at least he didn't get super hurt

Snakeman

@108: This seems a little misdirected. Police were checking bags in a place where 7 people were killed recently (ie, enforcing laws, perhaps about carrying knives or not killing people) and you want to compare it to smoking? I'm not getting the connection.

Are you saying that it would be better for these police officers to be walking around stopping people from smoking than to be protecting a sensitive area of Tokyo?

phinehas

@Snake726:
I think the reason might be that noone can walk away with his gun.

infi

@Brian Ashcraft: Yes I can confirm that! Even cop on bicycles have guns.

Akulina

They'll need the death notebook...

bubble-bee

@ManjiKengo: It's clearly a baton, and yes his pistol has a cord attached to it...kind of odd for a police officer to have, as he's not say, fast-roping out of a helicopter or really doing anything where it might drop.

Snake726

@ManjiKengo:

Your guess might even be below the actual number. I read some statistics a few years ago about yearly deaths by firearms and while most countries in the world stood below 30, the USA was at 15,000. Therefore it's definitely not hard to imagine that this could as well be true.

alextz

So that was what happened.
I was there today, plenty of officers around the area of the new sofmap (where the last killings happened). Around 12pm-ish. Still nothing had happened, just this guys everywhere.

Got myself something to eat, and on my way back I hear the ambulance. For what I say it was around the area of the Taito Arcade, close to the Tora no Ana.

I would say that next time I'll just take a picture on my cellphone (like many people did), but I don't want any next time.

inu

I hope this isn't a sign of a rising violent environment in Akiba. :/

BPMλ

Oh wow.

I'm actually genuinely surprised that this happened.

Kind of wondering if and when Japanese law enforcement is going to start doing their job. You know, enforcing laws.

In other news, in Suginami-ku (where I live and work), the act of smoking a cigarette while walking down the street is apparently punishable by a fine of more than 10,000 yen, though I don't think I've ever seen it enforced. In my own neighborhood three nights ago, a police officer grabbed my arm as I stood in front of my apartment door, feeling around for my key. I hadn't heard him calling me because of my iPod; he asked me what the hell I was doing at this fancy apartment building. I told him I lived there. I unlocked the door; he turned away without apologizing.

On the way from the station to my apartment, I distinctly recall crossing paths with five men who were smoking, walking, and talking loudly on their cellular phones.

What's the point of the "NO SMOKING" signs plastered all over the sidewalks? Seeing as how much people look at their feet while walking in Tokyo, you figure everyone would know by now.

The police need to start enforcing that shit, and not checking pedestrians' bags.

I mean, that was a hell of a lottery ticket right there: checking the bag of the one guy who had a knife and was willing to stab.

I guess I can look forward to even more questionings in the future!

108

@Interstella:

I get that a lot too. But when I mouse over them, they go back to their proper place.

Fury-genesis

The **** goes through the idiot's mind that does stuff like this?

Amazon_Chris

And to think it wasn't so long ago when the Akihabara cops only had to clear cosplayers off the streets for doing the Hare Hare Yukai dance, or keep that singer from showing her ass and panties.

Those "crimes" added to the area's charm. Actual violence is damaging its reputation.

Does Not Equal

not stopping me from going back to akiba. take more than a mere fleshwound to stop me.

tsukasa1288

@RTW: No, Japanese police officers have guns. Pretty much all of them do. I even think the cops that ride around on bicycles have them...

Brian Ashcraft

reminds me of hot fuzz actually.

mentalboy11

@SupaPhly: LOL wow that was creepy...

NeVeRMoRe666

J'accuse GTA!!! (POINTS FINGER!!)

NeVeRMoRe666

"GTA made me do it!"

SupaPhly

I'm glad I didn't get stabbed when I went to Japan last year.

AFreak3000

Violent crime in Japan is extremely rare, despite the recent high-profile incidents. I am much safer here, statistically speaking, then I was back in New York. Since nothing ever happened to me back there, I don't worry about shit happening to me over here.

feitclub

@ManjiKengo: Thats an electric batton i think. thats why its attached to his '' Utility Belt '' lol.

Interstella

@Guild_Navigator: No. But his uncle's cousin borrowed it from his brother's girlfriend, so he basically did.

In the eyes of the media, at least. (Is Japan's media as bad as the US's?)

Santa_Lock22

@Bluejuan85: im experiencing the same annoyance since a while ago. i tough it would be temporal but its been more than a week, that the '' read more '' pictures get in the way of the reading. if its a marketing plan i find it not fun to take part in it. since its not even related to the article, and i have to always put the mouse on it to have the full read since it won't go away on it's own.

Interstella

It's a shame this happens in Akihabara, one of my geek-dreams of the future, to walk it's streets and smell the SNES games, see the sights and sounds of the techno-raver music.
I always imagined gamers as a rather docile bunch and the Akihabara otaku even more so.
I just hope the media doesn't begin to victimise a rather harmless subculture for this.

Mattz

@ManjiKengo: You do realize, that police officers do not carry guns in Japan right?

In fact, guns are practically illegal in Japan, save for special licenses to, I believe detectives and and a few other types of military inforcement.

RTW

@Magnum1024k: Thats the first thought that came into my mind when I saw that picture. The cop is fishing for bad guys.

DannKnee

That sucks, especially since I've always imagined Akihabara to be a magical place full of busty anime chicks and endless shelves of video games. Stabbings definitely were not part of my vision.

NeoAkira

Did he have a copy of Ninja Gaiden on him?

Guild_Navigator

I can't read the whole article becuase the Read More: links are getting in the way of the article.

Bluejuan85

@Kicken: I think in 96 there were like 7 killings in japan with firearms.

Much better than the like...100+(exagerration) in newark at the time.

ManjiKengo

I always thought I understood that Japan was more or less free from violent crimes like this, but I am not so sure anymore. I am wondering if this is just a case of the press showing more coverage of these acts, or perhaps I simply don't follow Japanese news close enough to pick these things up.

Is crime really on the rise in Japan, or is it just the hot topic for this month?

Kicken

@Magnum1024k: Pole, I mean.

Magnum1024k

Is that a fishing poll that the officer is holding?

Magnum1024k

is the cops gun attached to him with one of those curly stretchy cords?

And is that a baton or a dagger? I can barely make that part out.

ManjiKengo

@phinehas: "Are you saying that it would be better for these police officers to be walking around stopping people from smoking than to be protecting a sensitive area of Tokyo?"

No. I'm saying it would be kind of nice if the police do something. One of my first "memories of Japan" was walking into a 24-hour supermarket at four in the morning and seeing a police officer straightening loaves of bread.

The police's general failure to do anything at all is what leads to situations such as the one that happened in Akihabara -- let us remember, the police followed the man as he stabbed people, and only summoned the courage to draw their guns when the man had dropped his knife.

Surely this is because the police typically don't see any "action". I'm saying that, maybe, confronting some old man every once in a while, writing him up a ticket for smoking, might decrease the generalized anxiety they feel when, you know, approaching someone who's breaking the law. Might prevent them from not beating down a murderous man they outnumber.

I'm calling for a little creativity here, see?

@Atheist Jew: "@108: What part of Suginami-ku do you live, and if you don't mind my asking, how's the rent?"

I live in good old Ogikubo / work in thrilling Koenji. There seriously isn't a better place to live in Tokyo than Ogikubo, as far as I'm concerned. All the necessities are right there -- Chuo Line, Sobu Line, Marunouchi Line in one station; we got a Starbucks, tomato soup ramen, vegan place right by the station, Indian curry buffet, too.

Koenji? One stop* away!

Kichijoji? One stop* away!

(*On Chuo Express only)

The rent in Nishiogi is pretty nastily high; Kichijoji, too, is rough. To live in a place that meets my standards ("manshon", brand new building, two burners on the stove, Futurebath, walk-in-closet, at least ten mats in the living room, real wood floors, designer architecture, less than five minutes' walk from the train station, less than two minutes' walk from a supermarket, less than five minutes' walk from a park) in Kichijoji would cost me over 20 mans, easy.

in ogikubo -- 9.7!

hell yeah dude!

come to ogikubo; the walk to nishiogi in the spring is wonderful.

i will show you the tomato ramen personally if you catch me on a wednesday night or so.

108

Japan = The new UK

Antiflow

@RTW: I'll be sure to inform my friends in the police force that they should stop carrying their guns around.

ハリセンボン

@108: wow dude i would have told that police man to say sorry. I dont take shit from cops not even in new york. but yeah they need to enforce their laws

blackpanther25

Nakano is going to be receiving a massive amount of people in the coming weeks and months.

@108: What part of Suginami-ku do you live, and if you don't mind my asking, how's the rent?

My in-laws live about 10-minutes walk from Nishiogi-kubou eki, and I absolutely love the neighborhood. My wife and I are thinking of moving to Suginami-ku in the future. Are you familiar with the guy that makes takoyaki out on one of the main streets during the night? That man has saved me from many 2AM hungers. 20 takoyaki for 600 yen! Such a deal simply can't be had anywhere else!

Atheist Jew

@PsycheE: So what if it's the mecca of video games? Does it have anything to do with video games tha tsomeone was stabbed? No! If they made a video game about the stabbing, then go ahead and post about it.

I'm not saying ashcraft posts one or two of these kinda posts a month, because that'd be totally ok, but he posts about this stuff far too often..

Norman

@Norman: Ok?, You obviously do not know the mecca of video games. I am sure you can just filter Mr. Ashcrafts posts out, or private message him. I like the little fall-back pretentious defensive move; cute.

Its a little worrisome when another bomb hits before the aftershock is gone. I would say something about the laughing man, but its getting kind of serious.

PsycheE

Someone linked me to this post actually

Grats for going ad hom, since that was really your only option, seeing as how what i said is 100% true

just wanting to throw it out there

Norman

@Norman: For someone who doesn't read Kotaku, you sure are...reading...Kotaku.
Oh, whoops.

Achenar

What does this have to do with gaming? THis is why I don't read Kotaku anymore. Half of the posts by Ashcraft have NOTHING to do with gaming, it's all weeaboo stuff. Just because it happens in Japan doesn't mean I care. People get killed at walmart, do you write about it just because they sell games there?

God, this blog is so pretentious if it really thinks I care about this.

This is the last time I will ever view kotaku

Norman

According to the linked article the person had a 7cm "tool knife", whatever that means.

If memory serves, the law in Japan is that it is illegal to carry a knife with a blade longer than 6cm.

Anyway, police have been doing random checks for some time now (well before that Akihabara incident) and its been pissing a lot of people off who get searched and subsequently detained for carrying a small multi-tool/Swiss Army knife or keyring knife.

From what I've read the impression seems to be that police enforce this law with little consideration to its intent and what sort of reasons people might have for carrying a small knife. Some think its being used as an excuse to detain people and boost the police stats. Sort of like the old speed trap at the bottom of a hill deal.

There are lots of stories on Japanese blogs about this.

Grumblebum

Is this a case of..

'Akihabara' news post did alright last time, let's see if we can dig some more and splat it on the net?

Coming next..

'Akihabara' man cuts his hand whilst cooking.

CaptCHAOS

@Tsuzu: That's like saying to an abolitionist, "if you don't like slavery then just die."

I am going to make my opinion heard, because it is a valid one that resonates with the truth, FOR THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

and slavery was not ok, Tsuzu...

Norman

@Norman: If it's not interesting, then don't read it. :P Good grief, it's not that difficult. There are dozens of articles on this site that I don't particularly care about. Do I take the time to read them and then leave a whiny comment?

No, of course not. It's incredibly EASY to simply not read it and move on to something more interesting to me.

This site is designed so that one can skim articles quickly to determine what he/she would like to read. If you see something you don't find interesting, don't read it. Simple as that.

Tsuzu

Akihabara....come for the anime, stay for the shanking....

so what if you get stabbed a little??!?!

chicks dig scars!! ESPECIALLY Japanese Maids!!!

icepick314

So that's what the ambulance and patrol cars were for.

seppukake

@108: Let's not forget AMERICAN DINER within Nishiogi station itself. But yeah, your living requirements scare the crap out of me. A 10 mat room? Walk-in closets? Real wood floors? In Tokyo? Gah!

But still, 9.7 mans! That's not that bad a price, considering what you need to live comfortably. Living in San Francisco as I have for the last 10 years, I'd probably need similar accommodations...jesus, I scare the crap out of me.

Kichijoji is a completely different story from Suginami-ku or Nishiogi, though. I mean, right? Kichijoji has a reputation. Kichijoji is famous. Surely the popularity of the area drives the rental rates.

I would totally take you up on your offer of the tomato ramen if I was actually in Tokyo often enough to catch you there on a particular day. The last few years, I'm lucky to make it to Tokyo even 3 times in a single year. That makes me sad! Especially when I've wanted to live there for, you know, years.

Atheist Jew

@Norman: If you're not smart enough to skim past updates you don't want, nor educated enough to use the filter function, then you have no one to blame but yourself.

"This is the last time I will ever view kotaku"

I think I speak for everyone when I say we won't miss you.

Does Not Equal

so this is turning out to be a "fumble with knife ends up with cop getting his fingers cut" instead of a "stabbing"..

seems the kid tried to get the knife back after the cop confiscated it, and the fumbling ensued.

gique

The more Japan likes the USA, the more it becomes the USA - bad stuff included.

Vanguarde

@Vanguarde: That's true, but come on, people. Let's keep some perspective here. Nothing against this site or any of its individual editors, but this is what the media usually does - it makes a mountain out of a molehill. If not for the tragedy a month or so ago, this wouldn't have even been mentioned.

A cop stops a guy for a bag check, finds a knife, there's a bit of a struggle and the cop gets cut. That's barely even an incident. Certainly not a "stabbing". Not even really a "violent crime".

Crime in Japan is still ridiculously low compared to the USA, and it is tough to say it's actually rising. The number of gun murders in all of Japan, for example, rose from 2 to 22 in 2006 (the last year I know of for which numbers are available). Yeah, that's technically like a 1,000% rise, but come on. These numbers are so ridiculously small that it could just be random statistical fluctuations. The actual gun crime rate (the number of gun crimes per 100,000 people) is exactly the same. This 1,000% increase doesn't even register when put up against the whole population.

Only the perception of crime is rising, mostly because of the media turning every little crime and literally every single murder (because there aren't that many) into what amounts to a feature-length TV "documentary" complete with scary music and voice-overs. You guys think "Dateline" is bad; you should see Japanese TV. Obviously it's going to seem like crime is everywhere.

And no, most cops do not carry guns in Japan. There are special squads that do; I believe every precinct in Tokyo, at least, has one that can be called in to any given situation. In addition, there are special assault teams (the counter-terrorism unit) that are stationed at sensitive areas and they actually have machine guns just like their western counterparts. But most cops just have a baton, a whistle and a radio.

badasscat

I was actually about 20 meters away when this happened apparently. I was walking the other direction when it happened though so I didn't see it but I certainly saw the aftermath. I teach at a university in the heart of Akihabara and the news flew through the school like wildfire. The kids were actually constantly hitting the refresh button waiting to see which channel would carry the news first. (turned out that NiTere got it first)

The cops here do generally carry guns. Anything more than a revolver is generally restricted to special divisions such as SP (like the Secret Service) or the riot squads. Even the local koban guys pack now. I have several friends in the police force, some of whom have served in the riot squads. However it is unusual for the police here to get any proper training in the use of their firearms. Most of them will be lucky to get to fire off 6 rounds a year in a shooting range. The weapon the cop in the picture is pointing at Tomohiro Kato is an extendable baton. Several police departments in Canada and the US use them as well. Yes it is connected to his belt with a curly cable like you find on old telephones. Their pistols are also attached to their belt in a like fashion.

The police in Akihabara have made it a habit in the past year or so to search Akiba-kei's bags for knives. Starting about two years ago folks began to realize the amounts of money the local otaku were carrying and the value of the computer equipment etc that they were buying. This plus the relative anonymity of yahoo auctions created a wave of otaku muggings. The local kids took to carrying knives for protection. Problem is it is easier for the cops to harass the otaku than the young thugs who prey on them. Hence the kids around here don't trust the cops, the cops don't trust them and the thugs mostly get away. Not a very healthy situation eh? That's some of the background to what's going on around here in Akihabara.

Yardarm51

@Hassun:
Not sure how long you were in Japan, but I've lived here 9 years, and I can assure you that the majority of uniformed police on duty in kobans (the little neighborhood police boxes) do have a standard issue revolver carried in a belt holster.

Grumblebum

@Grumblebum:
Actually no they don't. Most of the police officers on the streets I saw in Japan were not carrying a firearm. Or at least not openly.

Hassun

@badasscat:
And no, most cops do not carry guns in Japan.
Sorry, but you're wrong. The majority of police on normal street duty *do* carry a standard issue revolver.

Grumblebum

I don't blame the overly sexually frustrated otaku, you'd stab the first asshole that gave you shit if you were mocked all day too.

SkutSkut

Yeah,writing several articles about Japan is JUST LIKE slavery. Please.

kidnicky

Between the multiple Akihabara stabbings and suicides using chemicals, it seems like Japan has a real problem with "copycats".

ビッグ ボス

@fulgore66: I was just wondering that myself. Certainly Japan doesn't have the same laws and standards as other countries, but if I lived there, I would be upset with that level of privacy invasion.

Swordmonkey

Am I the only one that finds the "random bag checking" more disturbing than the stabbing? Not to diminish the stabbing...but why do they feel bag checking is necessary if the violent crime rate is truly as low as they make it sound?

Are the people of Japan not pissed about that at all? Can someone make sense of this for me?

fulgore66

@fuchikoma: "do you think the Japanese are going to stand up and riot over unfair treatment"

Well...it sounds like their getting a little stabby. That's a start. Sadly though, I think you are right. I think the whole world is heading that way. I wonder who will be the first to reclaim their freedom.

fulgore66

@Norman:
You just made my day. Somehow you managed to come back and post a couple times after the last time you ever viewed Kotaku!

It's nice that you know an ad hominem attack is a logical fallacy, but you failed to recognize one - pointing out that you said you don't and will never read Kotaku yet still come back and post anyway is just pointing out the truth. In fact it would NOT be ad hominem to call you a hypocrite for it so long as that wasn't the core of my argument distracting from the real issue. An "ad hom" would be if I called you an idiot for it and dismissed it.

Anyway, you've really missed the point of the site. This isn't 1UP, IGN, GameSpot, etc... the "weeaboo stuff" is just par for the course. ("a 4channer on my Kotaku? It's more likely than you think!" only /b/tards say "weeaboo.") Typically you find gaming, Japan, and really whatever they feel like posting here, like banter between editors. That's why this isn't Destructoid or Joystiq. Ironically it's probably also why this is one of the most popular video game blogs.

@fulgore66:
Just a gut feeling, but I'm thinking something along the lines of "sheep among sheep." I mean, look at how much of that kind of thing you can get away with in America now - do you think the Japanese are going to stand up and riot over unfair treatment?

fuchikoma

All this talk about living in Japan is making me jealous, I order you all to stop immediately. :(

ビッグ ボス

@Norman: It's an opportunity for those of us who live in Japan (and those with an interest in Japan) to discuss Japan-related things.

If you want to be a content-Nazi, go elsewhere. Better yet, make your own site, so you can define the content as narrowly as you like.

In any case, fuck off.

erlik

@108: That sounds nice, rent-wise. I'm kind of itching to move, myself. Would like a bigger and newer place.

But I fear a daily Chuo-line commute through Shinjuku (to Roppongi) would kill me.

Anyone have a recommendation for an Oedo line or Hibiya line station?

erlik

@fuchikoma: i think i disagree with you there. i think kotaku's popularity comes more from its up to date (for the most part, no offense :p) game coverage, since its stuff like that that usually attracts people to the site.

not to mention how pissed people get at the non game related stuff, since there is a "how is this related to gaming" post in nearly every one, id say the excess doesnt do a lot in terms of boosting popularity as opposed to stuff like game rumors, character leaks, and heated debates about racism in re5

bigman88zz

the cop should of Kahmehameha his ass. booyahhh

oneasianthug

@bigman88zz:
Could be. As I see it you can get really fresh news on any blog these days, but Kotaku really keeps the flow going and if there's no game news, they throw something else out there. To me that keeps things interesting, makes it a cool place to hang out in general, and because of the high rate of posts makes it a site you can check in on kinda obsessively and there will still be a reason to do so.

At least for me, there are a lot of overlapping interests in what they post too. You don't have to be into Japanese culture or the more niche fanservicey titles that get highlighted here just because you're into gaming, but I bet most of the readers here are into at least a bit of the non-gaming parts.

fuchikoma

You have random bag checks in Japan? You poor neutered sheep....

chris_wing

@erlik: Hey, man, the Marunouchi Line stops here, too! Change to the Hibiya Line at Kasumigaseki (40-meter walk) and Roppongi is just two stops away!

Also, Ogikubo is, don't you know, the end of the Marunouchi Line.

Which means: guaranteed a seat.

108

@Norman: "This is the last time I will ever view kotaku"

NOOOOOOOOO! SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!

dowingba

@ビッグ ボス:

lol, I feel the same way. ^__^

I've never really imagined Akihabara being the place where stuff like this (or more so the previously mentioned incident) happened.

.em.

@Norman: Because reading a blog's entries (completely VOLUNTARY) is the same thing as slavery (definitely NOT voluntary).

Thanks for calling me a racist. That's real classy.

As for this "truth" you're speaking of.. the truth that your opinion is your own? Just because you say Kotaku has too many "unrelated" articles doesn't mean they should alter the site just for you. Loads of other people actually like reading these things, so bitching about it is really an exercise in futility.

Tsuzu

@Norman:
Someone needs to stab YOU with a 6cm knife.

I kid I kid, violence isnt the answer children.

He just needs a great big hug to know that someone is there for him and stuff.

.....

ew.

Terrorsaur.

@Terrorsaur.: He's a dick, and he's already been banned for it.

Atheist Jew

I blame that scene in MGS4 where snake tells people to stab each other. Prove to me that it doesn't exist! I see higher security in Akihbara's future.

Lamilia

this happened like a week ago...Japan time...

TheGuzzleMunch

@TheGuzzleMunch: It did not. You are incorrect.

Brian Ashcraft

@108: Yeah, I noticed that as I studied the subway map on my way to work this morning. The Marunouchi line also appears to intersect with the Oedo Line at Nakano Sakaue.

So I'll check it out after I get my new visa in Sept.

I'd have to wake up about 15 minutes earlier, but it's probably worth it if I can get such a great apartment for that price.

erlik

What does this have to do with gaming? THis is why I don't read Kotaku anymore. Half of the posts by Ashcraft have NOTHING to do with gaming, it's all weeaboo stuff. Just because it happens in Japan doesn't mean I care. People get killed at walmart, do you write about it just because they sell games there?

God, this blog is so pretentious if it really thinks I care about this.

This is the lat time i ever view kotaku.

durkadurkadurka

@Kicken:
Um yeah what is happening over there in Japan??? Are the Japanese being denied of something or are they just watching more American TV??

ViciousViper

hate to do this to you Bashcraft 'cause i do respect you alot but:

[search.japantimes.co.jp]

here is the link. june 8th 2008

TheGuzzleMunch