out, and he's from Saitama. He's pretty rich, and a nice guy in general, but once in a while he gets pretty uppity and if very drunk starts droning about superiority of the Japanese, or just himself. So every now and again if the topic is relevant (ex. talking about society goods and bads, or what have you) I'll ask him why this kind of crime always seems to happen in Saitama and he goes ballistic and talks about how it's the most peaceful and beautiful part of Japan. He's somewhat less uppity after the outburst, though.

But here we are, Saitama again. Last week it was a guy stabbing a seeing-eye dog, and this week kicking down a visually impaired girl. If this kind of thing qualifies Saitama as either peaceful or beautiful, then I'd say the rest of Japan is literally a paradise on earth. People that commit these crimes are absolutely sick, and I pray they are caught. They prey on the weak, or even the tools of the weak to hit the former indirectly, then run away.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Angus: "@smith

"I'm sure you didn't intend to omit that you posted "...this kind of crime -always- seems to happen in Saitama." So I've included it in my quote in the interests of clarity."

And I'm also sure that your quoting must not be intentionally selective since you choose to ignore "seems to", and talk about vagueness when you do not clearly answer the question as to where things LIKE this SEEM TO happen (or at least, that are often reported in national crime news).

"What you mean by 'this kind of crime' is a little unclear if you are referring to dog-stabbings, well I know of one instance. That's hardly enough to qualify "this kind of crime" "-always- seem(ing) to happen" in Saitama now is it ?"

You very often hear about immoral and/or perverse actions like the dog stabbing and kicking over of a near blind woman coming out of Saitama, hence so many people's response on this, and said near-daily reportings. But here are just a couple of exams on this thread alone: "Saitama again & again! Poor girl, my heart goes to her...be healed!", "Oops! Saitama again!".

"It's outrageous that you are suggesting that the entire field of statistics should be disregarded because it may be possible for results to be 'fudged' Or is it only the statistics relating to crime in Japan ? Back it up with proof."

What's outrageous is that what was reported in the national news is that 80,000 incidents of crime, yes, 80,000 were not put in the records by Osaka police in an attempt to clean up the prefectures image. Now, given that this only came to light when caught, it's more than fair given police scandals and cover-ups here to assume the actual number and width of such actions is a whole lot bigger than admitted. More outrageous is that nothing is done about it. But I digress.

"You certainly did not say the most crimes happen there, in the absence of statistics that measure precisely what it is you mean by 'crimes like this' It's logical to use the statistics we do have."

Where did I say that? It's only logical to assume that 'crimes like this (ie. dog stabbing and IN THIS CASE kicking a girl with impaired vision)' means all crime if you refuse to see anything else and don't like the fact that most certainly did not say ALL crimes or even THE MOST CRIMES (on a nation-wide scale).

"I do notice that you regularly mention Saitama by name in crime articles on Japan Today but you don't make similar comments when something terrible happens somewhere else."

Let me guess where you notice me saying that -- on threads about crime in Saitama? I'm guessing you notice as well because said threads are quite frequent. And you have clearly missed the ones where I talk about Osaka (as in this and the above comment). So, wrong again.

"A group of people saying something is true does not make it a fact."

Does when it's fact.

"Or you could just be pleasant and not insult the guy's home."

Why is pointing out facts an insult? If you point out such crimes occuring in my neighbourhood here or in Canada I would say you're right, not try and retort that a blind woman was kicked down by someone by suggesting it's the most beautiful nation on the planet. We get to the topic of crimes or what have you and point out such things to he other; only he reacts that way. When we talk about Canada, Osaka, or what have you we laugh about it, or at worst admit something is a growing problem. And I'm not the only one who eggs him on in any case. All the same, dismiss the parts you want all you like, when another Saitama incident pops up within the week, you'll hear lots of people point to the fact -- not opinion -- that it's Saitama again. Hopefully it's not another one like in this thread that is lowering the bar even for criminals (and no, I'm not saying anyone but criminals is a criminal, so try not to read it as meaning 'all people in Saitama', okay?).

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Argus: "Might that be because you are misinformed and that your assumption is offensive to him?"

Tell me... where did this happen? Where did the dog get stabbed? I said, "this kind of crime", which you even quoted before replying, so, to answer my rhetorical questions in answer to you, no, I am not misinformed. Only someone who denies where these incidents happened would be, wouldn't they? (also rhetorical)

"Crime statistics per prefecture in Japan are easily found online"

They can easily be fudged, too -- just ask Osaka Prefecture. In any case, where did I say THE MOST crime happens there? I said 'crimes like this', and you cannot deny that some very sick things often happen in Saitama (just look at all the people who say, "Saitama again", and are right about it).

In any case, next time I'll counter his "best and most beautiful in Japan" with 'ranked number seven in crime' if he is feeling uppity again, thanks, reminding him there are only 41 prefectures with less crime in general.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

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