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Japanese man with ‘grudge against society’ stabs bookshop worker, police say
Police in Osaka arrested a 33-year-old man after he allegedly stabbed a bookshop worker with a kitchen knife on Sunday. He admitted the attack and told officers he held a grudge against society, according to a police spokesman; the incident highlights occasional attacks in Japan by people expressing broad social grievances.
The suspect, identified as Satoshi Okamoto, allegedly attacked the worker at a Maruzen & Junkudo branch in central Osaka. The worker called police immediately, and the suspect stayed in the shop until his arrest. Police did not detail the victim’s condition but said there was no fear for their life; violent crime is relatively rare in Japan.
In short
- A 33-year-old man was arrested after a stabbing at an Osaka bookshop.
- Police say he admitted the attack and cited a grudge against society.
- The worker called police, and their life was not thought to be at risk.
Explained simply
Japan has relatively low levels of violent crime, though attacks do occur. Some incidents involve people who say they are acting out of broad anger or resentment towards society, rather than a dispute with a specific person.
Maruzen and Junkudo are established bookshop chains, and their branch in central Osaka serves shoppers in a busy city area. The case concerns an alleged attack on a worker there; police are responsible for investigating what happened and the suspect’s stated motive.