@ZinkO: zetta fast:

I don't have a political agenda. But that's exactly what happens after shootings in the U.S. -- see Virginia Tech.

Look, a tragedy like this starts discussion, that's one of the few positives to come out of something like this. My point is that it's fortunate Japan has stricter gun laws, or the tragedy could've been much worse.

But apparently any sort of discussion that doesn't simply state, "What a tragedy," isn't acceptable?

Tell you what, why don't you lead each thread as to what is and isn't an acceptable discussion/comment.

Strangelove

Well, it's Japan. We can't blame GTAIV (or even Dead Rising, as that's what it read like to me), can we?

I suppose batshit insane will have to do.

PerswAsian

My condolences and best wishes to everyone involved, except the loser s.o.b. that did it.

mphz

I think people that do this type of stuff, especially if no mental illness is involved, should be made to suffer in prison. They should not get the easy way out with the death penalty. I want the guilty party to be some big buff guy's bitch for a looong, long time. Condolences to the victims family. I'm sorry to hear of this tragedy.

Nearsite00

@LittleBigPlaneteer:

The killer in that one also had a similar mentality:

"I just wanted to see what it was like to kill. It could have been anyone."

LittleBigPlaneteer

My condolences. That is terrible.

MysteryMeat

That's really sad and messed up. I hope the survivors pull through ok.

Man....

Billkwando

@Witzbold:

I went looking for it because I knew I wasn't crazy! It was this story here: [kotaku.com]

"Killer Murders 2, Stabs Seven, Played Sexy Game"

"This Sunday, 24 year-old Masahiro Kanagawa knifed 8 random people at a shopping mall in Ibaraki Prefecture. Seven of the eight were seriously injured, while the eighth (a 27 year-old man) died on the way to the hospital. Kanagawa fatally stabbed a 72 year-old man earlier this month.."

Not as grisly, but similar in they both are random stabbings and both times there was a victim over 70.

LittleBigPlaneteer

You know, I'm getting really sick of these fucked up retards who do shit like this. You're sick of life? Lost all hope? Fine, end your life if you feel it has come to that. But why do you have to take innocent lives before you go?

Cipid

"no one's gonna really be free until nerd persecution ends."

My condolences to the victims. I remember an article here ages ago about bullying of the nerds down there. Have there been any improvements?

MrGlass

@PenitentPenguin:
@Brackynews:
@zetopazio:

Wow, seriously, do you even realize you are reading a video game news website?

francoamerica

He totally lost it, and decided to take as many people with him as possible.

zerokoolpsx

Apparently stabbing attacks are common... least that's what i heard on these news casts.

Savior

No offense meant to those affected by this horrible attack, but why is this story on Kotaku? It almost seems disrespectful to post something like this here. The fact that it happened in a place where video games are sold isn't important at all. Posting this story on a game blog seems to imply that the fact that this incident occurred in Akihabara is MORE important than the simple fact that people were murdered.

StrikerObi

@Jechticknight: Oh yeah thats right. The kid who went on the slashing spree and the media attempted to blame ninja gaiden ds on it.

Witzbold

@ZinkO: zetta fast: I agree this is tragic. I was just saying I'm thankful it wasn't worse.

Unfortunately, this is a place to discuss things. I completely agree with Stranglove.

I lived in Japan, and from time to time things not unlike this happen. I always noticed that because of the tight gun control, the crazy people were forced to use things that were less immediately lethal.

For example, work place or school shootings can't happen. So the nutters try poisoning the tea-maker etc. The gun situation is out of hand in the States, so gun control isn't possible at this point.

If you can't handle a discussion. Close your eyes.

Cojo21

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Nope nothing this big.

The only last "big" incident was the yakuza with a gun who was holed up in his apartment and 1 police officer died when they tried to apprehend him.

Or at least that was the last big incident I remember anyways.

Nothing where this many were injured / killed in such a short time, famous location.

Witzbold

I was thinking about sending this in, as soon as American news gets a hold of this the Headline will read "Gamer slaughters 7 GTA style in the Tokyo gaming district"

Xerxes 8933A

@Spiderbait:

That or he wanted to kill people as much as he could before being arrested or put down.

Condolences to everyone involved in this. Crazy shit indeed. I mean if you personally are tired of life, why do you need to endanger others as well? Sick bastard.

I mean everything is mostly subjective on why someone did this but killing someone? Innocent people at that. I dunno...No other excuse to say other than this guy's a premier grade a turd-eating asshole.

excaliburps

@LittleBigPlaneteer: Are you referring to the kid with the sword?

Jechticknight

Really sick, mad people are apperently everywere. Its troublesome that they would want to hurt others..

freekdeman

@icepick314: I guessing the guy planned it out since on the weekends is usually when they do the closed streets stuff. So he knew it would be a large group of people wandering around.

Best place to be able to get a vehicle that close to so many folks without being noticed. Even more so that it was in that 4 way intersection which passes between the 2 blocked off streets where the pedestrians would be wandering between the 2 streets in large masses.

Its just a guess though.

I heard one of the police officers who was trying to apprehend him was wounded also.

Witzbold

I just saw this on the news this morning, funny that the kotaku article was so much more informative.

But anyways, thats kinda scary. I was just there not to long ago.

tsukasa1288

I could have sworn something like this has happened already in Japan just recently?

LittleBigPlaneteer

@Witzbold: That won't prevent people from saying things he would, if he could. That's all.

Arcadian

Sometimes I don't know what people care about most, the dead people or response from the media about games...

riqued

I saw that on the news today, but here in Portugal they didnt mention anything related to games or anime and cosplayers, they only care about the deads and stuff, and thank god about that, the last thing i need is the portuguese media starting to blame videogames for all the evil like most of the world does this days!

zetopazio

WTF? This is just screwed up. Never heard of something like this before, hopefully those hurt pull through.

el_rezzo

@Cojo21: @Strangelove:
There's a tragic rampage, and you use it to further your political agenda? Seriously?

ZinkO: zetta fast

i just got home and started reading about this news...

damm it's just scary that random violence like this can happen in Akihabara...one of the most safest place i've ever been...

if this gets spinned to ban anime, hentai, and games, i'll be angry....

icepick314

For fucks sake people with the JT comments. This occured in Japan and not the US. I seriously doubt Jack will bother with something that isnt going to become anything close to a case he can attempt to bring to court.

Witzbold

There is always a chance of something this random happening anywhere, even in Japan where the crime rate isn't as high as other countries.

Innocent people do not deserve something like this.

Alienation

It's truly a sad world we live in when we can almost immediately jump from offering condolences and feeling sorry for the victims and their loved ones, to wondering just how soon the media or Jack Thompson will pounce on the news. How about we, as the Kotaku Community, just limit any reference to Jack Thompson, the media, and all the bashing of Video Games/otaku anime, and reflect instead on how devastatingly sad our world is, how inhuman some people are, and how we can all hope that those who are in the hospital pull through.

Jechticknight

My God. No matter what kind of horrors games or films can come up with, reality can be far far worse. If he was sick of everything why did he feel the need to take it out on so many innocent people?

SefaRed

@Brackynews: Well they aint that far off with it since Akihabara is known for its large selection of game and anime related shops. Not as much as the past but still one of the most.

Since its not really the town for "electric" goods anymore not like the old days.

That and the heavy maid cafe laden image and such its portraying now isnt exactly helping any.

Witzbold

That's terrible. Condolences.

Just imagine if he had a gun rather than a knife... luckily gun control is tight in Japan.

Cojo21

@PenitentPenguin: No, I agree! Kidding aside, I suggested that to fight the illogical arguments the ill-advised would mimic after hearing JT's shrilling.

Arcadian

Yeah i read the news on BBC.What the hell did he get from doing this stuff?.
My condolences for the ones wounded and killed also effected due to this event.
May their souls rest in piece

motogp

Heard it on the BBC World Service this morning, and took a second to realise they'd said Akihabara. Tragic, even without this poignant link to my own interests and lifestyle.

Pombar

*sigh*... only in Americ- wait, what?

Xeros606

I showed up about an hour after this happened. It had been cleaned up and most people on the street were talking about it. Still it was business as usual.

@Brackynews: Better look out for that fetishism of yours that your hobby wasn't expressly mentioned in an article.

Tokyo_Rude

@Arcadian: no I agree , as a games myself I know we are not a crazy homocidial bunch, I was just saying people like jack Thompson are going to look at this as an oppurtinity to pounce.

Agian, my condolences to all those affected by this horrible tragedy

PenitentPenguin

I hope Japan has capital punishment. This bastard deserves it.

superevilcube

"Holy fucking crap!!!" Probably describes this well enough. I can't believe that the nutjob would actually drive over them, jump out of the car and then stab them to make sure they were dead.

Spiderbait

@Candlejack:

He will probably just go to jail or die with an injection, it doesn't serve him right at all. He deserves to be ran over and stabbed repeatedly (sp?) like he did to those 20 innocent people.

bakalhau

Very tragic. My deepest condolences to the victims' families.

TOWER_JUNKIE

The CNN story mentioned "video game district" in the first sentence as well. The BBC story described Aki as such half way through the article. Media bias?

Brackynews

Well, at least he didn't have a gun. If it was the U.S., he would've shot 18 people, and then the NRA would put out a statement saying if only the victims had guns to shoot back, it wouldn't have happened. A tragedy regardless.

Strangelove

Crazy crazy shit indeed.

Its been quite some time for an incident this big going down here in Japan.

Even worse off is the fact it occured in Akihabara.

Really not looking foward to how the media will try to spin this one.

I wonder how the police response time was considering the fact they are about 8 minutes out by foot from that location where the crime took place, even less if they went by car.

Granted today was the day they close the streets so people can walk from one side of the street to the other freely so that would have hindered travel by vehicle to the scene of the crime.

Witzbold

I heard about this earlier.
Sadly, you just know where this is gonna go...
Condolences to the families affected.

david78

Tragic.

InsidiousTuna

I also want to add my condolences.

@ PenitentPenguin: My counter-argument: If video games cause violence, then why didn't the gamers tear him limb from limb?

Arcadian

@chaos242: because you think he cares about the japanese?...

laencythe

Thankfully I stayed clear of Akiba today...I figured it would rain.
Serious shit happening. Lets hope the survivors pull through.

Manimalius

then jumped from the vehicle with a knife to stab those he'd knocked down.

What the fuck man? Sick piece of shit.

"He said he was tired of life. He said he was sick of everything."

So he goes and destroys other people's lives? Coward. Whatever he gets it serves him right.

Candlejack

Oh, and I cannot even imagine where JT will try to take this...

chaos242

Shh....if you listen closely you can hear the media preparing to blame this reckless act of violence on video games, esp. Since it happend in the otaku capital of the world

PenitentPenguin

Ugh, some people need some serious help. Condolences to all the victims families.

Neeks

Some people are just messed up

Rambonz

yeah...

kitsuneconundrum

Holy shit, that is epic. My condolences to all involved, sans crazed dude.

chaos242

Wow, some of you people are really inhumane. Implying that even if he DOES have a mental illness, you'd still want to torture him? Wanting to kill someone who is obviously very messed up in the head for what, revenge? What he did was not right, but the man obviously has serious problems. He belongs in an asylum, not a jail; and he needs treatment, not torture. Would he ever be able to rejoin society? SHOULD he ever be able to rejoin society? I don't know. But torture is never the answer.

As to the person who implied that this wouldn't have been covered if it wasn't in Akiba, yes, probably. Kotaku's readerbase is almost entirely geeks; video game lovers, and also anime, manga, computers, and the like. It's a community, and their publications are bent towards that community. If you had a sports rag, of course you'd expect them to cover Micheal Vick, and ignore all the other animal abuse out there. It's not that the dog abuse isn't horrible, it's that that impacts your community. Likewise, if you're reading a motorcycle magazine, you wouldn't expect news about a disaster; unless it happened to occur at a motorcycling convention. The coverage is here because it's relevant to this community, not because other killings aren't important. If, say, Crecente was hospitalized, we'd likely hear about it, because it's relevant to this community-- it's not that Crecente working here is more important than whatever has befallen him, and it's not that other hospitalizations aren't equally bad-- it's just something that relates to and impacts this community.

Feba

Wow. I'm just in shock. This is really heartbreaking.

slacker164

There's no way anyone can spin this negatively towards games, let's not worry about games for a moment and instead send our condolences to the 7 lost and 18 injured.

Itchy (PSN: Kaizoku-ou)

@Jechticknight:

Of course things happen in real life that affect us, and if we want to hear about it we just check out another site.

VegetarianMeat

i walked by this and assumed it was someone who had lost control of their car. i went up onto the 6th floor of a building with an outside staircase and watched from above, and it was horrible. i find it hard to believe that ill ever forget that view.

Flashfire

Damm... you think you know people, worl with them daily, are your friends for ages and then somethign snaps. Jesus... my condolences to the poor people whose life was taken by this man.

Shiryu

I blame GTA.

Sailorcancer

@StrikerObi: Its something big that went down in Akihabara, a location that a good portion of the people who comment here know, also the MOST IMPORTANT FACT is that its KOTAKUS BLOG and NOT YOURS.

I feel this is by far more relevant than something like the so called "Mortal Kombat murder".

Witzbold

@StrikerObi: I agree somewhat on the fact that since there's no REAL correlation to video games here, it shouldn't be posted, but considering we have such a diverse community here, from people all over the world, who MAY have been in the vicinity or around it, I'm glad it was posted. We already have one poster here who said he opted out of going because of the rain. If he had been there, (scary thought to even imagine) he may have been caught up in the tragedy. Or been the hero to stop the ass monkey before he could do the damage.

In any case, my point is, regardless of this being a video game site, we also have postings about rl events. We can't always live in a virtual world, and things happen in rl that affect us, whether they relate to video games or not.

Jechticknight

I heard about this on the radio, although only briefly. All I caught was that a guy got out his car and went around attacking people randomly.

-MoarPlz-

If you're sick of life and can't take it anymore, get some counseling. Don't involve innocent people who don't deserve what you would do to them. Just because your life is messed up doesn't mean you need to hurt and kill people. Every person you kill is someone's child or parent and they don't need to become some part of your way out.

Seriously, get some help to find out why your life is the screwed up mess it is and fix it. There is no need for these kinds of acts.

DarkDragonDave

@ZinkO: zetta fast:

Also, where but in a thread about random, horrific violence is someone supposed to discuss the issue? I'll bring up gun control laws in the next Little Big Planet thread, then.

Strangelove

Now this is some ninja gaiden stuff....>_

but seriously, this is terrible. I feel bad for the people who were unfortunate to be in it.

kawalin

@Strangelove: Hear hear.

Cojo21

heartless bastard. deranged or not, he should've been lynched

cyhborg

@hansamurai: Stangelove is just as warranted to discuss his policy beliefs here since it's within context of an overall conversation to this horrible event.

One could argue if tighter gun control took place, it's only a small measure from tighter control on violent video games that feature the usage of guns. Blah blah blah.

If we weren't allowed to talk about any related material to any thread or discussion here, half of our enlightening discussions on racism and the difference between Japanese and Western developers would never happen since the original discussions are often about the size of DOA4 chesticles. ;)

Odd_Fact

@Strangelove: You're being ignorant, a stereotypical jerk, and overall this story has no place for comments like that!

Zosic

Killtacular!

rossmills

This is very sad, and condolences for everyone involved.

Japan is still a very very safe country, and I feel incredibly safe at all times, but that doesn't mean a crazy can't ruin it for everyone.

Next Sunday, I'm going back to Akihabara and I hope lots of other people do too. It's far from my favorite place in Tokyo, but I would hate to see this (or any) area shrivel up and die because somebody went crazy and killed people.

GoKeithGo

@Feba: I'm definitely not calling for revenge, but you really can't say this man needs to be placed in an asylum and not in jail. It may turn out you're right, but at the moment we can't possibly know that. Let the police investigate, and the psychologists examine the man, and then-- after we better understand him and his motivations-- then we can decide. But you can't say what to do, yet-- except to say we need to understand this event more clearly before we act. Taking action before we examine the situation is foolhardy and dangerous.

wild homes

@Feba:
My point is that people complain about media outlets connecting this incident to video games because it took place in akihabara on a video game website that posted this article for the exact same reason.

francoamerica

@EnigmaNemesis: Thank you. I was going to say likewise. As a former SAMI, I have a pretty fierce objection to tighter gun control policies.

Remember, tighter gun control only removes the gun from the innocent civilian, not the law-breaking one with the back alley assets.

For an example, just look at the recent Colorado shooting as to why civilians need access to guns. If not for right to carry, that tragedy would've been far more bloody.

Odd_Fact

Is it just me or Akihabara isn't what it used to be 15 years ago?

It seems it became a lot more popular in the 4 or 5 last years. I guess there isn't a direct link between its growing popularity and this tragedy, but still, it makes me want to avoid the place more and more. What a shame. My condolences to those involved.

I guess next time I'm in Japan I'll go to Osaka's "Akiba" instead.

Kaneda

@Strangelove: Umm, this is a video game news/rumor website. There is no appropriate place to talk about gun control laws. There are plenty of forums that do encourage that though so why don't you take your little rant there?

hansamurai

@Zosic: Oh, and a terrible story. Why take everyday people's lives just because you hate yours? Maybe just to be popular, and in a way the news who reports and makes panic about these stories do help more occur, even if it's not their fault.

Zosic

@francoamerica: Of course i do, i was talking about the "normal" media that dont understand games at all and always blame them for all the problems in the world, i wasnt talking about the specialized media or blogs like this one!

zetopazio

Condolences to all who suffered. What a tragedy.

With the recent spate of detergent-linked suicides, it's more alarming that this guy didn't do the same. As a country with a considerably high suicide rate, I hate to say it but it implies there's other ticking time bombs who're likewise so very close to ending things.

How many others are waiting for that final shove who will not do the singular, more "respectful" thing in just ending themselves and instead decide to express themselves in a more public manner like this jerkoff?

Odd_Fact

@Strangelove:

Guns dont kill people, people kill people.

Oldest saying, and still rings true.

Alcohol related deaths are the NUMBER ONE killer in the world, let alone America, and yet, drink on!

Knives kill just as easily, as well as the automobile (which is number 2 in America for deaths caused by non natural means), yet I dont hear the outcry.

Guns are an agenda tool, not the act of murder itself, for if it were the case, they would call for a ban on knives and cars, and alcohol to boot.

The anti-gun argument is getting tired.

My respects to the families of the lost.

@dv8godd:

/agree

EnigmaNemesis

God, what a massive dickhead. I hope Japanese justice is given out very sternly to this man. Videogames dont tell people what to do, people decide what to do themselves!

shaunomacx

Don't let Fox News hear of this story and the word videogames. They'll place the blame just on a mention, or coincidence, of it, without research or proof.

Zosic

My condolences to everybody who lost their lives and their family.

optikk

Though we hear more and more of these stories, it's worth remembering that it's not just because there are more crazy people out there. When you consider population growth, the ever-extending reach of media, and the increasing quantity of media outlets, the ratio of crazy-to-sane is probably a lot less than it was decades ago.

It's like US school violence: according to statistics it is way down from previous years and steadily declining... we just unfortunately hear about it more and there are that many more people in the world.

Still, it never gets any easier to hear these kinds of stories. My condolences to the friends and family of the victims, and best wishes to those recovering.

dv8godd

What a horrible thing. My Condolences to all those whose lives have been damaged by this man's actions.

wild homes

i was there about an hour or two after this happened... The roads were all blocked off and there was people everything. I didnt bother asking what happened (looked like a car accident at first cause I saw a truck a little smashed up) and just went to yodobashi and left... then 3 of my friends messaged me and asked if i saw the crazy guy with the knife in akiba!

So glad I didnt decide to go an hour earlier...

beatwho

......

braagh

Disgusting, what an asshole. My sympathy goes out to the people who died and best wishes out to the people who are recovering.

Gillian-Seed

@Strangelove:
"My point is that it's fortunate Japan has stricter gun laws, or the tragedy could've been much worse."

Or he could have been taken down by a gun carrying pedestrian before he was able to stab 18 people. Unlikely I know, but guns have been used in such a way before to stop crimes.

I think it's too easy to look for a scapegoat here to hide the truth, that humans being genetic beasts are occassionally vulnerable to being totally insane, and it'll probably always be that way until we go extinct.

valleyshrew

Little more info here, not much more though.
[www.reuters.com]

Hope the wounded make it.

everybest

I was getting my stuff to get on my weekly visit to the nerd mecca when my wife began yelling about the news. At the time the news only reported 5 persons at risk of dead.

This sob went *expressly* to Akihabara to kill. Like so many other Torima, the freaking coward just wanted to kill anybody, as long as they couldn't offer much resistance. As soon as he saw a gun, he gave up. Fucking coward.

inu

@VegetarianMeat: Of course, but you chose to ignore the part about our diverse community and the fact that there are people here who go over to that vicinity and live near it that could have been hurt. If you want to act like it isnt relevant and be a cock, go be one. But keep it to yourself.

Jechticknight

@Jechticknight: @Alienation: I'm glad some people can look at this and see it for the tragedy that it is, without calling for the death of the suspect, or guessing how the media will take this. This is the day that the crime happened, cant we just wish the family our condolences and hold out all the hatred at least until the case goes up. If anything wait one whole day.

Anyways, my condolences to the families in mourning right now. Wish you guys the best.

geiko

@Odd_Fact: Yeah, it's just strange. It's such an important thing, but a lot of the time people both for and against seem to get that need for education confused with the prospect of gun control. And that's a real shame-- the government should do more to make it clear that gun education and gun control are two separate things. Cheers!

wild homes

AMOK! AMOK! [en.wikipedia.org]

dolo54

Man I can't believe you people would just jump in and judge the perpetrator without even knowing jackshit about him. Virgina Tech, Columbine, Jokela High. All of this incidents were spawned by restless and oppressed individuals who just had about it. Pressurized canisters explode under extreme pressure, what makes you think human's won't?

Every human mind has an inherent ability to do wrong. Don't act all gayishly innocent and blurt out denials because it only makes you a two-faced hypocrite.

garytek

This is horrible. My sympathy goes out to all the victims and their families. This sort of violence is what the public will view video game influences to be. It is completely tragic and somehow the media will turn it into a anti-video game story instead of focusing on the fact that people just died at the hands of some deranged person.

crim09

@rossmills: Owen, little help here? This guy-- hammer-- now? Thanks!

wild homes

@wild homes: Oh, absolutely. The most dangerous person is that dude who thinks he's justified to pop one in you just because you're stealing his morning paper. The fact he's legally allowed to have the gun certainly doesn't help the case.

You hit the nail on the head. Education.

Odd_Fact

Wow never hear about stuff like that happening in Japan.

Tesahli

@Odd_Fact: I think a lot of times people mean to suggest ways to curb gun ownership and instead talk about removing the right to bear arms. I totally recognise your right to carry a weapon, provided you register it and all that, but I do feel very worried about it because I feel like there is a real lack of gun education in the United States. The simple fact of the matter is that violent crime is down, relative to the population, compared to a decade ago. So I'd like to see more emphasis placed on education stressing the fact that while gun ownership is your right, gun ownership is a great responsibility. Maybe it's just where I live, but I see a lot of gun owners who are more paranoid for carrying a weapon-- I feel more afraid of the people carrying guns for 'self defense' than I fear actual criminals.

wild homes

@rossmills: Asshole

Zosic

Sorry, that was wrong of me...

More like Killimanjaro

rossmills

This is incredibly saddening... However, I agree that the lack of readily available guns has kept the death toll to a minimum. If Nutcase McMurderin had had an Uzi or something under his shirt, pulled it out and fired at a japanese crowd, we'd have well over 30 dead. The fact is that you can do a lot more damage with a gun than you can with a car and a pocket knife. A lot faster too.

So... yay for Japanese gun control!

tabion20

If only there was gun control in place! Oh, wait.

tzaketh

thats f'd up, he should just kill himself not others...

darktorns

Well, dang. Here I was about to start with the whole "Video-games-aren't-to-blame-we-need-gun-control" argument. Then this goes and happens. There ain't no Second Amendment in Japan. Firearms are strictly prohibited. This guy went on a rampage with a car and a knife.

Just goes to show, there are murderous nutjobs everywhere, in any country, and if they really want to, they'll kill a bunch of people any way they can. It may just be one of those disturbing and unavoidable "facts of life", one that we'll just have to live with.

Highlander Wolf

@superbabyproject: I'm going to guess it's not, but who really knows?
They're probably just trying to find a reason for a reasonless event.

braagh

@Jechticknight:

Of course we have a diverse community, I'm not denying that, and sure, someone from our community could've been hurt, but does that mean a gaming site should publish a story on it? It really does feel like the sole reason this was put on here was because the crime was committed in a video game area. If it was committed a bit further away, in a place that had no relation to video games, would it have been published here? Also, I don't appreciate you calling me a cock. It was uncalled for; I didn't insult you in any way.

VegetarianMeat

From the BBC: "The Akihabara attack occurred on the same date that a man with a history of mental illness went through a primary school in 2001, stabbing children at random."

Copycat attack maybe? Guy's a nut either way. Prayers go out to those affected.

superbabyproject

@rossmills:

COMPLETELY uncalled for, fucking douchebag.

dead_red_eyes

Gun control: it takes a lot more will and resolve to stab a dozen people than pull the trigger aiming at them.

This guy was a freakin' maniac.

interstate78

Tragic. My hope goes out to the families of those that are injured, and that they may pull thru their tragedy. For those who were lost, my condolences.

dead_red_eyes

Also, if anyone believes that government mandated education will somehow reduce firearms incidents, compare these stats. A Police Officer in the US is 300% more likely to murder someone with a gun than a citizen that owns a legal weapon. The fact is, when you've just dropped $400 on a handgun, or $1200 on an AR-15, you're going to want to go shooting with it.

tzaketh

Certianly a tragic incident that may or may not have an impact on those of us living here in tokyo. Personally I hate akihabara becuase I dont get along with the crowd that goes there, but even if you dont like people that doesnt give the guy any right to kill random people. I think we really dont know his true motives and pretty much can only assume that he is crazy.

What I dont get is that some people here on this site are mentioning 2 things. First, that he should receive treatment and possibly be released back in the public. Sorry, but if you did this in the US you would already be dead. People who commit mass murder have a screw loose somewhere and dont deserve to be rehabilitated. I am a firm believer that humans are monkeys with bigger brains(ie. no soul, no religion, no reason not to kill people who do stupid things that hurt the public on a very large scale) This guy deserves death and not our tax money. Thats why when you see these kinds of incidents in the US, it makes me really happy when I see the suspect killed.(american cops tend to be really good about removing these corrupted genes from society.)

The second thing people seem to be mentioning is that if they had guns, it would have been worse. Sorry, but thats crap too. Dont know about you, but id much rather be shot than impaled by a large knife. As a person who has owned many guns in the past, all of them safely and legally, I really hate when damn liberals tell me that guns make everything worse. Having lived in countries with guns, and countries without, Aside from japan I feel much safer in those with. Besides, even here in japan if the guy had wanted a gun its not hard to obtain one. Only hard if you want to do it legally.

Relating this go games, I have a feeling they will take a huge hit. If they mention Nija Gaiden 2 I wouldnt b euprised at all.(or GTA4, which is easily available in many stores import or non-import even though its not seen a japanese release.)

RuneX21

@tzaketh:

I mean, if guns were ever banned, I sure as hell wouldn't turn mine in-- I'd grab my 200,000 rounds of M60 API rounds and prepare to slaughter anyone that shows up to try and confiscate my guns.

That is exactly what I was saying here...

@EnigmaNemesis:

And it would happen on a much larger scale.

EnigmaNemesis

@cowondinosaur: They kind of do it, too. I recall one report in particular that associated a crime with either a video game or an anime. Weird, I think it was here that I read it, too. So yeah...

Drake Lake

@EnigmaNemesis:

I am not saying I disagree with courses. I believe that firearm education is HUGE, and I encourage it to ANYONE who asks me. I am all for as much education you can get... just saying that is not going to change the fact that someone with an illegal firearm is going to rob and shoot a 7/11 clerk.

EnigmaNemesis

@NoBullet:

Well, you've basically just made the perfect argument against gun control. It's the same problem as prohibition and the current War on Drugs. Restricting it will not get rid of it, all you'll do is create a large black market.

The thing with Japan is that, as a country, they've never known individual freedom. It's fairly easy, to, with a slave culture, restrict anything the government wants. The US, however, was born and raised in Freedom, and trying to restrict human rights in the US is like trying to domesticate a wild animal. The culture is too far gone to do that. I mean, if guns were ever banned, I sure as hell wouldn't turn mine in-- I'd grab my 200,000 rounds of M60 API rounds and prepare to slaughter anyone that shows up to try and confiscate my guns.

tzaketh

@NoBullet:

And lets not forget WHAT HAPPENED, int he 1920's, when a country wants to decide to take away something more sacred to it's people in firearms.

So before people push that agenda, lets hope they are ready for the recoil that would happen if it went into action.

EnigmaNemesis

This just goes to show that there are indeed disturbed people all over the world, and they will use the deadliest weapon available to them to do the most damage they can.

Would this rampage have been more deadly if this man had run as many people as he could over with his truck and then jumped out with a fully automatic assualt rifle? Absolutely it would have. Fortunately gun control does work well in Japan because the general public has never had access to guns.

Gun control will never work in the US, as we have always been a society of gun toters. Our loonies will always have access to the deadliest of weapons because guns have been so prevalent here for so long there is no possbile way to truly control them now.

robinandtami

@interstate78:

Oh boy, here we go.

This is as bad as saying violent video games bring out more anger in humans, than fanatical sporting events...

The mind of a killer, is a mind of a killer... doesn't matter what he uses as a tool.

@Highlander Wolf:

Just like you said, people who are going to kill, will kill, regardless of the tools at their ready.

@Cojo21:

99.9% of the murders committed by firearms, are that who have them ILLEGALLY ... so "courses", and "hard to get by legal citizens" does not change this fact.

All it does is control ones who want responsible ways to protect their homes and families, while there is still nothing done to control the ones that get them illegally and commit the landslide majority of the crimes.

But when media pushes the agenda, rather than get in the underlying issue, I can see people's thought I suppose.

EnigmaNemesis

@PenitentPenguin: @Arcadian:

It's Japan, not America.

cowondinosaur

@EnigmaNemesis: Alcohol related deaths are the NUMBER ONE killer in the world, let alone America, and yet, drink on!

Gee I wonder why we still have alcohol. Lets just forget what happened in the 1920's when alcohol was prohibited across the entire nation and do it all over again!

NoBullet

@Cojo21:

Actually, the correlation is that the more guns present in a society the LOWER the murder rate. Kennesaw, Georgia. London, England...

tzaketh

@rossmills: I don't think there is a place here for comments like that. You want to be inflammatory? Fire up more than one neuron, and try and start a discussion.

@Highlander Wolf: @tabion20:
RE: Gun Control: guns make it easier to kill people, quickly and without much thought. There is a good correlation to the availability of guns and murder rates. I know "people kill people" and I agree with it, but there's no reason it has to be easy. That's why I'm happy to live somewhere that guns are hard to get, and you have to take courses before you can get them. Course, that doesn't mean you won't go crazy later.

Cojo21

@tzaketh, EnigmaNemesis: I'm sincerely disgusted.

Arttemis

@robinandtami: Actually, yeah. The Constitution gives us the right to bear arms not so we can feed a fetish, but to defend ourselves against a tyrannical government. And, I'm not talking about Britain, Russia or whatever other Monster of the Week - I mean the U.S. The fact that these guns can shoot as many bullets as they can as fast as they can is a moot point when your potential oppressor has the same weapons; if I recall correctly, it is actually legal to own a tank and submarine (can't remember where I read this, otherwise I'd give you a link). The Second Amendment wasn't put in place to allow people to hunt or protect themselves against a foreign aggressor; it was put in place to ensure that our rights aren't taken away by our own country. The Constitution was written in a very specific order. First you have the chance address your grievances with the government (that'd be the First Amendment, FYI) and should that fail, the people are ensured the ability to try and set things right (and that's where the Second comes in).

Generation ABXY

condolences to all involved, cept the attacker

N3v3r.kNows.b3st.

@wild homes:

The statistic refers to police officers murdering people. As in, not firing on an armed target. As in, WHILE OFF DUTY.

tzaketh

@wild homes:

Any law banning my firearms is in direct violation of the US Constitution. Anyone enforcing that law is therefore guilty of Treason and should be executed. I am completely within legality when it comes to killing someone attempting to illegally confiscate my firearms.

Sometimes the "democratic process" fails. At these times, violent Revolution is the only course of action. As Ben Franklin said, "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."

All of our founding fathers were acting outside the bounds of law. Following the law is second to following morality.

tzaketh

@tzaketh: That's an utterly insane statistic, and you're manipulating it wildly. Is it strange that POLICE OFFICERS--who spend a much, much greater percentage of their time dealing with dangerous, criminal individuals (call it maybe 10% of their time) than the average American citizen does (I myself spend 0% of my time around dangerous individuals)-- are more likely to kill people with guns than non-police citizen firearm owners are?

What kind of retarded statistic is that?

wild homes

this is so terrible. i feel so sorry to those that loved their loved ones. This person is vey very disturbed. @Strangelove: your ridiculous.

Xcite79

threads like this always go downhill for some reason...

bigman88zz

@robinandtami:

You are now going from one extreme to another.

EnigmaNemesis

@tzaketh:

And kittens, don't forget the murder of innocent kittens!

The national/world news never broadcasts the countless illegal shootings, they remain local ... they only broadcast ones where people obtained them legally. And they are not NEARLY as often. And that is to move an agenda to control how people get them legally, and they don't want to touch the illegal aspect, since they have no answers ...

IT IS ALL ABOUT CONTROL. Not just guns, but control over people's everyday lives.

EnigmaNemesis

Ugh... gun control arguments...

In a country with much stricter gun controls, like the UK, it's true that only outlaws have guns. But, we're talking serious outlaws, not emo kids and social misfits that are fucked up in the head and want to go on a shooting spree.

I wouldn't know where to even start getting anything more than a .22 air rifle or CO2 pistol, nor would I want to. It's true that knife attacks are on the rise here, and that scares the shit out of me, but you still don't see killing sprees here...

Unfortunately, in a country where guns are already so widespread, any attempts to get rid of guns would be futile as there would always be a way to get hold of them... and that's a real shame.

As others have said, sympathies to those involved in this case.

Northernsky

@robinandtami:

I own several automatic rifles. All legally. And yes, that is clearly what was intended by the US constitution. The US constitution mandated the keeping of ARMS. Arms meaning military level firearms. In fact, part of what helped win the Revolution was that the Colonists were equipped with military weaponry superior to that of the Redcoats and especially the Hessians.

There's huge evidence to that point: there were plenty of individual citizens that owned CANNON, and donated them to the Continental Army. As a cannon cannot possibly be used for hunting or something absurd of the sort that you argue the 2nd amendment protects, there's your evidence.

The purpose of the 2nd amendment is to equip the militia (legally defined as any male above the age of 18) with firearms so that the civilian population would be better armed than the Government, and that thusly, the Government would fear the people.

In fact, you may not be aware of this, but in the US it is legal for a civilian to own a tank. I have a friend who owns 25 tanks from various eras.

tzaketh

Damn, first and foremost, my condolences to anyone who was directly or indirectly involved. It's sad to see a crime like this done anywhere, but it only feels worse when it happens in a place thats safe and mostly free of crime.

chemical_eng_mx

@tzaketh: Ever try to think before you speak? If guns were outlawed, you'd no longer have a legally protected right to bear them. And so, instead of responding to government action you disapprove of in a REASONABLE fashion-- like maybe within the democratic processes of our government--you'd prepare to slaughter anyone who would attempt to take your (at this point illegal) firearms from you? Which would constitute nothing better than indefensible murder?

Wow, you're a fucking idiot.

wild homes

Something else, not gun related, that I absolutely don't understand, is how this guy possibly killed people laying on the ground with a knife. Did the people he didn't hit not rush in and try to stop him? Had I been there, he'd have had two .45 ACPs in the chest. Had I not had a gun, because it's Japan, I would have rushed the guy. I just don't understand how a large group of people didn't swarm over him and beat him senseless.

Maybe I don't have quite a grasp on the situation-- can anyone explain what the deal is? Is there something keeping the pedestrians from reacting?

tzaketh

I agree lynch the bastard! It's depressing to hear about this kind of tragedy anywhere in the world

eternalplayer2345

@tzaketh: Did you really just call Japan a slave culture?

The problem with the "right to bear arms" here in the state is that the 2nd amendment was written in a time when it took 15 seconds to load a single round. Many people think they should have the right to own ANY type of gun that fits their fetish, even fully automatic assault rifles designed for the sole purpose of killing as many humans as possible in a short time. I for one don't believe that's what was ever intended by the framers of our constitution, but I could be wrong. Maybe they intended for us all to be able to own our own tactical nukes and store them in our garages. They can have my death ray when they pry it from my cold dead hands, but not before I take out Seattle with it!

robinandtami

@Krumm:

See, this is the difference between the pro-gun and anti-gun crowds. "you can take your statistics and shove it up your $#"!".

Anti-gun types are ruled by emotion and get scared when they see something that makes loud noises and looks mean. They don't want to look at actual statistics, because that would prove them wrong. Instead, they point out anecdotal evidence of someone being shot by a legally owned firearm, and claim that supporting gun rights is supporting the murdering of children.

tzaketh

Sympathies to those who died, the injured, and their families.

But a big what the hell to those people standing on the sidelines watching, waving at the camera, and smiling. D:

Drake Lake

Well... you people make me sick, some of you at least...

1st. Theres no excuse for what that man did, if he felt like killing something he should have killed himself, not innocent ppl, those that died for a stupid reason, just imagine their families and relatives. You wold probably care a lot for the other dudes feelings if your husband, sister whatever, just got killed randomly, right?

2nd. Make it easy for someone to get gun, you make it easier to get people killed, you can take your statistics and shove it up your $#"!, because when someone dies, theres no turning back.

3rd. Be thankful that it didn't happen to you or someone you love.

This is a sad day and whatever punishment that guy is going to have, it will never be enough.

Krumm

@Arttemis:

Not to mention, to call someone mentally unstable, without all the proper evaluations to confirm this statement, is as blanket as most of the control statements stated in here.

There is nothing mentally unstable to want to defend your livelihood and freedoms, rather something mentally injected to not want to defend them.

EnigmaNemesis

@valleyshrew:

You can't seriously be arguing that some Clint Eastwood in the crowd would be a good thing. Yeah, armed citizens doling out random justice is a deterrent to random violent crime. Chances are, he would've missed the guy and hit some other random person in the crowd.

@EnigmaNemesis:

Move to a large city and then try and argue gun control. I have no problem with people owning guns for hunting or even home protection. (My grandfather, mother, and brother all hunted/hunt.) But then huge murder rate in Philadelphia would not be solved by more guns on the streets. It's not a deterrent, it just means more people are armed.

Arguing that mutually assured destruction is a valid deterrent for random violent crime is ridiculous. Let the police do their job.

Strangelove

@francoamerica:

Well, honestly? Yes. Because of the huge amounts of our Military that are NRA members. Because of the huge amounts of our Law Enforcement that are NRA members. ~80% of American Police Officers oppose gun control. If the pro-gun movement was to rise up in revolution (it would take a LOT of pushing, and the Government isn't stupid enough to push that hard, yet) you would have a good 60% of the US Army, 50% of the Navy, 45% of the Air Force, and 90% of the US Marine Corps on the side of the pro-gun. 90% of the National Guard, as well.

I honestly hope that will never happen, and severely doubt that it will, but should it, you'd be having the side that voluntarily arms itself fighting against those who voluntarily disarmed themselves. Those odds aren't very good for the anti-gunners.

I am curious as to why you asked that question, however. I'm not sure the NRA has ever advocated violent resistance or anything of the sort.

tzaketh

@francoamerica: You do know that gun owners extend beyond the NRA, right? Also, the point is not "taking on," the point is that if we still have the right to own firearms, the government still has a reason to fear us and therefore will be more reluctant to take away our other rights.

Generation ABXY

@Arttemis:

He didn't threaten to murder anyone. You are taking things out of context due to your own views.

He threatened to defend his livelihood, liberty, and freedoms. He didn't say he would go on an assault... he said he would defend his home.

EnigmaNemesis

@tzaketh: Semantically I can agree with some of the points you're making, but your interpretation of them scares me.

wild homes

@EnigmaNemesis: You may call that being "passionate," but threatening to murder a law enforcer seems as radical as you can be, and seems very wrong to me.

I never stated that guns should be removed from everyone, but I do see a problem with how easily anyone mentally unstable can obtain one. There needs to be an improvement in regulation and enforcement.

Arttemis

@Northernsky:

The Geneva Convention does not define human rights. What constitute Human Rights is an entirely debatable philosophical argument. The base argument for the natural human right to own firearms is thus:

We have a human right to life.

Therefore, we have a human right to defend our life.

We thus have a human right to maintain the most effective means of defending our life.

--------------

We have a human right to property.

Therefore, we have a human right to defend our property.

We thus have a human right to maintain the most effective means of defending our property

-------------

We have a human right to liberty.

Therefore, we have a human right to defend our liberty.

We thus have a human right to maintain the most effective means of defending our liberty.

tzaketh

@tzaketh: Do you think the NRA could take on the US Government? How about the state of Vermont? Guam???

francoamerica

@tzaketh:

It's a human right to own guns?

Funny, I don't remember seeing that in the Geneva Conventions...

Northernsky

@EnigmaNemesis: My point was that no matter what you do, some people are just going to be stupid. And when owning a firearm is a personal choice, like when a Citizen purchases one, there's going to be more thought put into it than when Law Enforcement is issued one.

At least in the Marine Corps you have the Rifleman's Creed, and you are taught to revere your weapon. Law Enforcement is simply issued the thing and given training. A police officer can't opt out of carrying a weapon, nor does he have to request that he be issued one. There's no internal decision involved. That's my point with police officers.

"This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I master my life. My rifle, without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than any enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will....

My rifle and myself know that what counts in this war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, nor the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weakness, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...

Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until victory is America's and there is no enemy, but Peace."

tzaketh

@Arttemis:

The man is passionate about fighting for his freedoms. Nothing wrong with that.

I fear the day that would come, where the majority of the people WONT fight for their freedoms.

EnigmaNemesis

@wild homes:

When the Constitution is amended to deny a human right, I will no longer support the US Constitution. I have sworn an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, but when it is amended, it will not be the same document I swore to uphold and defend.

Claiming that a man is innocent because denying a human right is legal is like saying Stalin was innocent because it was legal for him to execute en masse.

tzaketh

@wild homes:

Yes, but his point was, they get the most "education" and "gun courses", and yet the number is higher. So there is a point when the more isnt always the answer.

EnigmaNemesis

@tzaketh: Speaking of violating constitutional rights, becoming a judge, jury, and executioner strips someone of their 6th amendment right "to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury."

Frankly, it's disconcerting knowing someone as seemingly unstable as you own so many weapons.

Arttemis

@tzaketh: And I do apologise for misunderstanding the statistic. But when they're off-duty, wouldn't police officers be just any other, legal weapon carrying citizens?

wild homes

@Arttemis:

Yeah I know... disgusting that one would want to fight for their freedoms!

EnigmaNemesis

@tzaketh: Wow, you're a frightening guy. I pity you. I hope I should never find myself anywhere near you in my life.

And the constitution can be amended-- and if they ever outlawed firearms, that law would have to pass judicial review-- and determined to be sufficient to amend the constitution-- before being effectively upheld. At which point you'd be ready to take the lives of innocent men to hang on to your weapons.

Jesus, I hope for your safety you never wind up on the other end of a situation with a man just like you.

wild homes

@Arttemis:

So... you're going to proclaim an emotion without explaining yourself? That wounds very logical.

tzaketh

@EnigmaNemesis: "I'd grab my 200,000 rounds of M60 API rounds and prepare to slaughter anyone that shows up to try and confiscate my guns."

That seems like a direct threat to not just "hurt" but maliciously murder people; that's not protesting. The strict regulation of weapons may be contentious in being "unjust" and unconstitutional to you, but I don't see how that overrides other people's inherent human right to life.

Also, How anyone claims they need an M60 for their protection is absolutely absurd.

Arttemis

@tzaketh:

Well said! And if people cant see what you were trying to convey, then they need to removed the blinders.

@Strangelove:

All I know is ... in Florida, they are a will issue state. Violent crimes and murders dropped by more than 68% the first year alone when they became will issue. (Will issue, in their sense, meaning you have to have your firearm exposed and not concealed like most states). When the criminal has to fear the citizen having legal rights to defend themselves in any means necessary, you will net positive results.

Now I am not saying, there should be a vigilante in every crowd... and I don't think that is always the answer... but 1,000 to 1 odds are, a guy or girl who has a gun illegally, and is going to rob a bank or shoot a gas station clerk, will not do so when there are 10 citizens in line with sidearms on their hip. Not unless they have a deathwish. In which case, guns or not, they will do so regardless.

But I as a human being, would feel out of touch with my humanity, if I am armed, and I see someone going on a shooting spree, killing innocent men, women and children, and just do nothing. I would be doing a disservice to myself, and my moral ground. As well as ones I could have potentially saved.

EnigmaNemesis