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Man who forced plane to land in Japan by refusing to wear mask continues stance at hotel

64 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

As some readers may recall, back in September, a plane for Japanese airline Peach had to make an unscheduled landing when a passenger was asked to put on a face mask and responded by becoming angrily argumentative. The flight crew decided to divert from the flight’s destination of Hokkaido and instead land at the closer Niigata Airport, where the man was removed from the aircraft before it took off again.

That experience doesn’t seem to have soured the man on travel, though, because on Nov 18, he was staying at a branch of the Itoen Hotel group in Nagano Prefecture. When dinnertime rolled around, he made his way to the buffet area and, sure enough, he wasn’t wearing a mask.

While the hotel allows customers to remove their masks for the purposes of eating while seated at their tables, it does ask that they keep them on while in the buffet line and moving about the restaurant. Unsurprisingly, though, when employees asked the man to please put on a mask, he refused, first claiming he shouldn’t have to because of personal health issues. When asked what his specific condition was, he offered no further explanation and switched tactics, saying “It’s not a legal requirement to wear a mask, so you can’t make me do it.”

It’s true that most of Japan’s mask policy compliance is based on common sense and courtesy, not the authoritative force of the law, so the man wasn’t necessarily being a criminal. If he wasn’t going to wear a mask, the staff asked that he at least switch to a table at the edge of the dining area, in order to somewhat reduce his proximity to other guests. Again, though, the man said he wouldn’t comply, so the hotel manager had to step in. Citing a section of the lodging contract that requires guests to comply with staff instructions, he asked the man to leave the dining area, while also graciously offering to refund the cost of his meal. Once again, the man reacted with anger, and the commotion brought kitchen staff out to the dining area, resulting in an even larger argument that ended up with the hotel calling the police, who dispatched 10 officers to the scene to diffuse the situation.

Eventually everyone calmed down, with no charges being filed and the man allowed to spend the night in the hotel as planned. The hotel also offers a breakfast buffet though, and, as feared, the man showed up for a morning meal with no mask. This time employees stopped him at the entrance to the dining area, and said that if he wasn’t going to put on a mask, he wasn’t going to be allowed in. He responded by trying to physically force his way past them, where he presumably planned to sit down and leisurely eat breakfast.

So the police were called one more time to come to the hotel to deal with the unruly customer, and the hotel again was generous enough to deduct the cost of the breakfast buffet from the bill for his stay.

The man is claiming that during the dinnertime argument he was grabbed and pushed by the hotel staff, which the hotel denies. The man also says that he plans to file a claim for damages, though his claimed injuries are as vague as the ethereal health issues he says keep him from wearing a mask.

Source: J-Cast News via Otakomu

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Pilot makes unscheduled landing after passenger refuses to wear face mask

-- City official, angered when asked to wear a mask, throws own feces

-- What happens when you wear a smile mask on a Japanese train?

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

64 Comments
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There are times when physical violence is totally justified. This fool is in desperate need for a short sharp introduction to it.

19 ( +31 / -12 )

This man needs to spend the remainder of his life locked in a mental facility.

13 ( +23 / -10 )

Humans have a right to breath.

Yeah, exactly. Which is why its really important that we stop the spread of a respiratory disease that destroys peoples’ lungs and prevents them from breathing.

Masks help do that. Never heard of anyone suffocating because they put a mask on.

34 ( +42 / -8 )

He’s getting his five minutes of attention and milking it.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Well well, so there are Japanese anti maskers as well. Its not a race or culture thing as so many right wingers here try to peddle.

6 ( +16 / -10 )

Just another man-child with a chip on his shoulder. If it were a one off you could give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he was just having a bad day. But this guy is obviously a different case.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

He should be fined the daily salary of the ten (ten!) cops who turned up.

17 ( +21 / -4 )

Ten cops! That is serious overkill and then they didn't do squat!! What was the point exactly? Entirely too nice to this clown. No way a foreigner gets that kind of kid-glove treatment. I say next time (and there WILL be a next time), send Muggsy and his goons to take him out back and give him a few knuckle sandwiches.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

Well well, so there are Japanese anti maskers as well. Its not a race or culture thing as so many right wingers here try to peddle.

You would probably call me a right winger (being I am a classical liberal) - and I think this guy needs to be arrested. These businesses are fully within their rights to require masks, and he is basically just looking for attention at any cost.

20 ( +23 / -3 )

He should have been thrown in jail after the first airline incident. There's no law to enforce masks but there are laws for interfering with the safe operation of a flight, and the safety of passengers. As for the hotel, they should have filed a complaint for interfering with business, 営業妨害 and thrown him and his baggage out into the streets.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

You would probably call me a right winger (being I am a classical liberal) - and I think this guy needs to be arrested. These businesses are fully within their rights to require masks, and he is basically just looking for attention at any cost.

you and I are in total agreement

7 ( +9 / -2 )

There are laws no laws in Japan regulating mask use-the man was within his rights not to wear a mask.

-22 ( +5 / -27 )

Forget jail, forget the police. Give him what he's begging for. A beat down that ensures mutiple fractured bones and missing teeth.

4 ( +13 / -9 )

@dbsaiya

"There's no law to enforce masks but there are laws for interfering with the safe operation of a flight, and the safety of passengers."

Couldn't have said it better myself. Aw I've said prior, this is a federal crime in the US. A judge and jury would've looked at this petulant, childish behavior, briefly chuckled, and would've thrown the book at him.

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Humans have a right to breath.

So, please write a badge informing you refused to wear a mask. Like this man in the restaurant you agree with, he should, too.

Wear it all the time.

If you or this man are suspected of getting COVID-19, and the so called right to breathe gets limited, then the nurses and doctors and first responders all have the right to ignore you.

They do not have to assess you because of your refusal to wear a mask. They will let you have your right to breathe on your own, but they don't have to take action because it is their right not to help you. They are not legally bound to put you on a ventilator, should you require one, and they don't have to put their own lives at risk because of you.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

Masks are annoying and most buffets I’ve been to recently make customers also wear plastic gloves when getting food. So put up with it or don’t eat.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

When dinnertime rolled around, he made his way to the buffet area 

There was a "buffet area" in full Covid crisis and then the airheads running it complain customers wear no masks ?

9 ( +13 / -4 )

The article does not mention the man's age, but he got to be over 60 as we have men like that where I live. Police in Japan have a very boring and safe jobs unlike in some other countries where they are used for target practice, so sending ten of them was like an outing.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Man that hotel is quite generous. Refunding him not once, but twice, not kicking him out, and not filing charges.

15 ( +15 / -0 )

While many are saying it is their right but not so in a place of business.

Not sure if this hotel did it but most hotel bookings nowadays have stated the need to wear masks.

If you don't abide then you basically breach the contract and the hotel have every right to evict you if required.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

... the police, who dispatched 10 officers to the scene to diffuse the situation.

Looks like the opposite occurred; why not just send 1 or 2?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

He´s a real life troll!

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Burning BushToday  07:28 am JST

Humans have a right to breath.

He has the right to breathe on you.....

12 ( +14 / -2 )

Humans have a right to breath.

Wearing a mask does not impede on your right to breathe. And if, by some chance, he does have a crippling lung condition that makes it impossible to beathe with a thin cloth in front of his mouth, he could also use a faceshield, which doesn't impede breathing at all.

But this is not a breathing issue, it's an entitlement issue.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Fellow anti-masker here.

I almost never wear a mask, especially when I am outside walking on the sidewalk or in public spaces. However, private businesses do have the right to require masks if they want. So I comply at those times when requested by the staff. Had the same experience at a Bronco Billy steak restaurant. They wanted me to mask up and wear gloves to use the salad bar. Their restaurant, their rules.

It is the same attitude this douchecanoe should take.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

If this fool ended up being hospitalized with Covid, I doubt that there'd be many sympathizers for him....

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Humans deserve to have the choice of wearing mask of not.

No, you don’t. During a global pandemic if a disease that kills at at least 10 times as many victims as influenza and is rapidly spread through the air, you do not deserve the choice of not wearing a mask indoors when you enter into a contract with a private business.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Graham, it actually doesnt spread rapidly through the air. It spreads indoors, after about 15 minutes of prolonged contact with an infected person. Outdoor spread is basically impossible, unless you are in close contact for a long time (riot, protest, political rally, etc). But just walking around outside? Completely safe.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

This idiot reminds me of those "sovereign citizen" types you see in the US on YouTube. I always love it when the cops smash their windows and drag them out of the car. This guy similarly needs some rough treatment to correct his deficient brain.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Bernard, no need for histrionics. Just have him removed from the hotel/restaurant for trespassing and leave it at that. It is sad that you would advocate such violence for such a simple thing.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Kurispisu: There are laws no laws in Japan regulating mask use-the man was within his rights not to wear a mask.

There is the very serious law of interfering with business. This should have been used against this unmitigated tool. Shame on the cops for letting him away with it that second time.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Humans have a right to breath.

tell that to the 3000 Americans a day that are no longer breathing due to covid19

this is a public health issue, your freedoms dont supercede the health of a country

10 ( +12 / -2 )

If I remember rightly, isn't this the plonker who was chucked off the plane, not for refusing to wear a mask, but for getting violent and offensive against fellow passengers who asked to be moved away from him because he wasn't wearing a mask?

And here in the hotel dining room it appears he's once more displaying his anger issues and trying to get his way physically. Sounds like he needs therapy.

Well well, so there are Japanese anti maskers as well. Its not a race or culture thing

No, it's not a race or culture thing. It's a personal stupidity thing.

When dinnertime rolled around, he made his way to the buffet area 

There was a "buffet area" in full Covid crisis

That struck me, too. I don't think I would want to eat breakfast at that hotel.

the man was within his rights not to wear a mask

And the hotel, being a private establishment, was within its rights to refuse to serve him.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Well well, so there are Japanese anti maskers as well. Its not a race or culture thing

No, it's not a race or culture thing. It's a personal stupidity thing.

I agree, but there are japanese people who will peddle the idea that Japan is a mask culture society and everyone follows the rules. I just wanted to point out that the anti maskers are indeed everywhere and like you said its not a race or culture thing.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Cleo, it has nothing to do with personal stupidity- at least about masks. The guy was stupid and arrogant to disobey the rules of the business he was frequenting. It is the same as walking into a restaurant topless when the restaurant requires guests to be fully clothed.

His wearing or not wearing a mask has no impact on you or your life. The same way your choosing to wear one makes no impact on his.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Anti-masker, as if it is some manner of a social statement based on an ideology or personal statement. It is a minor mental illness, as it denies the reality of science & medicine, let alone the very large possibility of infecting others. The weird assertion of 'rights' based on some misunderstanding of the term or simple confabulation is basely ignorant and narcissistic.

The spread of the virus is not limited to confined areas or indoors. It can spread outside in the proximity of others if you are not wearing a mask.

Indeed, it is not cultural or nationality. And the need for foreigners to point out the fairly rare instance of non-compliance among natives, hints at a sublimated form of personal racism.

That an individual considers it proper to physically force their way into a dining area, expecting to receive service, as if that is accepted behavior, reveals an incredibly unbalanced individual. Lacking self-awareness is only a small part of this individual's divorce from comportment, let alone reality.

As for laws requiring masks, there are contractual agreements, which have the force of law and are applicable to specific situations where an individual refuses to wear a mask. Such a ploy, 'there is no law' is quaint.

The peculiar justifications for not wearing a mask seemingly reflect personality disorders and reveal individuals whose functional capacity within the social arena are not just limited, but retarded and dysfunctional. As such they simply need to be removed. By ten police if need be, an effective means & in watching its use, very successful and allows compliance with minimal physical force. Oddly, without being overly intimidating. I've observed its employ numerous times and it is very effective. The individual is encircled and without spoken threat or verbal intimidation is informed of the situation and allowed to respond. It is not used arbitrarily.

As for the suggestion, the individual should be physically assaulted or beatdown, it isn't some version of a cowboy movie. That will not end well for either party.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

it has nothing to do with personal stupidity- at least about masks

It's a personal stupidity thing to imagine common-sense rules don't apply, as this plonker apparently did. And all the other plonkers who wax lyrical about their 'right to breathe'.

It is the same as walking into a restaurant topless when the restaurant requires guests to be fully clothed.

Well, kinda I suppose, in terms of etiquette and decorum - except that a pair of nekkid nipples aren't going to be spewing virus-laden particles over the buffet table every time you breathe.

His wearing or not wearing a mask has no impact on you or your life. The same way your choosing to wear one makes no impact on his.

Directly? No, of course not, since he's up in Nagano and I'm down in Tochigi. He'd have to have a monumentally epic spit for his masklessness to affect me personally. But the people on the plane, and the people in the buffet - I'm sure they were concerned about the impact of his pigheadedness.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

AttilathehungryToday 11:34 am JST

Graham, it actually doesnt spread rapidly through the air. It spreads indoors, after about 15 minutes of prolonged contact with an infected person. Outdoor spread is basically impossible, unless you are in close contact for a long time (riot, protest, political rally, etc). But just walking around outside? Completely safe.

Totally agree

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I abhor masks with all of my soul and never wear them and refuse to patronize places where the request is a more than a mere 'onegai', that said, if I must be at a place where it is compulsory to wear one, I'll do it.

Businesses are private entities and can set up whatever rules they want. Don't like it? Don't go there. Need to be there? Suck it up and comply.

No need to be a baby about it, just remove it once you step outside, and that's it.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

I wonder why this troublemaker hasn't been named and shamed?

My money's on the fact he's a tiresome oyaji who lights up his ciggies next to the no-smoking sign in the street and growls at anyone who doesn't like it. Or some amakudari t0ssp0t.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

There may not be a law requiring the wearing of a mask, but businesses are fully entitled to have their own company policy which requires the wearing of a mask as a condition of entering its establishment.

Thus, they are fully entitled to refuse entry to anyone not wearing one.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Must have been a Corbett Report subscriber. All the "no-maskers" watch that channel. Some guy living in Japan encouraging people not to wear masks and push back against the lock downs.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

10 police officers. Tax refund on salary cost, please. So sick of seeing the crowds of j-poice that gather for every incident. If they interview somone in the street, there are often two interviewing, then 2-5 standing in an outer circe. It's quite hostile and doesn't ever feel like it's about diffusing a situation or conflict.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Just another note on police presence. There was a suicide (a jumper) in my building recently. 4 fire trucks, 2 ambulances, and over 20 police officers. It's all so bloated and inefficient. Reduce funding of the J-police since crime is so low, and use the budget on Education which has lowest GDP share of developed nations, and increase funding on social services and mental health care.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

He's definitely a shoe in for the "Freudian Award."

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What an utterly pathetic attention seeking A hole. I hope the airline at least charged him thousands for delaying the flight. And I hope the hotel have given him a life ban.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I wonder why this troublemaker hasn't been named and shamed?

What purpose does that serve? Does it make you feel powerful to harass somebody? This fellow was clearly out of line. Both the airline and hotel should ban him from ever doing business with them again and the hotel especially should have given him the boot after the first incident. But you have to know "naming and shaming" would probably lead to someone doing violence to him and his family. That is where this too often goes and he would probably have grounds to sue if the hotel or airline named him. Now if charges were filed that would be different but it would be part of the arrest and trial process.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Well, sorry, but as much of a jerk as this guy is, and I wish the police would take him in, the fact is he was no in fact breaking any laws, and as long as Japan wants to keep the whole "can't disturb the wa" and "enforcing any legislation would be against the Constitution nonsense continues, this guy is well within his right not to wear a mask in open, public places. They want to refuse him? awesome, and he should follow their right to do so, but he's proven how powerless everyone is when someone simply won't.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Well, sorry, but as much of a jerk as this guy is, and I wish the police would take him in, the fact is he was no in fact breaking any laws,

Eh, not true. The second he put his hands on somebody he committed battery. If he pushed someone aside that could be assault. In the US the fellow would have gone to jail at least for booking and very likely would have faced criminal prosecution for at least misdemeanor offenses.

I still cannot understand why the airline and hotel didn't ban the fellow.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

rainydayDec. 4 07:50 am JST

Masks help do that. Never heard of anyone suffocating because they put a mask on.

While they don't quite suffocating, I can definitely feel the mask restricting my airflow, and I keep suspecting I am inhaling little fibers from those cheaply made masks and they are finding their way into my lungs to cause permanent lung damage.

I do put on the mask when I go out. And I am going out as little as I can. I definitely notice a shift in my habits towards home cooking despite the fact I can barely cook a cup noodle, just to reduce the time I have to use a mask.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

While they don't quite suffocating, I can definitely feel the mask restricting my airflow

Are you wearing an N95 mask or one of those cloth masks with a replaceable 2.5 micron filter? Those restrict breathing a bit, the N95 maybe more than a little bit, but a regular surgical mask does not offer any restriction in my experience.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

This man needs to spend the remainder of his life locked in a mental facility.

Mental healthcare worker here. I understand you didn't mean anything ill-willed by this comment, but these types of comments are not helpful and only promote a false stigma. Having a mental illness does not equate with being an ickpray.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I can definitely feel the mask restricting my airflow, and I keep suspecting I am inhaling little fibers

I read about a recent small study on the effects of wearing typical disposable surgical masks, by doctors at the Miami VA Medical Center. I’m sure it’s published, so you’ll be able to follow up. Anyway, they tested blood oxygen and CO2 content of COPD sufferers (with less than 50% lung function) and a control group following mask wearing and moderate exercise. The researchers found no differences in levels of oxygen or carbon dioxide circulating in any of the participants systems. This is good evidence that your body can get all the oxygen it needs and is not re-inhaling carbon dioxide while wearing a face covering.

Paper and plastic fibers will only damage your lungs if breathing in large quantities over a long period of time. Again there are many studies you can review, but if you’re worried you should seek reassurance from your doctor.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

kurisupisu

There are laws no laws in Japan regulating mask use-the man was within his rights not to wear a mask.

Incorrect. While there are indeed no laws requiring them, giving him the right not to wear a mask in public or on his property, this particular business had a rule that required wearing them to enter and use the buffet. So, they were well within their rights to refuse him entry.

I don't know why some people don't understand such a simple concept.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Mental healthcare worker here. I understand you didn't mean anything ill-willed by this comment, but these types of comments are not helpful and only promote a false stigma. Having a mental illness does not equate with being an ickpray.

He is what mental health professionals refer to technically as "a raging a-hole".

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Original question -I wonder why this troublemaker hasn't been named and shamed?

Non-answer with a question - What purpose does that serve? 

Answer - It acts as a deterrent to other morons, especially in a country where avoiding public shame is a strong motivator.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There's no law to enforce masks but there are laws that allow each establishment to set its own rules and guests have to comply or leave.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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