Univ student stabs woman to death because he 'wanted to kill someone'
You don't need me to tell you this story is horrifying. Where was it in the US not so long ago a group of young guys cited boredom as the reason they killed a guy out jogging? I wonder about the malaise in people's souls that causes them to harm others then give these nonchalant excuses. I don't believe their excuses are their real motivation. These words are translations of some untranslatable feeling or tangle of feelings, a way of speaking the unspeakable. Or maybe people really do kill simply out of curiosity or boredom and I refuse to believe that because it's the more horrible concept.
Yes, this is another crime in Saitama story. After reading the comments, I admit I tend to associate Saitama not with crime but with extra-sick crime. I wrote a very pissed-off blog entry about Saitama after the guide dog stabbing, but at least I pointed out the positive example of the man who collected money for a reward for information leading to an arrest in that case. I could easily have made him the focus of that entry with an intention to "prove" what a wonderful place Saitama is.
When we read articles about Saitama crime and immediately feel something is wrong there that goes beyond the wrongness of other cities, this is confirmation bias. Sick crimes happen everywhere, but even that statement is something of an example of bias because it focuses on a supposed universality of wicked behavior. Crimes do happen, but most people aren't committing crimes at all. Even the worst "per 100,000" statistics feature tens of thousands of law-abiding people to create their ratios.
The people in the comments who argue Saitama is hardly the worst place for crime in Japan are correct and I'm wrong. But once a misconception forms, it's hard to get rid of. We allow stories like this to reinforce our mistaken beliefs while ignoring evidence to the contrary. Even now I have this irrational dread of Saitama. I'll try to do better in the future.
Showing posts with label crime in Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime in Japan. Show all posts
Friday, October 17, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Father of TV 'talent' Rola released due to insufficient evidence
Father of TV 'talent' Rola released due to insufficient evidence
I have to admit I haven't the foggiest notion of how the Japanese justice system works. I just hope never to fall afoul of it. We haven't seen Rola on TV much since the police arrested her father, but we did see him the other day on the news. He grinned and waved and shouted a message to his daughter much to the delight of news photographers and videographers standing across the street from the jailhouse where he'd been for three weeks. Then he got into a taxi.
His daughter favors him. They have similar noses and mouths and nearly identical smiles. He's not a bad looking fellow, but on Rola these features are much prettier. The whole thing reminded me of American celebrities with troubled parents. I'm not going to name them, but you can guess the ones I mean quite easily.
Anyway, three weeks, then released on insufficient evidence. Seems like a long time to me, but, as I've said, I don't know the law here. While I plan never to involve myself in anything with even a whiff of illegality about it, there's always the chance for getting into some serious trouble due to miscommunication and from not knowing my legal rights here. When traveling or living abroad, do not assume that country has the same protections in place for people accused of crimes-- innocent until proven guilty, for example-- as in your home country. So I need to study my rights here. You should, too, if you plan to move to or even visit Japan.
Well, for visiting perhaps this isn't a high priority. No sense in being alarmist. I just hope we don't end up on the wrong side of the chief of police's desk, a la The Big Lebowski. A coffee cup to the head would probably be getting off lightly.
I have to admit I haven't the foggiest notion of how the Japanese justice system works. I just hope never to fall afoul of it. We haven't seen Rola on TV much since the police arrested her father, but we did see him the other day on the news. He grinned and waved and shouted a message to his daughter much to the delight of news photographers and videographers standing across the street from the jailhouse where he'd been for three weeks. Then he got into a taxi.
His daughter favors him. They have similar noses and mouths and nearly identical smiles. He's not a bad looking fellow, but on Rola these features are much prettier. The whole thing reminded me of American celebrities with troubled parents. I'm not going to name them, but you can guess the ones I mean quite easily.
Anyway, three weeks, then released on insufficient evidence. Seems like a long time to me, but, as I've said, I don't know the law here. While I plan never to involve myself in anything with even a whiff of illegality about it, there's always the chance for getting into some serious trouble due to miscommunication and from not knowing my legal rights here. When traveling or living abroad, do not assume that country has the same protections in place for people accused of crimes-- innocent until proven guilty, for example-- as in your home country. So I need to study my rights here. You should, too, if you plan to move to or even visit Japan.
Well, for visiting perhaps this isn't a high priority. No sense in being alarmist. I just hope we don't end up on the wrong side of the chief of police's desk, a la The Big Lebowski. A coffee cup to the head would probably be getting off lightly.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Update: Sasebo girl says she wanted to see what it was like to kill someone
Sasebo girl says she wanted to see what it was like to kill someone
Horrifying story. I'm not completely surprised by the motive. It's something we've heard before, not just in Japan but in my home country as well. Some people are curious about the wrong things. Most can take care of this curiosity simply by reading, but others are not so easily satisfied. If the comments following the story contain any truth, adults failed both these girls. This would not be the first time authorities overlooked or failed to notice warning signs that seem obvious in hindsight. Unfortunately, this became a worst case scenario.
Horrifying story. I'm not completely surprised by the motive. It's something we've heard before, not just in Japan but in my home country as well. Some people are curious about the wrong things. Most can take care of this curiosity simply by reading, but others are not so easily satisfied. If the comments following the story contain any truth, adults failed both these girls. This would not be the first time authorities overlooked or failed to notice warning signs that seem obvious in hindsight. Unfortunately, this became a worst case scenario.
Sunday, July 27, 2014
This crime shocked the hell out of us yesterday: 15-year-old girl arrested for beheading classmate in Sasebo
15-year-old girl arrested for beheading classmate in Sasebo
We saw this on the news yesterday afternoon and ended up discussing it for quite a while. Horrific in its details, this crime isn't unique. There have been other high-profile kid killings in Japan. We're interested in motivation. What caused this? The circumstances leading up to it-- a 15-year-old girl living on her own-- have their own sickly fascination, too. While some teens lead highly supervised lives with little or no free time, going from home to school to clubs to cram schools back home with hardly a break or a moment's respite, others seem to roam untended and unwatched even from very young ages. People tend to take for granted the wearing of plastic helmets and the use of GPS devices will protect their children because, as they tell their English conversation instructors, "Japan is safety." But what can protect a teen from one of her friends?
We saw this on the news yesterday afternoon and ended up discussing it for quite a while. Horrific in its details, this crime isn't unique. There have been other high-profile kid killings in Japan. We're interested in motivation. What caused this? The circumstances leading up to it-- a 15-year-old girl living on her own-- have their own sickly fascination, too. While some teens lead highly supervised lives with little or no free time, going from home to school to clubs to cram schools back home with hardly a break or a moment's respite, others seem to roam untended and unwatched even from very young ages. People tend to take for granted the wearing of plastic helmets and the use of GPS devices will protect their children because, as they tell their English conversation instructors, "Japan is safety." But what can protect a teen from one of her friends?
Monday, July 7, 2014
The newest, most annoying excuse for doing stupid, asinine things: Man arrested for pouring ink, ketchup into mailboxes
Man arrested for pouring ink, ketchup into mailboxes
And what did this arch-fiend, this master criminal, this rogue genius, tell the high-tech, multi-national taskforce that finally brought him to justice after a worldwide hunt?
"[He] told [the Science Patrol, Sherlock Holmes, Batman and Charlie's Angels] he poured the liquids into at least 13 mailboxes because it helped him forget his stress at work."
This is the second crime this week where the suspect has confessed all and used the same excuse. The first guy admitted to slashing seat covers on a local train line. Stress relief, he said. At least the jackass who uploaded a video of himself drowning a cat had a specific anti-feline agenda he was trying to promote. These two boobs need to be locked in a cell together so they discuss ways of coping with work stress.
I have a lot of stress at my job, too, but I handle it the American way. I suck it up and complain at home. I read a book. I write a short story. I make a drawing. I go hit some baseballs at the batting center. I search the job ads. I read stupid news and write smart ass blog entries about it. Whatever happened to the grand old Japanese tradition of getting blotto, tying your tie around your forehead, and screaming out Blue Hearts at the karaoke box? Joining the local festival and spending three days half-naked and drunk out of your mind? Building intricately detailed Gundam models accurate down to the atomic level? I guess that's not good enough for some people. On the other hand, this country really could use the de-stigmatization of seeking professional help for mental problems.
And what did this arch-fiend, this master criminal, this rogue genius, tell the high-tech, multi-national taskforce that finally brought him to justice after a worldwide hunt?
"[He] told [the Science Patrol, Sherlock Holmes, Batman and Charlie's Angels] he poured the liquids into at least 13 mailboxes because it helped him forget his stress at work."
This is the second crime this week where the suspect has confessed all and used the same excuse. The first guy admitted to slashing seat covers on a local train line. Stress relief, he said. At least the jackass who uploaded a video of himself drowning a cat had a specific anti-feline agenda he was trying to promote. These two boobs need to be locked in a cell together so they discuss ways of coping with work stress.
I have a lot of stress at my job, too, but I handle it the American way. I suck it up and complain at home. I read a book. I write a short story. I make a drawing. I go hit some baseballs at the batting center. I search the job ads. I read stupid news and write smart ass blog entries about it. Whatever happened to the grand old Japanese tradition of getting blotto, tying your tie around your forehead, and screaming out Blue Hearts at the karaoke box? Joining the local festival and spending three days half-naked and drunk out of your mind? Building intricately detailed Gundam models accurate down to the atomic level? I guess that's not good enough for some people. On the other hand, this country really could use the de-stigmatization of seeking professional help for mental problems.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Way to date yourself, pal!
American man arrested over theft of car with children in back seat
So police arrested this guy because he allegedly stole a car with two children in the back. Since he has no job, no fixed address and no identification, he told the cops his name was Rad Dude Thompson. Japan Today plays it safe by referring to him as "D. Thompson," but Asahi has no qualms and goes the full dude-ular way.
It's kind of weird when you think about a guy just three years younger than I am being here in Japan with no (visible) means of support. Look for the phrase, "unemployed and of no fixed address." You will find it almost exclusively in articles about arrests. I've had productive friends kicked out when their visas expired even after they went through the whole process of renewal. Some people have no regard for bureaucracy, it seems. Also, if you happen to find yourself arrested, please give a fake name that's more up to date slang.
So police arrested this guy because he allegedly stole a car with two children in the back. Since he has no job, no fixed address and no identification, he told the cops his name was Rad Dude Thompson. Japan Today plays it safe by referring to him as "D. Thompson," but Asahi has no qualms and goes the full dude-ular way.
It's kind of weird when you think about a guy just three years younger than I am being here in Japan with no (visible) means of support. Look for the phrase, "unemployed and of no fixed address." You will find it almost exclusively in articles about arrests. I've had productive friends kicked out when their visas expired even after they went through the whole process of renewal. Some people have no regard for bureaucracy, it seems. Also, if you happen to find yourself arrested, please give a fake name that's more up to date slang.
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