News Japan executes man for 2008 Akihabara rampage

[thomas]

I remember this case as if it happened yesterday. Back then, I spent a lot of time in Akihabara.

Japan carried out its first execution of the year July 26 when it hanged a man convicted of killing seven people in a random stabbing spree that started after he deliberately rammed a rented truck into a crowd of people in Tokyo's Akihabara district in 2008. Tomohiro Kato, 39, was put to death at the Tokyo Detention House, Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa told a news conference hours later. Three pedestrians were killed and two injured when Kato, a former temporary dispatch worker, steered his truck into a crowded pedestrian zone in the area that celebrates popular anime and manga culture and is regarded as a mecca for electronic goods. He then got out of the vehicle and started stabbing people at random, killing four and injuring eight. The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on June 8, 2008. The seven victims were aged 19 to 74 and had gone to the area for shopping and other activities.

Japan executes man for 2008 rampage that killed 7 in Tokyo | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

After the 2008 rampage, Japan banned possession of double-edged knives with blades longer than 5.5 centimeters, punishable by up to three years in prison or a ¥500,000 fine. At the time, the attack was Japan's worst mass killing in seven years and Kato was sentenced to death in 2011, a decision that was upheld by Japan's top court in 2015.

Japan executes Akihabara rampage attacker, 14 years on

Tomohiro Kato killed seven people and injured 10 others during an attack in Akihabara, Tokyo, on June 8, 2008.

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[mdchachi]

I remember it because we were actually in Japan at the time and had been in Akihabara within a day or two of that event.

 

[Petaris]

I remember it because we were actually in Japan at the time and had been in Akihabara within a day or two of that event.

I was there in early August of 2008, just after that happened. I stayed in the Kansai region though. I remember people remarking on it, here in the US, before I left though. A number of people were concerned for me. Kind of silly that no one batted an eye when I moved to Chicago though, even back when I moved it had more violence issues then Japan and now its just nuts. :/

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Although Maine is pretty safe from violent crime , Japan was the one place I felt totally safe. Even the year I worked as a bouncer in a underground bar , no one ever hurt me. I think the most really violent things I witnessed was yelling at me for having a Japanese girlfriend with me. It would be nice if the US could be so safe.