Crime Police fire warning shot at woman wielding knife

thomas · 21 Jul 2026

This is so rare in Japan that it made it into the national news:

A police officer fired a warning shot into the air after a 42-year-old woman approached officers with a kitchen knife on a street in Eniwa, Hokkaido, on 17 July. Police received an emergency call shortly before 6 p.m. reporting that someone carrying a bladed weapon was walking along a road in Eocho, Eniwa. Two officers were sent to the scene. According to police, the woman pointed the knife at the officers and began walking towards them. One of the officers warned her before firing a single round into the air with a handgun. Nobody was injured.

The woman, who described herself as unemployed, was arrested on suspicion of violating the Firearms and Swords Control Law. Police said she admitted to the allegation. The bullet had not been recovered as of July 18, and police were continuing their investigation. The Chitose Police Station said it believed the officer's actions were an appropriate execution of official duties based on the information currently available.

Police Fire Warning Shot at Knife-Wielding Woman

A police officer fired a warning shot into the air after a 42-year-old woman approached officers while pointing a kitchen knife at them on a street in Eniwa, Hokkaido, on July 17.

newsonjapan.com

Grandpa Frank · 21 Jul 2026

Do Japanese police have tasers?

thomas · 21 Jul 2026

Grandpa Frank said:
Do Japanese police have tasers?

It seems that standard equipment typically includes a handgun, baton, handcuffs, and pepper spray. Some units were issued tasers but on a limited basis.

mdchachi · 22 Jul 2026

I wonder if the warning shot is considered acceptable policing or if he broke protocol.

Ukigumo · 22 Jul 2026

The London police (where 99% of shootings occur) don't use warning shots.

Hiroyuki Nagashima · 22 Jul 2026

They should have used a sasumata instead of firing the gun.

mdchachi · 22 Jul 2026

Hiroyuki Nagashima said:
They should have used a sasumata instead of firing the gun.

That's what I was thinking. I guess they didn't have one in their pocket.

Petaris · 22 Jul 2026

Ukigumo said:
The London police (where 99% of shootings occur) don't use warning shots.

So very much like the Chicago police then. That lady would have been dead in Chicago, or at least in critical condition at a hospital.

Please note, I'm not saying that the shot fired was a good response to this but from what I am used to here it was downright peaceful. Chicago is not a war zone like some groups like to think but it certainly has it's share of violent crime as most major western cities do.

mdchachi · 22 Jul 2026

Petaris said:
That lady would have been dead in Chicago, or at least in critical condition at a hospital.

Probably tased.

thomas · Friday at 08:50

The oppressive heat seems to be getting to people. Police fired another shot in Kumamoto on Wednesday, this time wounding a man who allegedly tried to rob a convenience store while confronting officers with a kitchen knife. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

A police officer shot and wounded a 21-year-old man who allegedly robbed a convenience store in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, before advancing on officers with a kitchen knife on the evening of 22 July. Video from the scene showed the man facing an officer who had drawn a handgun while still holding the knife. The officer fired, apparently hitting him in the leg, but he continued to brandish the weapon. Police repeatedly ordered him to drop the knife before moving in to restrain him. Another officer then used a baton to knock the knife from the suspect's hand, allowing officers to take him into custody. The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Shion Maeda, who lives nearby and is unemployed. He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of obstructing the performance of official duties.

Dramatic Video Shows Police Shooting Knife-Wielding Robbery Suspect

A police officer shot and wounded a 21-year-old man who allegedly robbed a convenience store in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, and then approached officers with a kitchen knife on the evening of July 22.

newsonjapan.com

Ukigumo · Friday at 19:00

I've noticed that if we have a hot August in the UK we tend to have civil unrest; riots, anti-illegal immigrant protests etc. I think people get too hot, the summer is coming to an end and the school year in about commence in September so madness sets in!

Crime Police fire warning shot at woman wielding knife

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

Police Fire Warning Shot at Knife-Wielding Woman

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

mdchachi

Moderator

Ukigumo

後輩

Hiroyuki Nagashima

TAN

mdchachi

Moderator

Petaris

Sailing away...

mdchachi

Moderator

thomas

Unswerving cyclist

Dramatic Video Shows Police Shooting Knife-Wielding Robbery Suspect

Ukigumo

後輩

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