Man held for attempted murder after driving car into schoolchildren in Chiba

Tuesday 03rd June, 03:10 AM JST

CHIBA —

A 32-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning for intentionally driving his car into a group of schoolchildren, aged 6 to 10, who were on their way to school in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. Three children were taken to hospital with injuries, police said.

Tsuyoshi Minaminaka, 32, a plumber, was charged with attempted murder in the incident which took place around 7:40 a.m. The suspect told police he got angry after some of the children pointed their fingers at him. According to police, he drove past the children, reversed his car for about 30 meters and then plowed into them.

Latest 15 of 43 Total Comments Show All

blvtzpk at 08:48 PM JST - 2nd June

On the NHK news this evening it said that, after the finger-pointing, he stopped his car, reversed 30 meters and then drove into the kids. Spur of the moment? I don't think so.

Again, what was this about? Random, unknown kids annoying him with their pointing, or does this story have some history (i.e. he has some sort of relationship with the kids, a reputation in the area that has resulted in finger-pointing)? It would be interesting to know!
Bogi at 09:37 PM JST - 2nd June

Am I off the mark in saying that Japan seems to have a really high instance of weird crimes? Fair enough, the number of serious crimes per capita is probably low compared to elsewhere, but there are just so many bizarre incidents here. If this is a consequence of capitalism and the type of society a growing economic gap spurns, I don't think I want to be here 10 years from now. The country will be full of nutters.
Smythe at 05:28 AM JST - 3rd June

Very hard to accept that someone would deliberatly back up their car to hurt children.

For crying out loud they are just children & children will say strange things or funny hands at you-----that is part of the joy in them growing up plus a child is only young for such a short length of time & should be cherished in their children like ways of life.

I drive my SUV or ride my m/c through a school zone so close to me. The grandparents are out with electric signs that will indicate the speed one is travelling. Only once have I recorded 31 KPH by accident & most often I am down to 24kph or about that. Above all I will stop when children are crossing the street or possibly thinking of doing it with no guidence from adults. In several cases I have actually stopped to get off my m/c, to step into the oncomming lane & waved the children on to safety. A small wave of "thank you", from possibly one, is something I will remember for ages.

There are no sidewalks in the short roads to or from my home. So I drive or ride at a darn slow pace for it could be children playing on the paved roads or accidently on the roads like a trycle or bicycle with trainer wheels, or actually playing on the roads, to folks out for a walk or some one or a couple walking their dog(s). Life is important to all & especially children which is something I have never had as I am an old bachelor.
dany505 at 07:47 AM JST - 3rd June

Well on the up side for him he wont have to wait in line to get into hell. They will just move in through with his express pass.
frontandcentre at 09:39 AM JST - 3rd June

This kind of incident arises from mental illness (most probably ignored or undiagnosed), or alienation from society, that complete lack of empathy for unconnected people that I regularly see in Japan. Anyone using such a pathetically flimsy excuse to try and harm vulnerable children should be punished severely, unless they are proven to be mentally ill.

I hope that this guy has many years in solitary confinement to contemplate and regret the petulant, vindictive stupidity of his actions, not to mention the fragility of his worthless ego
Fair dinkum! at 09:56 AM JST - 3rd June

He couldn't have hit them so hard, or they would be dead. Children are little, so hitting and killing them would be easier than with an adult, because children are smaller and more fragile, and adults are bigger so actually damaging an adult with the car would be more difficult than with children of this age that are smaller and easier to break the bodies. So, he couldn't have hit them too hard. Maybe foot off the gas? Or pressing the break?

Are you serious? Which parallel universe are you from that makes any sort of violent action against kids acceptable? In Australia he would also be charged with 'using a vehicle as a deadly weapon' and would face ten years in jail for that alone. This ingrate will get off with a warning by pleading temporary insanity (since birth).
TheguyNextdoor at 10:08 AM JST - 3rd June

being held for ATTEMPTED MURDER!!!!!

Its just unbelieveable how some of you are making excuses for his actions. He drove his car into small children!!!!! He will go directly to hell, no stop on go and no collection of $200........
frontandcentre at 10:12 AM JST - 3rd June

By the way "Tsuyoshi" means strong - I guess his parents got that wrong...

What a pathetic coward
akuma1985 at 10:14 AM JST - 3rd June

i saw it this morning on the TV. this guy is just stupid, why is he angry? he tried to kill child because they looked him it s no sense.
smithinjapan at 01:59 PM JST - 3rd June

What an idiot, and how sad the overall situation in Japan; you can't do anything for fear of some maniac who decides to kill you over nothing. All too often in this country we hear, "I did it because he bumped into me and didn't apologize," or some such equally terrifying 'reason'.

So kids were pointing at you! Who's the adult here? Suck it up and ignore it.
netrek at 10:28 AM JST - 4th June

This man is a real monster. I hope they hang him.
bushlover at 12:20 PM JST - 5th June

[Above all I will stop when children are crossing the street or possibly thinking of doing it with no guidence from adults. In several cases I have actually stopped to get off my m/c, to step into the oncomming lane & waved the children on to safety. A small wave of "thank you", from possibly one, is something I will remember for ages]

This kind of brownie point post makes me sick. This is almost as childish as the guy who backs up to drive into kids because they point at him. Although I wish much worse for the rammer than the brownie point seeker.
Tokyoskies at 11:17 PM JST - 5th June

>

What an idiot, and how sad the overall situation in Japan; you can't do anything for fear of some maniac who decides to kill you over nothing. All too often in this country we hear, "I did it because he bumped into me and didn't apologize," or some such equally terrifying 'reason'.

So kids were pointing at you! Who's the adult here? Suck it up and ignore it.

I find your comment absurd. All too often??? The crime rate for violent crimes are much lower here than in most other countries. I just hate people who live in Japan and have nothing else than JAPAN BASHING in their minds. I never felt safer than here, and I have lived and worked in 6 more countries. It is a fact that you get killed over nothing in any European country and especially in the States. And much easier too.

The problem here is just that people got screwed by Yankees after WWII. They lost their culture, their ideology and identity. Another foul victim of American imperialism ...(^^)

But seriously, this man is sick and twisted and he will get punished,but this crime is not specific to Japan, and neither are all other crimes happening here.
frontandcentre at 03:29 PM JST - 9th June

bushlover - how is helping kids to get safely across the road 'childish'? Sounds pretty public spirited to me. Let's hope your children never need such 'childish' assistance.
Himajin at 08:57 PM JST - 9th June

Cripes.Someone on here can even complain about people doing good...