crime

17-year-old boy arrested for fatally stabbing man on street in Aichi

63 Comments

Police in Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture, said Sunday they have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of fatally stabbing a 65-year-old as he walked home last Sunday night.

According to police, the victim, Norimichi Kawamura, was found lying on the sidewalk, with blood coming from his neck, at around 8:30 p.m. on July 12. He had at least 10 stab wounds in his neck and face. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said the victim had been at a function at a nearby community hall and had stopped at a convenience store on his way home. Surveillance camera footage outside the store showed the suspect follow the victim after he left the store, Fuji TV reported.

Kawamura's shoulder bag, containing 6,000 yen, was missing after the attack.

Police questioned the boy on Saturday, at which he point he admitted to killing Kawamura, Fuji reported. He said he threw the bag away about 300 meters from the murder scene, where it was found in a clump of grass. The money was still in the bag.

The boy was quoted as saying he had been under a lot of stress recently and that he didn't attack Kawamura with the intent to rob him. He lives with his grandparents, while his parents live elsewhere.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

63 Comments
Login to comment

So the victim was the guy, who was vocal about the yakuza buying a new HQ building in his neighbourhood.

Typical yak hit, use an underage foot-soldier, who will get off lightly. Why is this angle not being investigated?

Local constabulary, in the pockets of crime bosses, nae wonder.

6 ( +18 / -12 )

Ah the ubiquitous stress excuse

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Alistair

I have been in Japan for decades and have never heard of any case where yakuza used a minor to carry out a murder. I think this is just another angry youth who snapped and took it out on the first person he saw.

9 ( +14 / -5 )

One word, brainiac.. 'Blinkers'.

I also read that it was young 'chimpira' that slashed the face of director Juzo Itami, after his film 'Minbo no onna' blew the lid off of a lot of their schemes and practices.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

And it just happened to be a guy who publicly voiced anti-yakuza sentiment right before it happened?

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Some people see conspiracies around every corner. Pulp fiction writer maybe?

0 ( +8 / -8 )

He should be tried as an adult criminal rather than as a juvenile.

15 ( +16 / -1 )

17 years stressed from Pachinko parlor losses killed an innocent man ... Tomorrow he will be free because he is a minor and unfit to stand trail ...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Read the article again.... The money was still in the bag !

If it was someone needing money for pachinko, why throw away his bag, which contained money, he had just withdrawn from a convenience store ATM ?

6 ( +13 / -7 )

Read the article again.... The money was still in the bag !

Just as you tell someone to read the article I suggest you do the same, your theories are outlandish at best and sound like someone who is well.........

The kid was stressed out, he had no specific target in mind, (there are other news sources besides here). You conspiracy theories are off the mark, not even close, try again.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

What are you insinuating ?

0 ( +5 / -5 )

We come across strange crimes happening in recent Japan. Are they sick in mind? Are there problems in the society? Are there problems in educations? Is it happening becaouse of lacking of disciplines in society? Lazy or dumb scholars cannot find the causes.

1 ( +4 / -2 )

the victim was the guy, who was vocal about the yakuza buying a new HQ building in his neighborhood.

@Alistair Is it a fact that the man was voicing opinions against the yakuza, or is it just conjecture on your part? The way you have stated it makes it sound like a fact — if so, I would be interested to know where you heard it.

I did a precursory search of the Japanese news sources and couldn't find any mention of yakuza/boryokudan in relation to this story. What I did learn is that Mr. Kawamura was the head of his local neighborhood association (jichikai no kaicho), and he was on his way home from a jichikai meeting on the neighborhood's bonodori festival when he was murdered. RIP.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

I agree with Alistair, the victim was in opposition to something someone was trying to do. He was in a position to stop it. The 17 yr old knew about the meeting and also knew who the victim was. I don't believe this was a random stabbing. After the murder, the others in the 'neighborhood association' got the message. I'm pretty sure that whatever was being opposed had lost all opposition at this point.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I feel that many young children (although I dont know 17 years old man is whether child or not) commit serious crime because of daily stress. Are there any ways to reduce stress ecept to kill someone?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Stress is an ambiguous term. Show me a 17 year old who is not under stress. This lad is very sick.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

CrazyJoe, ditto that. Recently, there was another case where a juvenile killed 3 people and his sentence was 4-8 years in prison. The consequences for juvenile here is too light to say the least.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

What are you insinuating ?

That perhaps you're trying to make this into a story it is not?

I agree with Alistair, the victim was in opposition to something someone was trying to do. He was in a position to stop it. The 17 yr old knew about the meeting and also knew who the victim was. I don't believe this was a random stabbing. After the murder, the others in the 'neighborhood association' got the message. I'm pretty sure that whatever was being opposed had lost all opposition at this point.

Do you have ANY proof of any of this or are you like Alistair and also hoping for more drama? I highly doubt any 17 year old, supposedly hired to kill or not, personally knew this guy. Do you know for a fact that others in the association "got the message"? Have you actually spoken to people? I love when foreigners here try and get in on the drama or pretend they have some sort of secret insider info.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

For years I was hounded and harangued by these vigilantes in the jijikais,for no apparent reason ..just going about my business of trying to earn an honest bacon to bring home to my family. They were vicious and unrelenting. I don't know if this was a payback by someone who couldn't take the pressure, but just think, how many people on the brink of snapping are put in charge of watching over others who are also on the brink? It seems like Japan really needs take a societal endoctomy.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

What are you insinuating ?

Insinuating? Hmm...someone comes on this page, starts spouting theories that are written like they are fact, give no evidence to bad up the information posted and you have to wonder?

17 years stressed from Pachinko parlor losses killed an innocent man .

BTW if you didnt know one has to be 18 or older here to play pachinko, and where I live they are VERY strict about it as cops often patrol the parlors along with members of neighborhood associations, so unless you have some facts to share that have not been otherwise reported...........

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I'm just wondering if there isn't a "link" between the fact he is living with his grandparents, his parents are living somewhere else ? -Probably has nothing to do with it but the story of the young girl wanting to "dissect" someone, comes to mind...)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

strange story

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Cowardly attack on a senior! May he rest in peace. The suspectis a minor and obviously troubled, but he is not a child and if the circumstances happened as reported, he is responsible for the old mans violent murder.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So the victim was the guy, who was vocal about the yakuza buying a new HQ building in his neighbourhood.

He was? Where did it say that? I don't see it anywhere in the article, and others haven't been able to find any other mention of it. It sounds like something you just made up, or read by someone who made it up.

Typical yak hit, use an underage foot-soldier, who will get off lightly.

That's not a typical Yak hit at all. Why would you think that?

Why is this angle not being investigated?

How do you know it's not being investigated? Are you privy to inside information to know what is being investigated and what isn't?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Hopefully, that thing will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law which includes the death penalty. It should be caned prior to the execution. It is shocking that such violent crime ever occurs in Japan which is one of the safest places in the world. Additionally, I understand Japan has Koubans scattered around to ensure optimal safety, strict gun laws and a culture where if one commits a crime, shame is brought to the entire family. That being said crime especially violent crime should be zero.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It is shocking that such violent crime ever occurs in Japan which is one of the safest places in the world.

Huh? Are you living in a dream world? Japan is relatively safe, but crime, violent crime, occurs here daily. Please dont go around being "shocked" that crime happens here and quit reading too much into what you think about the culture. You are quite off track from the reality.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The poor man died, what bring a 17 yrs old to this point, where he took a life and if what he is saying is right that he killed a person because he was in stress then it is alarming because stress is everywhere and it engulfs everybody, is there any system for stress management especially for kids.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Safety Japan " strikes again.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

that being said crime especially violent crime should be zero.

Crime will never be zero. Ever. Trying to achieve that goal is a waste of time. Instead we need focus on keeping rates as low as possible.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Plenty of messed up youths out there. Sometimes there is no connection to victim just wrong place wrong time.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

17 year old = minor He'll get a lenient sentence. They've got to change that archaic law.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Bottom line for me.... as much as I like Japan and know overall its quite a safe place.... I will always keep my eyes open and try to be aware of what is going on around me.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

This stress excuse is starting to annoy me.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Do posters here not understand the difference between a reason and an excuse?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Definitely a yak hit, the circumstances are just too suspicious, an old guy fighting against the build of a yamaguch gumi company in his neighborhood, gets killed by a seven teen year old fall guy on his way back from a meeting concerning his roach problem...

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Definitely a yak hit

I agree based on the absolutely no evidence whatsoever pointing to that conclusion.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Definitely a yak hit, the circumstances are just too suspicious, an old guy fighting against the build of a yamaguch gumi company in his neighborhood, gets killed by a seven teen year old fall guy on his way back from a meeting concerning his roach problem...

You know little of anything of the yakuza if you think they send a child to do a man's job. Along with what strangerland wrote too.....

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

We come across strange crimes happening in recent Japan

After 'recent' just substitute any country name. I doubt the world was much different centuries ago, except we did not have internet or the media like we have today.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

As a person living 2 kilometers from the place where it happens, I'm bound to know a little more about this case...and yes they won't hesitate to use a kid, as he won't be tried as an adult...any idea how many high school rejects riding their little bikes long for a place in the yakuza world... Of course it can be all just a very convenient coincidence....

0 ( +3 / -3 )

As a person living 2 kilometers from the place where it happens, I'm bound to know a little more about this case

No you're not. Proximity means nothing. So what are you basing this yakuza speak on? What is the source of your information?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

On the fact that they're building a yakuza company near my house, and the fact that the number 2 of them build a house there 1 year ago, and the fact that I have direct contact with this anti yakuza group.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

flying_dd

This was not a yakuza killing, no matter what you think you know about yakuza. Look at the psychology. My guess is that this 17-year-old youth snapped for reasons we don't know. He killed in a frenzy, stabbing the poor guy more than 10 times.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Let's hope so, the folks here here have given up on their protest, which means that lots of folks who have built there houses around there are stuck with a worthless piece of land. The timing couldn't be worse...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

On the fact that they're building a yakuza company near my house,

Yakuza can't build a factory in Japan.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Who said factory...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

On the fact that they're building a yakuza company near my house, and the fact that the number 2 of them build a house there 1 year ago, and the fact that I have direct contact with this anti yakuza group.

That may or may not be a fact, but by no means is it a smoking gun either.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

That may or may not be a fact, but by no means is it a smoking gun either.

True...where's Conan when you need him..

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Who said factory...

You did.....

On the fact that they're building a yakuza company.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Manchurian candidate or stressed out, a life was lost Sad, but from experience, many of these neighborhood watch people behave as if they are the law unto themselves, they'll want to deal with situations on the spot instead of liasing with the cops for further appropriate action. They certainly need to review their MOs.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

On the fact that they're building a yakuza company near my house, and the fact that the number 2 of them build a house there 1 year ago, and the fact that I have direct contact with this anti yakuza group.

Just as you can write fiction so can I.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

You did..... Ah company, factory mmm I get your confusion. Well a yakuza company won't have a sign on the front written "Yakuza&co", they go for something more clever like "hellbound Kitty" or "yamada real estate".

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan really does need to make sure that certain crimes that any "minor" should be tried as an adult. Especially murder. The man was stabbed 10 times! Not once. Plus the duration of the judgment for murder shouldn't be so short. If one takes someone elses life, then they should lose a large portion of their life behind bars. Instead of a couple of years, extend that to a decade or more. Take a decade and when they're released they'll certainly feel the loss of time that they could have had in their life for taking another's.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This was a yak influenced job where a 17 year old was looking to prove his loyalty to the ranks. I know this is hard to believe by people who are not use to everyday crime as such but its common in places where there are gangs in most of the large cities in the US and other countries!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Many upon many of people in Japan have been vocal about Yakuza moving into their neighborhood and they lived to tell the story in one piece. This ain't no Coppolla or Scorcese flick....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Since when does "company" mean "factory"?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I wrote that on purpose, seeing as how people were tossing outlandish reasons for why the guy got killed, I just added my own bit of BS.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Flying, 2km? So what? I have lived much closer to yaks and can tell you I certainly didn't think I knew more than others.

And frankly, I think yaks living in the area is a good thing. Less likely to be crime as any idiot would be wise to stay away if they want to rob houses, molest kids...

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Let's hope so, the folks here here have given up on their protest, which means that lots of folks who have built there houses around there are stuck with a worthless piece of land. The timing couldn't be worse...

Woudn't it be a pity if these Yakuza houses mysteriously happened to burn down?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japan is relatively safe, but crime, violent crime, occurs here daily.

japan is one of the safest countries out there, you have no idea what your talking about

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

usajapan2001JUL. 26, 2015 - 06:42AM JST Japan is relatively safe, but crime, violent crime, occurs here daily. japan is one of the safest countries out there, you have no idea what your talking about

Not that safe according to the 2015 Global Peace Index. Only ranked 8th.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3134953/Safety-Try-Iceland-holiday-s-officially-peaceful-country-world-UK-ranked-39th-94th.html

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I don't agree with Alistar. That doesn't sound like something that group would do. And Shopenhauer? It's like that everywhere. It has nothing to do with the Japan's culture. Please do research before you bash on their culture. You'll learn a lot and feel stupid for that comment. Please think before you speak or in this case, type. You will sound stupid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites