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© KYODO2 injured in knife attack at Tokyo subway station; suspect arrested
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Jay
People - especially fathers - this is a wake-up call. Don't fall for the "Safety Japan" fallacy and remember that danger could strike anywhere at any time. Anyone who has ridden the ridden the trains here (especially the Sobu, Saikyo, Keio and Odakyu lines), mentally unstable people are EVERYWHERE in this city, and complacency could get you hurt, or worse. Always stay alert, keep your head on a swivel, and be ready to act. Don’t hesitate - you and your family’s safety depends on it. Prepare to be extremely violent if needed. Tokyo is full of threats, and it’s up to you to protect what’s yours.
diagonalslip
personally, I don't think being on a war footing is a prerequisite of awareness.....
virusrex
Not only Japan is still extremely safe by real world standards, your suggestion for people to immediately resort to violence would make things worse instead of better, and depending on the location, incitement to violence as you are doing here can be illegal (and of course anybody that mistakenly follows your advice would be acting against the law in Japan and be in serious trouble without any need).
bass4funk
I agree
sakurasuki
Another attack in Todai (Tokyo University), several years ago there's an attack arround Todai, what's wrong with Todai?
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/01/946494eb2721-univ-entrance-exam-test-takers-stabbed-near-univ-of-tokyo.html
Saltwater Shenanigans
Folks, it's time to think about your families safety. Japan is changing, keep your eyes and ears open at all times.
falseflagsteve
The evil doers must be stopped,I too would use force against one of these demonically possessed as it’s m duty if I was in that situation
hooktrunk2
@JAY
So I’m supposed to be all twitchy and paranoid, ready to spring into action for the whole of my hour and a half ride on the train and bus? I’d be a nervous wreck and a basket case myself if I did that.
If this type of vigilance is how things are, say, in the US, how come there are so many people killed by general violence? Wouldn’t they mostly be stopped by your gun toting or on-guard-all-the-time people?
I hope this young man isn't seriously hurt.
virusrex
According to Japanese law that is not your duty, and any hint of excessive force being used would make your actions against the law. Your duty is to help others avoid being hurt, if that does not require any force that is the maximum you are legally allowed to use.
wallace
Japan is not free of attacks against people, but the number is lower than in many other countries. Awareness of what is happening around you, but it may not help you when attacked by a violent person.
falseflagsteve
Virusrex
I know the law concerning these matters completely and what I am legally to do and the grey lines in between self defence and assault according to the law.
Tokyo Guy
falseflagsteveToday 08:23 am JST
Virusrex
I know the law concerning these matters completely and what I am legally to do and the grey lines in between self defence and assault according to the law.
Japanese law? Likely different to that of the UK. And the US, and indeed anywhere else.
virusrex
Which still means there is no duty for you to use force against "demoniacally possessed", you can protect yourself (and hope it can be demonstrated you did not use excessive force) but you are not supposed to stop anybody if it is not absolutely necessary.
Daninthepan
Well done Mr. Nepalese man. You are lucky it was just a finger wound and I hope you recover physically and mentally quickly.
Tokyo Guy
Also...a little googling / youtube-ing will show just how hard it is to stop a knife attack from someone who is committed to doing damage. They've done tests with actual experts in self defence, who are paired up with an attacker who has a rubber knife dipped in paint (to show strikes), and even the best of the experts got slashed or stabbed once or twice. As Japan isn't the USA, and you can't bring out a rocket launcher and blow the knife-wielder to smithereens while yelling (a la GTA 4 "Republican Space Rangers) "For Democracy And Freedom!", then you're left with either an improvised weapon or trying to get out of the way.
(Only martial art I've seen which has a semi realistic approach to knives is Krav Maga, and before our republican friends start salivating over the second word, it's the official self defence method of the Israeli military)
Jay
At the end of the day, Japan is generally safe in comparison to other countries, but statistics will not protect you and your family when a KNIFE-wielding psycho charges you on the train platform. You can't quote crime rates at him or write a quick but strongly worded letter.
Tokyo Guy
At the end of the day, Japan is generally safe in comparison to other countries, but statistics will not protect you and your family when a KNIFE-wielding psycho charges you on the train platform. You can't quote crime rates at him or write a quick but strongly worded letter.
So what do you do?
If you're one of those rare people who can elegantly disarm a knife wielding maniac while wearing a Hollywood grin and performing for the camera with a one-line quip, then great. For the other 99.9999 percent of people, that's not an option. As I mentioned above, knife attacks aren't something to be trifled with.
virusrex
But they can demonstrate that by living in Japan this is something that is extremely rare, specially compared with other countries where violence is much more common.
But you will have the peace of mind of knowing this situation is not likely to happen at all because Japan is much safer than other countries.
Monty
but statistics will not protect you and your family when a KNIFE-wielding psycho charges you on the train platform. You can't quote crime rates at him or write a quick but strongly worded letter.
I 100% agree!
These people here, who think that you can protect yourself and your familiy from a knife wielding person, who is threading your and your families life, are living completely out of reality.
If someone is threatening my or my families life, I would do everything that is necessary, again EVERYTHING that is necessary to protect my and my families life.
That is called self-defense!
But for the people who thinks they can stop an attacker with nice words...good luck with that!
virusrex
According to the Japanese law this is not the case, if you choose to use physical violence without need that would not be self defense and you can be accused of a crime.
Nobody is making this claim, it is simply that you can avoid being hurt by many different things, from awareness to simply avoiding conflict and leaving the place, absolutely nobody has even hinted that you should confront anybody with nice words, that is something you made up.
100 CPM
@ Jay
and that area again!
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/01/15b05b82b681-tokyo-univ-knife-attacker-carried-liters-of-flammable-liquid.html
jalan5
A 43-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.
bass4funk
That is absolutely correct
What does that even mean???
Yes, we know what it means, Krav Maga is definitely one of the more better martial arts, but Brazilian JiuJitsu can be as highly effective, but again, it all depends on the situation
Monty
if you choose to use physical violence without need
Without need...yes, I agree.
Of course nobody would use violence, if the threat is very low and zero live threatening. (Example: getting attacked by words)
But we are talking about this case here in the article:
A knife wielding person is trying to kill you, or you and your family, and you have no chance to run away, or you are surprised from the sudden attack.
In that case Is it "need"?
Of course it is "need". 100%!
Or tell us, how will you react in that case?
What would you do in that case?
Do you let this person kill you or your family?
I don't think so...you would also use everything, including violence, to protect your and your familys life.
100%, right?
virusrex
When you need to force the situation to prove a point that means you are recognizing you have no argument against the criticism being used. In the situation in the article most people did have a chance to run away, they were all surprised, yet almost everybody was uninjured and did not have to use any violence. For those that routinely try to have proper awareness of their surroundings this is even more the case, people can immediately realize a dangerous situation is in progres and take distance to avoid any confrontation (and risk) instead of waiting until nothing else can be done.
Can you avoid being hurt without need to use violence? then it is not needed.
Mostly by not being so unaware of my surroundings that you have to be in that situation. This is like asking how would you react if your are already mortally wounded, the point would obviously be not to reach that point, which is something much better.
So no, not 100% right at all, avoiding violence is not about reciting beautiful words as you misrepresented before, it is about not letting a situation degenerate to the point where violence is the only exit.
DanteKH
Probably the ones that disarmed the guy are facing endless questions and papers signing on the Police booth, being constant reminded that he should not take matter into his own hands or some other retarded retorics.
Yes, that is the Japan police for you...
Jimizo
How would you react in the case of someone wielding a knife?
Do you know?
This situation isn’t the internet where you can pretend to be something you are not and praise yourself.
bass4funk
There are many MMA fighters who studied Krav Maga there are many strikes and blows that the sport has incorporated into its fighting index repertoire.
-Bas Rutten
-Carlos Newton
-James Wilks
-Maggie Grindatti
-Anderson Silva (reportedly cross-trained briefly)
-Rich Franklin (incorporated elements during self-defense training)
-Kimo Leopoldo (trained in multiple systems, including Krav Maga)
I am not suggesting that regardless of your fighting skills you should go out and tackle someone, unless there is no other choice and only when the opportunity presents itself, and even then you have no idea what the outcome will be, but have the skills of either Will greatly increase your chances when dealing with someone as opposed to not having any fighting skills whatsoever.
bass4funk
Sad, but you may be right. This is another reason why people refused to get involved because their good Samaritan acts could get them locked up
Gaijinjland
Steve,
Didn’t you say you spent ten days in jail a few days ago? If you use violence, I’d be careful cause they certainly have you on file, have all 10 of your fingerprints, etc - even if it’s not your fault.
But yeah, I was minding my business on my way home from work waiting for the train in Ikebukuro a few weeks ago. It was crowded so I waited for the next train because I wanted to sit down. Train arrives, lots of empty seats. I go to sit down and a guy shoves me from behind. I got to the seat first and this guy is still shoving me, obviously drunk. People are just watching, nobody even says anything. My head hits the rail above the seat and I finally just push the guy hard, he falls down and goes back on the platform. It happened so fast it was only after that I thought, what if he had a knife?
HopeSpringsEternal
Rising crime and social instability go hand in hand, as Japan's not enjoying any success of late, just steady drum beat of failures, especially growing demographic and yen purchasing power collapse fueling inflation.
tora
Hope the Nepalese has all his papers in order and has a lot of time on his hands. It's literally one reason people don't want to get involved in things and keep to themselves and even ignore acts of violence or other crimes. And getting involved will not only cost you a lot in your time you'll often be interrogated yourself.
And as others have mentioned, there are loads of people with major mental health issues wandering around the streets and taking public transportation. Had several run-ins that could have easily turned violent. The problem is many of these people are not predictable.
Perhaps it is time to drop the political correctness and to look into bringing back some version of the asylum.
Raw Beer
Strange, Monty wrote it twice: I would do everything that is necessary, again EVERYTHING that is necessary. And yet you say he's wrong because "physical violence without need that would not be self defense"
Anyway, if someone came at me with a knife, I would likely just run away (if I can). But if they came at my family, I would do everything I can to disarm them, even if it meant destroying him. That is not "incitement to violence".
Tokyo Guy
Probably the ones that disarmed the guy are facing endless questions and papers signing on the Police booth, being constant reminded that he should not take matter into his own hands or some other retarded retorics.
I can actually see this happening. For a foreigner, Japan's definitely a potential case of "no good deed goes unpunished".
Monty
How would you react in the case of someone wielding a knife?
Do you know?
I would use every fighting skill I have, even my skills are very low and I have no idea if my fighting skills are enough to stop a knife attacker.
But I will for 100% sure NOT doing what other guys here recommend to do...to stop the knife attacker who pretends to hurt or even kill you an your family, by just using nice words to stop him.
That is for 100% sure a fail, and you and your family will get hurt or even killed.
I could never live with the thought, that my family got hurt or even killed, just because I wanted to stop a knife wielding attacker, by nice words, just because I don't want to do anything illegal, or anything against the law.
NEVER!
If you guys are OK with that, OK...then do it like that.
But for me, as I said in my comments above, I would do everything, EVERYTHING to protect my and my families life, and that also includes violence.
Because we are talking her about a real life threatening situation and not about, as you said, a situation from the internet.
I hope that nobody from us will ever get in such a situation, but if that happens....I wish you good luck with your way to handle this kind of situation.
Tokyo Guy
There are many MMA fighters who studied Krav Maga there are many strikes and blows that the sport has incorporated into its fighting index repertoire.
We're going way off topic here, but Krav Maga doesn't strike me (no pun intended) as being designed for competition. It's said to be a quick, dirty and effective method of self defence, and I imagine that a lot of what it teaches wouldn't be allowed in even the most "anything goes" type of event.
Jimizo
You don’t know how you’d react.
This isn’t sone trash Steven Segal film where you’d take him out and them deliver a pithy remark.
Good post though. Praise is nice. Even nicer when it doesn’t come from yourself.
virusrex
That is the whole point, that there are many things that can be done before having to force the situation towards violence, that means that the priority is to act so violence is not necessary, not to blindly assume it became necessary so justified in using it.
Which is still not justified, you are simply assuming that you have no other way to let your family avoid risk, which is invalid.
Telling people that they should be prepared to react by default with violence to the highest degree definetely is incitement to violence.
virusrex
Which is still much less effective than being attentive and aware to avoid reaching that point.
Absolutely nobody ever recommended this, you made up this recommendation.
Yet you are completely fine with causing the same damage by not preventing the situation before trying the least effective way to deal with it.
Do anything, except taking proper care to avoid the risk before violence become an option, that very productive, effective option is simply something you refuse to consider.
wallace
Utilize the weapons you have. Walking stick, umbrella, bunch of keys, heavy bag, scarf. Poke in the eyes or a Liverpool sandwich (head butt). A strong kick behind a knee will bring a person down, as would a kick in the balls.
justasking
You're getting downvoted but this is exactly what happened. My friend knows the guy.
Raw Beer
You do realize that these attacks generally happen very quickly. It's not like the attacker makes an appointment for the attack. You might have just a split second to do something...
Doing everything I can to disarm them certainly is justified. You are simply assuming that you have a better way to let your family avoid risk, which is invalid.
I'm curious, in a split second, what options would you suggest?
bass4funk
Huh?
bass4funk
No, but it is very effective in real life situations under certain circumstances.
But in a street-fight it can be a life saver.
wallace
bass4funk
Utilize the weapons you have. Walking stick, umbrella, bunch of keys, heavy bag, scarf. Poke in the eyes or a Liverpool sandwich (head butt). A strong kick behind a knee will bring a person down, as would a kick in the balls.
And
virusrex
What does that have to do with being aware and careful? that is still a very effective way to avoid risk, taking your distance from people acting strangely, suspiciously, being aware of the possible exits, paying attention to what people around you are saying. There are a lot of things to do before that split second.
Not necessarily, if you can put distance then you are no longer justified to intervene to disarm the attacker, when the minimum amount of violence needed to protect yourself (family,etc.) is zero that is also the maximum you are allowed to use according to Japanese law. If your default is to use force to try and disarm someone that is armed that can lead to tragic consequences because it is not as easy as in the movies, and can also put you on the wrong side of the law on top.
No it is not, even in this incident most of the people were completely uninjured without using any amount of violence. It is the most common way to avoid risks.
Mostly all the different options that are available before that split second, it takes some effort to be constantly paying attention but it is not impossible.
Letting the situation degrade to justify violence is what is worth criticism, is like saying "what would you do if the only options were to hurt an innocent bystander together with the criminal or let your whole family be killed" is an artificial dichotomy.
HopeSpringsEternal
Sounds like we have some 'wannabe' Rambo's posting!
Random knife attack is almost impossible to prevent, but escape always the best option, not standing your ground against an armed maniac, which is the LAST option.
Japan's becoming unhinged as inflation rages, and its economy becomes increasingly irrelevant with second-tier technology, Govt. with record debt levels, historical aging, depopulation and the growing China problem.
Blacklabel
Shout out to the Nepali who likely saved some lives.
he should get citizenship or one of those fancy awards they give out.
Fountain
Falseflagsteve,
You should approach any such situation with caution or you would end up behind bars yourself again. I read your post the other day when you described being held for a crime you didn’t commit.
WA4TKG
The only guy that did anything, was Nepalese, too bad he left his Gurkha at home
travelbangaijin
People will believe and dream Japan is safe...until something happens to them.
Fighto!
The man in the picture looks absolutely shattered at the horror he has witnessed. I hope the victims are OK.
Big up to the Nepalese man who did his best to stop the violent attacker. Confronting a madman with a knife must be very scary - but he did what he thought was right.
Jay
hooktrunk2
Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting. That's what I do. And I am TOTALLY FINE!!!
(Sorry for shouting).
But in all seriousness, you have to do whatever is necessary if that’s what it takes to keep yourself and your family alive. That “hour and a half ride” is all it takes for one lunatic to change your life forever. You’d rather be comfortable than prepared? Fine - but don’t expect sympathy when the worst happens and you chose denial over vigilance. Think of it like this: being alert isn’t paranoia, it’s responsibility. You can either be the one who acts, or the one who freezes and gets remembered as a headline. Your choice.
Monty
People like Virusrex, Jimizo... are living completely out of reality.
But it is OK, let them try to handle such a situation in their way.
But I am sure, if they really would do it in a way they discribe it here, their eyes will be very fast open to the reality and before they even could spoke out the last of their "nice words" to stop the knife attacker, they will be already done.
And then they will regret it, because they didn't do everything that is necessary to protect themselves and their families, just because they worried about the law or illegal actions.
And we all know that a knife attacker doesn't worry anything about the law or if his action is illegal.
And I hope that these people will never let their families know, that they just would protect them by "nice words" from being hurt or even killed by a violent attacker.
Because their families would be 100% very surprised...and not in a good way.
GuruMick
Hero,s of the forum ...be aware,....fighting someone armed with a knife not like in the movies and doesnt translate to imaginary keyboard wins.
Try it with a rubber knife at a dojo against a knife fighter
grc
What’s with all the knife crime?
WA4TKG
Nice work Gai’jiSan
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/g2173/10-amazing-gurkha-stories/
Claire
Well done to all the people who took it upon themselves to intervene. Very commendable indeed.
Jay
Tokyo Guy, et al.
Alright, listen here, lad. You're being rushed by a psycho on the Yamanote and you don’t have a makeshift weapon like an umbrella or hard briefcase? Who cares - it ain’t over unless you make it over. First rule: you don’t freeze. You move. You act. You win.
Now, what do you do? You take that shirt off immediately - rip it off fast, no hesitation. Wrap it around your forearm or fist tight. That’s your shield now. A blade can cut through flesh easy, but cloth wrapped thick gives you a chance. You’re not gonna block everything clean - but it's the difference between a slash and a deep, fatal wound.
Next? Distance. You don’t rush a knife. Keep space. Use strong, straight kicks - aim for the knee. Hyperextend it, imagine you could SNAP it. If he can’t stand, he can’t stab. Don't go for high kicks, don't get fancy - keep it simple, brutal, effective. Low-line, powerful, and fast.
And don’t stop moving. Angles, aggression, but smart aggression. If you're forced in close, use that wrapped arm to jam his knife hand and start raining down hits. Eyes, throat, groin - don’t play fair, this ain’t a sport. You either walk away or you don’t.
Save this information people, it could save you.
TokyoLiving
For the whiners..
Compared to the rest of the world, the amount of crime in Japan is very low..
0.2 murders x 100000 people..
Instead of throw the usual drama, research statistics first..
It's not a fallacy or a mith, it's a big reality, Japan is one of the safest countries to live in the world..
It's a fact that hurts the anti-Japan feelings of some whiners..
Like it or not..
Fountain
I’ve read these kind of “have a go hero” comments on this website many times before.
I reckon everyone here, myself included, is not equipped to take down an armed maniac intent on causing physical injury to others.
One, we wouldn’t have time to react. The incident would suddenly begin and we would be in shock and unable to quickly comprehend what we were witnessing.
Two, human nature dictates we would seek to escape the situation.
Three, as others have mentioned, I don’t think it would be easy to take down a crazy person with nothing to lose swinging a knife or similar weapon around.
Still, it makes you sound like a hero when you write it in a comment.
Fountain
Jay, you reckon you could mentally process all that, take your shirt off and wrap it around your arm in the few seconds between an armed assailant suddenly coming at you and arriving in front of you? On a crowded train with little space to move in.
I don’t.
I think you’ve watched too many movies.
finally rich
Law books are scarier than knives and psychos.
What would you do if you saw one of these madmen crossing the street in front of your car toward a group of people?
Being a hero and doing the right thing is not an option here, unless you manage to subdue the perpetrator using judo skills or something, even tackling someone is already an extreme dangerous act for your own freedom and records, and if you think this is bs and you'll be hailed as a hero for doing the right thing you haven't lived here long enough.
Jay
Yes, you can do all of what I mentioned quite quickly if you're ready and you’ve practiced. That’s the point. You don’t wait until a blade’s in your face to start thinking - by then, it’s too late. Your noggin's on a swivel. You drill it. You train it. You visualize it. You make that reaction automatic. Because in a real situation like at Todaimae , you don’t have time to think - you do or you end up like the poor bloke getting stabbed.
Crowded train? Even more reason to be ready. No space means no escape. You better know how to move in tight quarters, how to use your body, your environment, your instinct. If you haven’t prepared for that chaos, don’t expect to survive it.
You either train now - or bleed later. Simple as that.
Jay
Exactly. Always better to be judged by twelve than carried by nine.
virusrex
Because I could refute all your arguments easily? sorry but that makes no sense, when someone can disprove something you believe, so completely that you end up without any argument, then if you refuse to accept this then you would be the one in denial, not the people that disproved you.
Specially because this handling comes with less risk and negative consequences.
Still repeating the imaginary argument that nobody has used? why insist on refuting something nobody has said? that only makes it more obvious that you could not argue against the actual arguments being used.
False argument, avoiding danger in the first place is much more effective than just letting situations degrade so you can feel justified in used violence, specially when an agresor has all advantages over you. Meanwhile the people that acted on time to avoid risks do not have to do something deeply ineffective and also illegal.
Which is precisely why pretending you can do something with physical violence against him makes no sense.
Still nobody has said "nice words" should be used as a protection, only you, even when it has been repeatedly clarified.
virusrex
Violent fantasies do not save people, much less when avoiding the whole situation is a much more realistic and effective way to avoid injuries, and you don't have to worry about being injured AND in jail because fantasies about punishing criminals made you act against the law.
chatanista
Kudos to the passengers who helped restrain the guy.
Jimizo
You are missing the point.
The ‘reality’ is you don’t know how you’d handle it. Freeze? Run? Pile in? Have a hysterical meltdown?
To use a footy expression, many(?) talk a good game. In my experience, they tend to be the ones you wouldn’t want to have around if things kick off. They tend to be liars and fantasists. I would t trust them as far as could throw them.
Silvafan
The number of these types of "unexplained incidents" tend to increase during the summer. Some could argue that there is a direct correlation with the rise in temperature, and the summer has the largest number of incidents.
I also think it has to do with the summer being right after Japan's seasonal hiring practices and the beginning of the new school year. For many, employment and school are the most important parts of a person's life. People going through mental issues tend to link their troubles to one or both of those experience. When they go to extremes to vent, that usually mean either targeting people going to the train or at the train station where they have their chose of targets (students and workers).
Finally, mental health experts and mental health facilities encourage patients to get out more during the summer to enjoy summer activities instead being in the hot facilities, but it just means a large number of people dealing with mental health issues are unsupervised during the summer season when the general public is usually more irritated because of the heat.
People cannot always tell who has mental health issues, so those conscious and unconscious micro-aggressions during the summer will create unexpected consequences.
funkymofo
Wow, you should print that on a t-shirt and wear it around- it would make it easier for the rest of us to know who to avoid.
bass4funk
And that is changing very quickly
It has nothing to do with being anti-Japanese anything, it’s about being socially aware of your surroundings and what to do in the event something tragic happens.
Like it or not even a safer nation is “not safe” entirely from violence. Violence can happen anywhere at anytime, the problem is as a bystander, do you get involved or not?
wallace
A loud, fearful scream can also be a weapon against an attacker.
Fountain
Jay,
What you are telling us is that every time you are sitting on a train, on a bus or in a restaurant you are on permanent high alert for a knife wielding attacker to suddenly spring in to action? Really?
Doesn’t seem to be a particularly sane or normal way to go about one’s life.
Silvafan
@Wallace
In Japan, that will get a foreigner arrested, and the foreigner would have to pay compensation to the original attacker (the knife wielder). It does not matter of you are the victim or a good samaritan.
The "good samaritan" laws in China are far worse.
wallace
Silvafan
@Wallace
Utilize the weapons you have. Walking stick, umbrella, bunch of keys, heavy bag, scarf. Poke in the eyes or a Liverpool sandwich (head butt). A strong kick behind a knee will bring a person down, as would a kick in the balls.
That is not true. People in Japan, including foreigners, can try to protect themselves from an attack. So, according to you, I should just lie down and die.
Under Article 36 of the Japanese Penal Code, self-defense is narrowly defined:
Self-defense is permissible only to protect yourself or others from imminent and unlawful harm.
The response must be unavoidable and proportionate to the threat.
https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/what-are-self-defense-laws-in-japan
bass4funk
You should be on high alert, no matter what, that doesn’t mean you should not be in Japan, attack can happen at any time anywhere, craziness just escape, Japan either
You can walk and chew gum at the same time
finally rich
This should be reverberated as a service to the foreign community.
Regardless of the circunstances, when the cops arrive all they will see is a japanese (99% very quiet and peaceful) Vs. a violent foreigner disrupting the harmony of Japan.
I hope nothing happened to the Nepali guy.
Silvafan
@Fountain
The same can be said of people on the opposite end of the spectrum being preoccupied in their phones which most of the public usually is doing even when they are around friends and loved ones. It would probably reduce the number of victims.
Research shows that people who spend more time online or the phones have the worst communication skills and less empathy for others.
Maybe if people spent less time online and more mindful of their environment then they could notice people going through something and could either help or at least avoid exacerbating the situation in public and private.
I would feel safer with Jay's advice than Fountain's advice.
There is nothing wrong with being aware.
virusrex
How quickly? are the rates now overtaking other countries or is it just a feeling that you have?
Anybody that defaults to violence and recommend others to react violently without thinking is definitely someone to avoid, it the same as those that recommend that you should walk around with weapons.
Silvafan
@Wallace
Self-defense is permitted in Japan, but it is narrowly defined and must be proportionate to the threat. An act of self-defense is not punishable if it is unavoidable and performed to protect oneself or others from an imminent and unlawful infringement. However, exceeding the limits of self-defense may lead to reduced punishment or even exculpation, depending on the circumstances, according to the Penal Code.
Legal Interpretation:
Japanese courts have a strict interpretation of self-defense, and it can be difficult to argue that an action was justified as self-defense, as noted in a Japan Today article.
There is no "Stand Your Ground" equivalent in Japan like the US!
Raw Beer
Yeah, the obvious getting away from the attacker has already been covered. What we're talking about is when that is not an option. When you or your loved ones cannot get away from the attacker, what then? Nag them to death talking about respected institutes?
Yes.
virusrex
And that is still the point, that you make it an option.
If someone comes and say "what we are talking about is when you are already in a pool of your blood in the floor losing conscience" it would be the same, you are trying to force a situation to disqualify the actual thing that is recommended to do.
Anything to do with the actual article you are commenting about, or are you trying to be obnoxious because you could not argue your point?
Silvafan
@Raw Beer and Wallace
It seems you all haven't read the article you claim to know so much about.
Article 36 states: "(1) An act unavoidably performed to protect the rights of oneself or any other person against imminent and unlawful infringement is not punishable."
Note that word "unavoidably"? That's what makes self-defense in Japan illegal. Could you run? Then self-defense is illegal. Should you have anticipated the violence and left earlier? Then self-defense is illegal. Could you have just taken a punch or two while waiting for the police to arrive? Then self-defense is illegal.
And part 2 just adds to the impossibility of self-defense: "(2) An act exceeding the limits of self-defense may lead to the punishment being reduced or may exculpate the offender in light of the circumstances."
Here "self-defense" is interpreted strictly as defensive actions that incidentally or accidentally cause injury. So if you block and the guy bruises himself you're covered. If you punch him in the nuts that's not covered. And judges in the past have been extremely strict about part 2.
Want proof? Just look at a case about 10 years ago of the guy trying to escape from a road rager who was trying to break into his car. The road rager got his hand stuck in the door and was dragged along and died. In most countries this would be regarded as a regrettable accident in the course of taking appropriate self-defensive action. In Japan the guy was arrested for murder.
Has Japan amended the rules since then?
In all practical terms Japanese law has no self-defense clause as we would understand the term. The clause doesn't even necessarily cover you if you turn and run and the guy grabbing you falls down and breaks his neck.
Raw Beer
No, "he and other passengers restrained the attacker". He's the only one who got injured.
Could you and your loved ones have just taken multiple stabs to the head while waiting for the police to arrive? Then self-defense is illegal???
wallace
Silverfan
You are the one not understanding. In an attack, I do whatever I can to protect myself and my wife from harm. I will use whatever I have about me to do it. If we can back away, we will do that. I am too old to try and disarm a younger person with a knife and will do that to others. If my actions are a problem for the authorities, I will deal with that then, but better than me or my wife not being dead.
If you feel so strongly about it, make an appointment to visit your Diet members and express your concerns with them.
I don't need a lecture from you.
I have lived here for more than 30 years, and I have never seen a single act of violence by anyone.
Silvafan
@Raw Beer
What you think is morally correct and what the law is in Japan are two different things. Ultimately, it is your choice, just do not be surprised what the consequences of those actions are. The same is true for any foreigner coming to Japan.
finally rich
I think this discussion isn't quite understood by people who aren't parents yet.
If you have a kid you
1-Think a 100 times before doing something risky/jumping into action as you can't bear the thought of being separated from your children (by death or jail)
but at the same time
2-You don't think for a split second before jumping onto a feral animal or a psycho threatening your kid, consequences simply don't matter
wallace
I only stated what could help when being attacked, and I stand by that. You are the one who started spouting off about the law, which, quite frankly, I and most others will not bother to think about in an attack situation. You didn't stop with one comment and posted several.
I guess in an attack, you will do nothing to defend yourself and your loved ones. I would give my life to defend my loved ones.
I see how you work.
Moderator
Readers, enough of this sniping. If you have already posted on this story, then please move on.
kurisupisu
@Jay
Thank you for your advice.
Most people can certainly intellectualise the actions they would or wouldn’t take but would freeze in a situation of violence.
Interesting that most Japanese froze on the train and it was a Nepali that aided the cop.
Had he not then the student might have been killed.
Again your advice is pertinent.
Distance,blocking and movement.
Thinking that inaction is an option due to ‘Japanese law’ will leave bad scarring, ill health and/or death-the choice is clear…
Tamarama
I wonder if yer Nepalese man was a Ghurka? Brave boy to step in to help.
falseflagsteve
People should stop squabbling and tale about the real issue. Why are so many people becoming mental and committing these demonic crimes? People ignore queer or dangerous behaviour here because they don’t want to get involved. How many family members could have been saved from abuse and death if people didn’t turn a blind eye.
bass4funk
Ohhhh, I have, I used to live in Hiroshima for 2 years and you have a lot going on, always something, first you have the Yakuza, the Yankies, the Brazilian-Japanese, and finally the Marines coming out of Iwakuni, now when you mix all that together, something is going to go down and it did, all the time, so yes, it happens, more than you think.
wallace
bass4funk
I have never witnessed violence in Japan. Does not mean it does not happen. It happens every day, but much less in many other countries.
Different people, different experiences. I didn't post it does not happen.
bass4funk
Of course, I’m just saying, it does happen.
john b
something that might work for self defense for yourself (like running) won't work if you are with say a wife and/or child or maybe a parent. also if you don't know the language of the attacker things are more difficult. in practice i hope the japanese police are reasonable; i do worry though. all this said, when something real happens, thinking about the law shouldn't and probably won't happen; self defense is primal, not deliberative.
pil123
to those who insist that Japan is generally a safer country than others is completely unrealistic.
Not having bank robberies or gangs on the streets certainly does not make it a safe country.
Japan is a master at covering up anything that damages the nation's image, in fact the media and newspapers cover a crime a day.
Just look on this site to see how many MURDERS and VIOLENT episodes happen every day to make us realise that Japan IS NOT A SAFE PLACE AT ALL.
It is the typical perception of the average westerner who comes from nations at war and of course they feel in paradise here.
Let's bust the myth of the good, smiling Japanese person at every opportunity.
The Japanese are very violent and have a repressed anger that often fires in these manifestations of violence.THERE IS NO SAFE COUNTRY in the world and Japan is certainly no exception.
virusrex
Sorry but that is a completely flawed argument, according to the conspiracy you believe Japan is supposedly hiding the crimes, but you can know how dangerous it is because they are being reported? that makes no sense at all.
No country in the world is 100% free or crime or violence, none. But there are ways to compare between countries and Japan is still considered part of the ones that are more peaceful and safe. A knife attack without fatal victims is treated as a national news precisely because it is so uncommon, while in many countries (not at war) this would only reach the level of local news (if ever).
https://globalresidenceindex.com/hnwi-index/safety-index/
Great Bird
The average westerner comes from a nation at war?
pil123
it is not a conspiracy but simply a cultural fact.
Japan in general tends to hide everything that damages its image worldwide, so hiding the crimes that are committed on a daily basis gives the impression of a SAFE country that it is not.
If you don't believe me and want to live in your little bubble of illusory happiness then just look at all the crimes that are committed daily on this site and I'm talking about HOMICIDE.
I am talking to you about REALITY and not random statistics.
Obviously if you compare the violence of a South American or American or African city to me OBVIOUSLY Japan is a SAFER nation but the fact still remains that JAPAN IS NOT SAFE as you believe,because as you also confirmed to me there IS NO SAFE NATION in the world anyway so you agree with me.
pil123
What I meant was that the westerner who comes from a city that is less safe than a Japanese city has the misperception that Japan is a safe country, but that is simply not true.
If you don't believe me just look on ONLINE sites (because of course the TV news only talks rubbish) how many crimes or murders are committed daily in this country.