Japanese idol group AKB48 is no stranger to the media, as it is often involved in member scandals and publicity gimmicks. However, a horrific incident at an AKB48 meet-and-greet event on the afternoon of May 25 got more attention than the marketing or tabloid ploys ever do: Japanese and international media alike are abuzz with the story of how a 24-year old man attacked two AKB48 members with a saw, causing injuries to their heads and hands.
News outlets are reporting that both women underwent emergency surgery, which has caused speculation that one or both women may have lost a finger. Overall, netizens have formed a unified front of sympathy for the victims, with many placing blame on AKB48 producer Yasushi Akimoto’s questionable ethics and business practices.
From Asahi Shimbun:
Kawaei And Iriyama Attacked At AKB Meet And Greet, Injuries To Fingers And Heads
On May 25 the Iwate prefectural police announced that they have arrested Umeta Satoru, an unemployed 24-year-old from Sanbongi, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, on suspicion of attempted murder after he injured members of idol group AKB48 while wielding a saw at an AKB48 members’ meet-and-greet event held at the Iwate Industry and Culture Center in Sunakomi, Takizawa city.
According to the West Morioka police office, at 4:55 p.m. on May 25, as AKB members were shaking hands with fans inside a tent put up inside the venue, Umeta suddenly slashed at members Kawaei Rina (19) and Iriyama Anna (18) and their staff with a 50 centimeter saw. The staff members who were present at the time subdued the suspect and turned him over to the police who rushed in a few minutes later. The two AKB members suffered injuries to their hands and heads. Three people were taken to the hospital in an ambulance, but it seems that none were in life-threatening condition.
In an interview at the Iwadate Medical University Hospital, where the women were transported, AKB48 manager Yuasa Hiroshi (51) stated that Kawaei suffered lacerations and a bone fracture on her right thumb, Iriyama suffered the same injuries to her right pinky finger in addition to head lacerations, and both women are undergoing emergency surgery.
According to the AKB48 office, approximately 5,000 fans participated in the meet-and-greet event. All approximately 50 main members were scheduled to participate, including Takahashi Minami, Watanabe Mayu, Yuki Kashiwagi, and Haruna Kojima, and the event was planned to start at 1 p.m. and finish at 9 p.m.
The venue was divided into 11 tents, where fans were shaking hands with the member of their choosing. It seems the incident occurred in the tent referred to as lane six, which held Kawaei, Iriyama, and three other members. The meet-and-greet was immediately shut down.
Comments from 2ch.net:
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Amputation?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Must be amputation
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Bone fractures are serious injuries!
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Lacerations… what a bastard…
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Isn’t this truly awful?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Are bone fracture + laceration code for amputation?… And if it was a saw, the amputation surface would be rough, so repairing it will probably be complicated…
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Bone fractures and lacerations requiring surgery must be serious injuries. If it was a “normal” bone fracture they’d just do protective treatment , and for lacerations you also just put on medication and protective gauze.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Emergency surgery must be an exaggeration.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Fucked up, huh?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
”Arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.” Definitely injuries indicating that he seriously went there to kill them.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／ :
Will we not be able to take out scissors anymore?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
A situation where the finger’s hanging by a single thread? How horrible.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
These are the last days of the cabaret club business.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
The last days of the exhibition business.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
This is what happens when you do excessive business with unattractive men.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
If the culprit was an unemployed 34-year-old, that’s younger than I expected.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Those are pretty serious injuries, huh? Who was this asshole who wanted to put on his own show?
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Akimoto: “Alright, now we’re trending”
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
Akimoto will use even this as material for sales.
名無しさん＠１３周年＠＼(^o^)／:
All the hatred is going towards the idols who appear on the surface, but the unnecessary evil is Akimoto.
