Stunned Japan Agonizes Over Schoolgirl Stabbing

**Dylan** · 06-02-2004, 02:09 PM

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...choolgirl_dc_2

Quote:

TOKYO (Reuters) - A stunned Japan was searching for answers on Wednesday after an 11-year-old schoolgirl killed a classmate by slashing her throat, the latest in a string of violent crimes by children.

Japan, which had long prided itself on being relatively crime-free, has in recent years been confronted by an increasing number of gruesome youth crimes that have prompted it to lower the age of criminal responsibility.

Teachers and friends said the 11-year-old had shown no sign of trouble and described her as just like any other girl, adding to the shock.

"It is difficult to imagine how such a very serious incident could come from such an ordinary girl from an ordinary family," said the head of a child welfare center that took custody of the girl.

Twelve-year-old Satomi Mitarai died from loss of blood after she was attacked by the classmate, said to be her friend, with a knife during the lunch break on Tuesday at their primary school in Sasebo, 980 km (610 miles) west of Tokyo.

There was no obvious motive for the attack, but Japanese media said the 11-year-old told police that she had been upset at Satomi for posting a message about her on a Web site and that she had intended to kill Satomi over it.

The Yomiuri Shimbun daily reflected the general bewilderment, asking in an editorial, "What sort of connection did these two have? What set it off? Nothing is known."

Police said the 11-year-old had called Satomi to a study room where she attacked her and then returned to the classroom with her clothes bloodstained.

Child welfare workers said the girl repeatedly apologized for the crime, covering her face with her hands as she wept, according to media reports.

The victim's widowed father, who lived alone with her and her older brother, said he was in shock.

"That my daughter could no longer be with me is unbelievable. But the unbelievable has happened," Kyoji Mitarai, the local bureau chief of the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, told reporters.

"She was like air to me," he said.

RISING CRIME, TIGHTER LAWS

The killing appeared especially shocking because of the age of the children involved and the fact that both were girls.

Officials said the girl in Tuesday's incident would appear before a family court, which could send her to a special reformatory for children.

Children under 14 cannot be prosecuted.

In 1997, a 14-year-old schoolboy horrified the nation by murdering two children and leaving the severed head of one of them outside the gates of a school in Kobe, western Japan.

That crime prompted calls for harsher penalties against juveniles, and a law was enacted in 2001 lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14.

The number of serious crimes by juveniles has continued to rise, however, with the ages of offenders falling.

Last year, a 12-year-old boy in the city of Nagasaki, which is near Sasebo, confessed to abducting and murdering a four-year-old by pushing him off the roof of a garage.

According to police figures, the number of minors aged 14 to 19 who committed serious crimes such as murder and robbery rose 11.4 percent to 2,212 in 2003, while the number of offenders under 14 rose 47.2 percent to 212, topping the 200 level for the first time in 16 years.

There have been eight cases where primary school children have committed or attempted murder in the last 15 years.

Police have drawn up new guidelines on fighting juvenile crime, but editorials on Wednesday said more fundamental measures may be needed.

"We must make children understand even more the basic importance of life," the Yomiuri said.

~Dylan

Adam West · 06-02-2004, 02:40 PM

Holy Moley!

Sim Kid · 06-02-2004, 03:08 PM

****. Now they're gonna blame it on Video games like they always do.

***CaptHayfever*** · 06-02-2004, 03:37 PM

^In Japan?

Wow. Just...wow. Tina Fey was right.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

KirbyKing · 06-02-2004, 03:58 PM

^^ Or perhaps some anime.

I will restate the above said:

**L007 is Cooler than Dylan** · 06-02-2004, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KirbyKing:
^^ Or perhaps some anime.

I will restate the above said:

ARGH! Don't steal what I wanted to say!

I was thinking she must of thought she was Sailor Moon or something. Hell, watching that will either give people either suicidal or homicidal ideas..

Ditto · 06-02-2004, 04:34 PM

Something is ruining paradise. *cries*

DELICIOUS POISON · 06-02-2004, 06:30 PM

Looks like their repressive culture is finding it's breaking point.

c_jks · 06-02-2004, 07:12 PM

It's not going to be blamed on anything. Blaming it on video games or anime is the same as blaming it on fast food here. It's the culture.

That's amazing. I read a book about a girl who killed children her age. She was horribly abused, and that may be the case here.

Super Shy Guy · 06-02-2004, 07:17 PM

LOL TOHSE DAMN JAPS WITH THEIR ANYME AND VIDEO GAMES AND SLANTY EYES AND COMPUTERS I BET SAILOR MOON IS BEHIND THIS SHE'S LIKE "OMG WTF I HAV BIG EYEZ" ADN TEN INU-YASHA AND PIKACHOO TENTACLE RAPE BCUZ ALL THE JAPS DO IS WATCH BIG EYES PORNO CARTOONS WITH BLOOD AND MAKE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND THERYR NINJAS AND SAUMRAI LIKE TOM CRUISE

Jesus christ, the next time any of you morons feels the urge to try to be funny, just shut the hell up.

[ June 02, 2004, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: Captain Carter ]

**Wyborn** · 06-02-2004, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Carter:
Jesus christ, the next time any of you morons feels the urge to try to be funny, just shut the hell up.

What in the name of God are you talking about?

Anyway, yes. This is utterly horrific. I have trouble believing it.

El Barto · 06-02-2004, 07:31 PM

You're a crazy guy, Carter.

DELICIOUS POISON · 06-02-2004, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Carter:
LOL TOHSE DAMN JAPS WITH THEIR ANYME AND VIDEO GAMES AND SLANTY EYES AND COMPUTERS I BET SAILOR MOON IS BEHIND THIS SHE'S LIKE "OMG WTF I HAV BIG EYEZ" ADN TEN INU-YASHA AND PIKACHOO TENTACLE RAPE BCUZ ALL THE JAPS DO IS WATCH BIG EYES PORNO CARTOONS WITH BLOOD AND MAKE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND THERYR NINJAS AND SAUMRAI LIKE TOM CRUISE

Sounds pretty cool. When does the DVD come out?

Super Shy Guy · 06-02-2004, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wyborn:
What in the name of God are you talking about?

Quote:

Originally posted by Digitalpotato:
****. Now they're gonna blame it on Video games like they always do.

Quote:

Originally posted by Luigi007 is The Greatest Nightmare:
I was thinking she must of thought she was Sailor Moon or something. Hell, watching that will either give people either suicidal or homicidal ideas..

It's not as much in this thread, but this particular forum seems to be full of people that try to give their omg clevar commentary on topics, without realizing that they're lame and their inane jokes aren't entirely appropriate for the subject at hand.

[ June 02, 2004, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: Captain Carter ]

Fishmael · 06-02-2004, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Digitalpotato:
****. Now they're gonna blame it on Video games like they always do.

Just. please. shut. up.

Erdawn Il Deus · 06-02-2004, 09:45 PM

Wow.

That's pretty gruseome.

[sage] · 06-02-2004, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by c_jks:
It's not going to be blamed on anything. Blaming it on video games or anime is the same as blaming it on fast food here. It's the culture.

That's amazing. I read a book about a girl who killed children her age. She was horribly abused, and that may be the case here.

didn't they say it was an ordinary girl from an ordinary family?

anyway, that's pretty screwed up.

Kil'jaeden · 06-02-2004, 10:46 PM

Happens everyday in the U.S.

***ZeldaGirl*** · 06-02-2004, 11:41 PM

^Unfortunately, that is true.

But whether it occurs often or not, it is still horrifying to hear stories like these!

Sim Kid · 06-03-2004, 02:17 AM

Carter and Kolorado: I get the hint, so it wasn't funny.

Kil'jaeden the Deciever: Too true...

[ June 03, 2004, 03:18 AM: Message edited by: Digitalpotato ]

06-02-2004, 02:40 PM	#2
Adam West Mayor of Quahog Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: In my Batmobile. Gender: Posts: 12,076 Thanks: 447 Thanked 381 Times in 263 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 73,153.44 Bank: 2,289,830.48 Total Points: 2,362,983.91 Donate	Holy Moley!

06-02-2004, 03:08 PM	#3
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 55 Times in 30 Posts Points: 36,999.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 37,499.04 Donate	****. Now they're gonna blame it on Video games like they always do.

06-02-2004, 03:37 PM	#4
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,787 Thanks: 238 Thanked 943 Times in 574 Posts Points: 117,619.41 Bank: 1,847.49 Total Points: 119,466.90 Donate	^In Japan? Wow. Just...wow. Tina Fey was right. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

06-02-2004, 03:58 PM	#5
KirbyKing Veteran Member Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 37,091 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 11,362.50 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 11,862.50 Donate	^^ Or perhaps some anime. I will restate the above said:

06-02-2004, 04:34 PM	#7
Ditto Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Not in SSB:M Posts: 354 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 811.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 1,311.00 Donate	Something is ruining paradise. cries

06-02-2004, 06:30 PM	#8
DELICIOUS POISON Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 16,577 Thanks: 554 Thanked 1,593 Times in 786 Posts Points: 7,192.60 Bank: 3,531,872.84 Total Points: 3,539,065.44 Donate	Looks like their repressive culture is finding it's breaking point.

06-02-2004, 07:12 PM	#9
c_jks Senior Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sacramento, CA, USA Posts: 5,631 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 3,044.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 3,544.00 Donate	It's not going to be blamed on anything. Blaming it on video games or anime is the same as blaming it on fast food here. It's the culture. That's amazing. I read a book about a girl who killed children her age. She was horribly abused, and that may be the case here.

06-02-2004, 07:17 PM	#10
Super Shy Guy Banned Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the seven seas Posts: 8,969 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Points: 9,394.00 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 9,894.00 Donate	LOL TOHSE DAMN JAPS WITH THEIR ANYME AND VIDEO GAMES AND SLANTY EYES AND COMPUTERS I BET SAILOR MOON IS BEHIND THIS SHE'S LIKE "OMG WTF I HAV BIG EYEZ" ADN TEN INU-YASHA AND PIKACHOO TENTACLE RAPE BCUZ ALL THE JAPS DO IS WATCH BIG EYES PORNO CARTOONS WITH BLOOD AND MAKE AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES AND THERYR NINJAS AND SAUMRAI LIKE TOM CRUISE Jesus christ, the next time any of you morons feels the urge to try to be funny, just shut the hell up. [ June 02, 2004, 07:21 PM: Message edited by: Captain Carter ]

06-02-2004, 07:31 PM	#12
El Barto Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,708 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Points: 1,515.12 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 2,015.12 Donate	You're a crazy guy, Carter.

06-02-2004, 09:45 PM	#16
Erdawn Il Deus Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Threading the jeweled thrones of earth under my sandalled feet Gender: Posts: 2,990 Thanks: 4 Thanked 45 Times in 39 Posts Points: 23,722.11 Bank: 788.45 Total Points: 24,510.56 Donate	Wow. That's pretty gruseome.

06-02-2004, 10:46 PM	#18
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 1,495 Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 32 Posts Points: 11,220.92 Bank: 1,400.16 Total Points: 12,621.08 Donate	Happens everyday in the U.S.

06-02-2004, 11:41 PM	#19
*ZeldaGirl* Venting SuperMod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 12,353 Thanks: 542 Thanked 905 Times in 613 Posts Points: 35,207.07 Bank: 636,710.06 Total Points: 671,917.12 Donate	^Unfortunately, that is true. But whether it occurs often or not, it is still horrifying to hear stories like these!

06-03-2004, 02:17 AM	#20
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 6,869 Thanks: 9 Thanked 55 Times in 30 Posts Points: 36,999.04 Bank: 500.00 Total Points: 37,499.04 Donate	Carter and Kolorado: I get the hint, so it wasn't funny. Kil'jaeden the Deciever: Too true... [ June 03, 2004, 03:18 AM: Message edited by: Digitalpotato ]