A “mama-chari” bike similar to the ones stolen by the wanderer.
The incredible story of a man who stole a series of bikes, a crate of beer, and ultimately travelled over 1,600 km just because he “was sick of life” has stuck a chord with Japanese netizens.
The man apparently decided to live the life of a wanderer after the bar he ran started losing money, and travelled from Chiba Prefecture all the way to Kagoshima Prefecture, stealing from supermarkets and sleeping rough along the way.
While netizens don’t condone the criminal aspects of his actions, many say they understand the feeling of restlessness that comes when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Hat tip to Hikosaemon for this one.
From Yomiuri Shimbun:
Man Steals Bikes To Ride From Chiba To Kagoshima: “I Was Sick Of My Life”
On March 7, the Kochi division of Kochi Prefectural Police announced that Takahashi Nobugiyo (43), who is unemployed and of no fixed abode (indicted) had been arrested on suspicion of theft for having stolen bikes and beer. Documents containing additional charges have been sent to prosecutors. Takahashi accepts the charges against him, and testified that “Running the bar wasn’t going so well; I was sick of my life so I set out on a nomadic journey”. In July last year, Takahashi is said to have left Kattori, Chiba Prefecture, where he lived, and had passed through Nagano, Niigata, Hiroshima, Kochi, and Miyazaki Prefectures, going over a distance of at least 1,600 km and using a total of 4 bikes up until he was arrested in Minami-satsuma, Kagoshima Prefecture in December.
In the police announcement, Takahashi is suspected of stealing 3 bikes that were parked in cycle racks outside pachinko parlours in Niigata, Kochi and Miyazaki Prefectures between September and November last year, and of stealing a crate of beer from a warehouse seller (worth around 15,000 yen [approx. $145]).
Takahashi was wanted by police while he was travelling through Japan, and on December 29, he was discovered by prefectural pelice sleeping rough in Minami-satsuma. He was then arrested on suspicion of stealing beer, and by March 7 police had sent documents containing the further charges underlying the initial arrest to prosecutors. Takashi stated that “I ate day to day by pinching things from supermarkets”, and at the time of his arrest he had in his possession a change of clothes, some small change, and a map of Japan.
A map showing the route the man took through Japan on his stolen bikes. Image Source
Comments from 2ch.net:
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
For someone who hates their life he has a hell of a lot of vitality.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
If he has this much guts then he should be able to do something.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
I bet that with that much energy and strength he could do anything.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
He has amazing power, but the problem is the way he uses it.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
I really understand how this guy feels.
When I hated by life I couldn’t stay still through the night, so suddenly
I walked to a lake that was 60km away. Then I suddenly stopped and caught the train home.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
This kind of crime can be forgiven, surely.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
If he hadn’t stolen stuff from supermarkets it could be forgiven.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
How come if I do 100km one way on a road bike I’m exhausted, but this dude does 1600km on a stolen city bike? He has way too much energy.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
Had it been me I’d have probably turned back when I got to Tokyo www
It’s amazing that the guy went from Chiba to Kagoshima.
What’s more, he was sleeping rough. So no baths, rain, cold…
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
Stealing isn’t good.
Do it on a bike you bought yourself.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
Is it OK to ride a bike after drinking beer?
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
He should have done it relying on supporters from Twitter or Facebook or something.
Any of use would have given him an old bike we no longer ride, and treated him to a beer.
In the old days, there were people who wandered like that, and they’d get rice balls and things from kind people they passed along the way.
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
What the hell. Is he trying to copy Ozaki Yutaka (._.)?
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
Dude must have some muscular calves WWW
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!:
I get it, sometimes when I’m sick of life I start wanting to run around my house naked (´･ω･`)
オレオレ!オレだよ、名無しだよ!!: [in response to above]
I look forward to the day there’s a thread about you on here.
