Ikuno ward in Osaka, which was recently the scene of a stabbing attack.
Ikuno ward in Osaka is known for having a relatively large population of zainichi Koreans, or ethnic Koreans resident in Japan.
Last week, the area was rocked by a random stabbing attack that left two men seriously injured. The assailant has recently revealed to be an unemployed man, who is a psychiatric patient, and who holds South Korean nationality. Further details were not given, but 2ch commenters immediately focused on the fact that the man seems to be an ethnic Korean, with some even suggesting that it is an example of anti-Japanese terrorism, particularly due to the man’s statement to the police.
But is this a premeditated act of terror? Or simply the behaviour of a man who needs psychiatric care?
From Yahoo! Japan:
Man Arrested For Osaka Street Stabbings Is Psychiatric Patient Who Has Been Repeatedly Hospitalized
On May 22, it was understood from an interview by the investigation headquarters of the Ikuno division of the Osaka police that in the street slashing incident where two men in their 60s were successively stabbed and suffered serious injuries in Shinimazato, Ikuno ward, Osaka, the unemployed man (31) who has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder had been repeatedly hospitalized as a psychiatric patient.
According to the police, the man stated “I thought that if they were Japanese I’d kill a bunch of them”. It was also revealed through investigations following the man’s arrest that he holds South Korean nationality. Careful investigations are being carried out as to whether the man can be held criminally responsible.
Pictures from 2ch.net:
Police:
Man stated “I just thought that if they were Japanese I’d try killing a bunch of them”
Arrest: Attempted murder
Unemployed man (31), with Korean nationality.
Police:
Man stated “I just thought that if they were Japanese I’d try killing a bunch of them”
Comments from 2ch.net:
バーミーズ(山形県)：
I knew it.
アメリカンショートヘア(関東・甲信越)：
This is terrorism.
I repeat.
This is terrorism.
パンパスネコ(福岡県)：
If the countries were the other way around [ie had a Japanese person done this in Korea] then there’d be an insurrection in Korea.
ウンピョウ(関東・甲信越)：
South Korea: “He is a great hero nida [netizen is making fun of Korean polite verb ending ‘~nida’]”
ハバナブラウン(東日本)：
This is absolutely terrorism wwww
縞三毛(神奈川県)：
Only a Korean would do something like this.
ボンベイ(埼玉県)：
Trying to get away with it by saying he’s a psychiatric patient.
Don’t let him escape.
スミロドン(青森県)：
This is out and out racism.
“I thought that if they were Japanese I’d kill a bunch of them”
I think that it’s bastards like him who are the ones the bloody human rights people should be finding fault with.
イリオモテヤマネコ(東京都)：
If some immigrant had killed one of the indigenous people in another country, there’d be hell to pay, but of course, in Japan zainichi Koreans are always innocent.
パンパスネコ(広島県)：
You know when they don’t give the name that he must be a Korean.
アメリカンカール(神奈川県):
A criminal act that comes from discrimination against Japanese people.
Koreans are far too racist.
ジョフロイネコ(dion軍)：
This psychiatric patient thing sounds like a lie.
I mean, it’s Ikuno [Ikuno is known for having a large zainichi Korean population], hasn’t he just teamed up with his doctor and used this as a way of scamming welfare money?
エキゾチックショートヘア(大阪府)：
They’re building a bronze statue of him in Korea.
ピューマ(愛媛県)：
Seriously, all Koreans do is commit crimes.
I really want them to get the hell out of Japan.
キジ白(内モンゴル自治区)：
We gotta start cracking down on this stuff or else. Isn’t now a good time? The number idiotic Korea fans have also dwindled.
サバトラ(愛知県)：
Fucking gook, playing the victim as when they’re murdering people wwwww
They really are human scum.
ヤマネコ(三重県)：
They’re a terrorist group, aren’t they.
Being nurtured by our hard-earned tax money.
スコティッシュフォールド(愛知県)：
To me the most frightening thing is that this incident will just pass without being exposed to the rest of the world.
斑(東京都)：
Isn’t this anti-Japanese terrorism?
パンパスネコ(WiMAX)：
He had the power to judge that he was only going to target Japanese people didn’t he?
オセロット(dion軍)：
Japanese people need to be careful…
How frightening the world we live in has become.
