22-year-old riot police officer shoots himself in toilet at Chofu facility

Thursday 15th January, 09:52 AM JST

TOKYO —

A 22-year-old riot squad police officer died Wednesday from severe head wounds caused by a gunshot, with all evidence suggesting the man took his own life, police said Thursday.

Police said a gunshot was heard just before 8 a.m. Wednesday, and Masaya Kojima, 22, was found bleeding from his head in a toilet cubicle on the third floor of riot police facilities in Chofu City. A gun was found by his side and the toilet cubicle was locked from the inside. Kojima was taken to hospital but was confirmed dead shortly after arrival.

Police said Kojima was preparing for his shift which started at 8.30 a.m. and went through until the next morning, and had loaded his gun with five rounds at 7.45 a.m. under the supervision of his unit leader.

Katsunobu Ishizuka, head of the 7th division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Riot Police, expressed his deep remorse at the officer’s death and pledged to prevent a similar occurrence from happening.

Kojima began working for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in May of 2005, and was transferred to the 7th division of the riot squad in September last year.

News reports

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 35 Total Comments Show All

norinrad21 at 02:57 PM JST - 15th January

I hope he finally found what he was looking for, though its a tragic way to go
Yelnats at 02:59 PM JST - 15th January

Age 20 is when a Japanese can become an adult. Kind of odd that they let kids become officers and carry guns. On coming of age day, did he wear a kimono?
dennis0bauer at 03:04 PM JST - 15th January

shouganaika by doing nothing i guess
norinrad21 at 03:08 PM JST - 15th January

Bamboohat

you just described 1984
NuckinFutz at 03:11 PM JST - 15th January

I love Japanese headlines! Just what part of the body is the toilet?
Apsara at 03:42 PM JST - 15th January

To the person who asked why Japan needs armed riot police needs to read some recent Japanese history. Maybe hard to imagine now, but there were quite a few very violent protests in the last 60s and early 70s and there's no reason that kind of thing couldn't happen again.
Wakarimasen at 04:46 PM JST - 15th January

For those who say "What a waste" or "sad end to short life" or similar.... How do you know? He cpuld have been a loser. Or a bully himself. Or one of many other things. He may have offed himself 'cause he couldn't face up to how awful he was. Or how crappy life on a cop's salary in Chofu City could be.
Wakarimasen at 04:48 PM JST - 15th January

ialwavs, you sound like someone who understands why this cop would kill himself. Angry, eh?
presto345 at 05:20 PM JST - 15th January

When will Japan realise how selfish suicide is??

I hate stupid questions like this. As if Japan means a country with people who lack rational thinking. It's more the people who pose these questions intended as statements who lack the rational thinking.
bobbafett at 08:09 PM JST - 15th January

A gun was found by his side and the toilet cubicle

he could have accidentally cocked his gun.
sharky1 at 09:07 PM JST - 15th January

Statistics show that most domestic accidental shootings occur in the bathroom. He was probably polishing his gun, and it accidentally discharged.
usaexpat at 11:58 PM JST - 15th January

I wonder why at 22 he thought suicide was the only way out?
doombird at 01:34 AM JST - 16th January

Polishing his loaded gun while it was pointed directly at his head? If that was the accident, it might as well be billed as suicide.

Statistics show that most domestic accidental shootings occur in the bathroom. He was probably polishing his gun, and it accidentally discharged.
bushlover at 02:07 AM JST - 16th January

Good on him for choosing only himself and no one else. May he rest in peace and I respect his decision to not hurt others. He kept it personal and deserves that respect. His reasons I cannot contemplate but it was his choice.
gaijinsensei at 04:26 PM JST - 18th January

Good on him for choosing only himself and no one else. May he rest in peace and I respect his decision to not hurt others.

You think his family isn't hurt? How about a girlfriend...or a boyfriend? Friends, co-workers, anyone who thought this person was special or considered him part of their family.

All those people have been hurt by this. And all because of the old mentality that you suck up your pride and deal with the issues. That's 1960's America. That's one of the reasons my Uncle committed suicide because he was raised with the notion that men have to be strong, and if there' a problem you keep it bottled up inside. We know now that there are huge psychological ramifications if someone does that...what I don't understand is why the Japanese haven't caught on to that. The more this culture continues to push their citizens to accept without question, the more their suicide rate will continue to rise.

I'm a teacher and it pains me to think that with the rate in this country, some of my students will commit suicide in the future. I don't want them thinking that the future is so bleak that the only way to go is out.