Man dies after being hit by piece of signboard kicked by angry customer in Osaka convenience store

Tuesday 04th November, 11:20 AM JST

OSAKA —

A 58-year-old man died on Monday in Suita City, Osaka, after he was hit by a piece of a signboard inside a convenience store, which another man had broken by kicking it on Saturday. Police said the victim had a previous heart illness.

According to police, Kazushi Itagaki was hit by a piece of a signboard which flew off after a customer kicked the board around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The victim went home but soon felt unwell and visited a local clinic.

Police said the man who broke the signboard tried to pay a car-related tax on a computer terminal inside the store but he got frustrated after he couldn’t manage it. As he left the store, the man kicked the signboard. Police are searching for the man who is described as being 180 cms tall and in his 20s.

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Latest 15 of 24 Total Comments Show All

techall at 12:54 PM JST - 4th November

thepro:

Do you think the guy who kicked the sign was thinking he was really cool or the guy who got hit?
thepro at 01:02 PM JST - 4th November

How the hell should I know?
some14some at 01:33 PM JST - 4th November

I don't suppose there was a security camera in the convenience store that could provide a better description than "180 cm tall and in his 20s".

No mention of security camera, but my guess - height: 180cm-20cm=160cm (at the most) and his age 20+20=40's, Headline also possible to shorten but...i am used to JT articles.
fatloser at 01:45 PM JST - 4th November

Moderator: A signboard is not made of flimsy plastic. It is like a blackboard Are you trying to say it is brittle? Where did the piece hit him, how big was it, was he cut?? What happened!!

If you know that much why don't you put it in the article?
Nessie at 03:01 PM JST - 4th November

Not enough info to determine what the guy died of.
smithinjapan at 03:03 PM JST - 4th November

The guy most certainly does not deserve to be charged with murder, but at the very least he needs to be charged with vandalism and whatever charges relate to public acts of violence. You see this kind of crap EVERY DAY and nearly EVERYWHERE in Japan. Some dumb person gets frustrated and bangs a raises his/her voice, bangs a counter, smashes something on the ground, or kicks something. All too often something else occurs when said action has gone too far -- something falls off and breaks from the struck counter, a shard of glass from what's thrown on the ground hits someone's eye, a kicked signboard kills a man.

Most of us have reacted poorly in times of anger or stress at some point in our lives, and are very quick to recognize we've said or done something that we had the power to prevent. But too many people are getting away with this crap when no one says or does anything. So, again, at the very least the guy needs to be charged with a few things, and be scared into believing he might be charged with something relating to the man's death.
dennis0bauer at 04:10 PM JST - 4th November

did the piece the sign stick in the victems head or did he die from heartfailure. The article is to fuzzy about the details.
fatloser at 05:18 PM JST - 4th November

It smells like padding, filler a...conjured or fabricated event. Not a bad idea, but too sketchy on the details. For example had the youth barged out of the store and smashed an oldster on the noggin with the door, it would be better. Convenience stores are made of lightweight plastic. And the flatfoots would have no way to connect the old guy's clinic visit with the convenience store without blood or a bump on the dome. Also he would have left fingerprints and his image all over the store...AND it is more than likely that a nosey person would have noticed his mode of transport from the convenience store. Annnnd...
elbudamexicano at 09:15 PM JST - 4th November

Very sad news for this poor man and his family and friends. Osaka has many good people, but too bad it also has these idiots. Rest in peace dear old ossan.
meanmutha at 09:42 PM JST - 4th November

Osaka is (agreed the Pro) the worst Japanese city and I live here and work in Kobe. Its like a different civilised world an hour away. (Yes we're moving soon) And when you talk alcohol. They are boozed up heavy from 6 PM and its a lethal combo. And this stunt happened in the afternoon. Anyway we hear sirens all night....
cwhite at 10:13 PM JST - 4th November

yeap, steer clear of that misplaced Asian city, just travel from Kyoto to Kobe as if there's nothing inbetween.
romulus3 at 10:35 PM JST - 4th November

Misplaced Asian City? uncivilized? 8 million alcoholics? these idiots? angry people looking for a fight? Think they are cool?

This Osaka bashing is the talk of fools. Osaka rocks. Depends where you hang out and if you can do a job apart from (ahem) Teaching. If all you can do is speak your native language and have no other talents then you will not enjoy Osaka. Its hard down here if your just a hack.
Iwrotethis at 11:09 PM JST - 4th November

The fact that a number of people have now expressed bemusement over how a signboard can kill someone I think indicates the article, for whatever reason, doesn't sufficiently explain what happened. I think actually a signboard is ...well...a signboard and a blackboard a ...blackboard, isn't it? Certainly I haven't seen many blackboards capable of killing a man in the average Japanese convenience store.
meanmutha at 11:48 PM JST - 4th November

romulus3... someday I would love a have a drink with you to get my good japan side back. Maybe Im gettin old, or maybe I just like to walkin down clean sidewalks, or need peaceful nights. I need a positive attitude here in Osaka, I truly need it man. Guess I go through the dark areas. Juso, Kyobashi, Umeda and then home. I have been nearly hit by a car in many areas and Ive seen dudes like the guy above. Anyway, my wife and son were born here. Where do the clever dudes with manners hang, like yourself? I can go weeks without seeing a white guy here.... And thats even down at the stock exchange.

Moderator: Back on topic please.
Kameleon at 07:23 PM JST - 5th November

I can go weeks without seeing a white guy here...

In Osaka?! I see foreigners around every single day of the week at any time of the year, day, afternoon or night. I've lived here for 10 years.

Osaka the worst city? Doubt that very much. Depends on what you like to do with your life: I've been to places outside Osaka I considered dumps, but most of all, the worst people = Tokyo. Bunch of expletive of your choices. Osaka people are, have been, and always will be known in Japan as the best, the most interesting, the most fun, the most friendly, but yes, have tempers to go with it too. I'd rather be with a funny, loud-mouth than a dull conservative -> Tokyo.

Anyway, this dude dieing from being hit by a sign... Come on, he must have been severly weak in the first place. I've been punched, kicked, kneed, elbowed in the head and other parts of my sexy body, and I'm still here thanks.

Still, the man that kicked the sign should definitely pay some penalty for that: you cannot go around kicking things at other people and expect to get away with it.