21 Hokkaido high school students suspended for shoplifting at LA airport

Thursday 27th November, 03:10 AM JST

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Steppenwolf323 at 05:24 AM JST - 27th November

Before we condemn these children too badly please remember a few years ago when an American (can't remember if it was High School or College)Band was caught shoplifting in Akihabara. The Japanese authorities did much the same thing the US authorities did here, confiscated the goods and let them leave. What was diffirent however was that most Japanese Newspapers were beating the story to death, especially since the group was Afro-American, about how Americans kids have no morales.

As to the other items returned, most likely the school officials conducted a search upon arriving in Japan.

Many Japanese High Schools conduct such trips. I have seen them at Disney World in Orlando as well as other locations. It is quite eveident the quality of the school very quickly when you see kids dressed properly and not in costumes. Generally speaking they are good kids, there are of course the 10% who make everyone look bad. After teaching at university in excess of 15 years I can almost tell which students are ours by their demeanor as the school is quite good.

Japanese kids as a whole however are good, honest, kind kids. Don't throw stones so easily please.
GG2141 at 05:34 AM JST - 27th November

As far as the US is concerned, if the ruling Govt. don't feel they have to abide by the rules, why the heck should anyone else.

TAKE IT, BURN IT, YEAH!!!
MeanRingo at 05:53 AM JST - 27th November

Steppenwolf... I think it is wrong to say as a whole Japanese kids are good. As a whole they are perceived to be good, honest, kind and studious. In reality? I think they are just as idiotic, selfish and egocentric as all teens tend to feel its their right to be.

As for the high number of little thieves, well, wow. It is shocking. I guess the whole Japanese group think mentality has once again been shown to be an anachronism. The five-finger fever was certainly contagious in this case. Won't say this is a Japanese thing though. I once witnessed a young American kid steal a magazine from an airport convenience store. He was there with a group of students and their teacher. I didn't know what to do with the situation. I didn't want to destroy the trip for all of the students (that wouldn't be fair) but I did want this one to fry like he had killed a man for putting everyone else's trip in jeopardy. In the end I just let it go and did nothing, but it still burns me up.
fatloser at 06:27 AM JST - 27th November

SteppenWolf's mystery band was from Texas and due to their ethnic "category". The merchants were understanding, but the media blared their not so subtle comparisons to homegrown Japanese. The shocker here is Japanese are SUPPOSED to be well mannered away from home. The school should pay for the items since they are now used and inconvenience the theives by making them pay for what they took.
herefornow at 06:33 AM JST - 27th November

Good Job, actually, even though I am not an English teacher, I can actually "read and comprehend". Please indicate where it says only the merchandise found on the addional 13 was mailed back? That is your inference. My inference, since this is Kyodo news and they are getting all their information from the school, is that some merchandise from the original eight did leave with them. This all occurred on November 13th, and is now just coming to light, so there has been plenty of time for the school to fudge the facts.
Good_Jorb at 07:12 AM JST - 27th November

Please indicate where it says only the merchandise found on the addional 13 was mailed back?

After returning to Japan, the school found out that 13 other students had stolen some items from the shops as well. The goods were returned by mail, the officials said.

Comprehending does imply the use of common sense.

since this is Kyodo news and they are getting all their information from the school, is that some merchandise from the original eight did leave with them. This all occurred on November 13th, and is now just coming to light, so there has been plenty of time for the school to fudge the facts.

That could only leave two possible conslusions; Either the school created a lie to cover-up the inept abilities of the LA airport sercurity officers(?) to thoroughly search the students caught stealing or the students have perfected the art of stealing to a level rivaling that of the street ruffians in Oliver Twist and the school is covering for them. Either way, wow.
soldave at 08:49 AM JST - 27th November

I would assume the information is coming only from the school, as the Japanese media would surely not ask for information from US sources. Students can consider themselves very lucky for only having 5 days off from school for stealing while on a school trip.
rjd_jr at 09:06 AM JST - 27th November

Two thoughts here. While this ocurred in a duty free shop, maybe it's payback time from when those students from America ransacked some heavy duty electronics stuff from electronics stores in Japan, and their plane was held up on the runway until they coughed it all back up.

Second, I think it's a sign of how far Jp students and youth have fallen in terms of integrity and morality compared to years ago. While this is not surprising considering many many young around the world are lacking heavily in morality and integrity, that this happened with Jp students is particularly troubling. Kind of like a canary in a coal mine. Definitely need to start bringing back patriotism or whatever to bring back some decency and honor to Jp youth and society.
pizzaboy at 09:21 AM JST - 27th November

LMAO, yes rjdjr, back in the day japanese youth were perfect and never stole a thing!
bdiego at 11:07 AM JST - 27th November

Wow, a lot of people here can't read. The school investigated the students caught for shoplifting and they ratted out the other 8. If you're upset they didn't press charges, blame the LAX police.
timorborder at 11:29 AM JST - 27th November

Irrespective of nationality, these kids should have been arrested and formally charged with theft.
ptolemy at 06:08 PM JST - 27th November
That right rjd jr, two points:
1. Two wrongs do not make a right, we usually learn that in elementary school.
2. Indoctrination failed in the Showa years in Japan, and would again.
Parents need to be held accountable how about that for a solution?
memyselfI at 01:17 PM JST - 28th November

Security must have been light during that day. Because they usually have secret cameras all over the place.
ultradodgy at 09:01 AM JST - 1st December

Awesome! Good for them. Japan needs more kids like this, ready to mess about and have some fun.
elbudamexicano at 10:10 PM JST - 3rd December

Darn Japanese kids! Maybe a good old fashion bamboo cane whipping like they do in Singapore would teach them how to behave in public!