Tokyo police arrest teen for having knife 2mm too long, type of knife mistaken - Sensationalist Headlines

https://soranews24.com/2018/07/25/tokyo-police-arrest-teen-for-having-knife-2mm-too-long-released-because-type-of-knife-mistaken/ On 22 July Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced the arrest of a 15-year-old high school student for violation of the Firearms and Swords Act. The young man is said to have been carrying a knife that was 6.2 centimeters (2.44 inches) long, which is two millimeters longer than the acceptable length of six centimeters (2.36 inches). At about one o’clock in the morning on the 22nd, the youth was found by police sitting alone on a bench in a park of Kodaira City. The officers questioned him and then searched his bag, finding the offending blade inside. When asked why he had the knife, the teen replied, “It’s for self-defense,” Perhaps unsurprisingly, the police took the young man to the station and booked him for his illegal two millimeters of metal. However, not long after, someone realized that this knife was in fact a kiridashi knife, which is a simple utility blade that old-timers used to use to sharpen pencils. Kiridashi knives usually don’t have wooden or plastic handles and are made from a single piece of metal. Another unique feature of kiridashi knives is that they are allowed to be carried up to lengths of seven centimeters by law. In addition to making a literary defense easier, this rule also deemed the boy’s knife well within the legal limits and the police were left with no choice but to release him at 10 a.m. the same day. There is no word from the teen or his family yet, but a police spokesperson said they are investigating new charges of carrying a concealed weapon. They also said they will strive to improve the education of officers with regards to proper knife identification.

Not hand-held weapons, not even just blades, but swords. I love you, Japan.

That is bullshit, the police are hellbent on fucking this kid over one way or another

Isn't the Japanese police's modus operandi that once you have their attention, they'll do anything to find you guilty of something?

Eh at least he’s lucky their country doesn’t have an ATF equivalent which would have put speed holes in his doggo.

Believe it or not, Japan had a problem with sword violence during its reformation post WWII. Sword use was embedded in the military culture up until that point and there was a lot of pissed off soldiers out of work at the time that needed a cause to devote themselves too.

well, they DID have a bajilion different kinds of swords, and it is Japan, what with all the samurai culture and so on.

yeah, the japanese criminal justice system in general is pretty fucked up -- like the courts, which are focused on just getting as many convictions as possible

japan has a 99% conviction rate mostly due to prosecutors refusing to go to court unless they're guaranteed a win though

From a few accounts I read once I think there's a heavy focus on getting a confession, to the point people are kept under constant pressure (whilst not being outright abused, you have to understand this is still unethical and torturous) until they eventually crack and 'confess' even if they may be innocent.

So basically they’re just like us? Please send help

Isn't the Japanese system also one within which the onus is on the accused to prove their innocence (rather than the State to prove their guilt)?

There is so little crime in Japan that the Japanese police make crimes up to stay busy. No really As crime dries up, Japan’s police hunt for things to do THE stake-out lasted a week, but it paid off in the end. The tireless police of Kagoshima, a sleepy city in the far south of the country, watched the unlocked car day and night. It was parked outside a supermarket, and contained a case of malt beer. Finally, a passing middle-aged man decided to help himself. Five policemen instantly pounced, nabbing one of the city’s few remaining law-breakers.

Looks like a fuckin shiv tbh

Pheonix Wright's insane rules suddenly make way more sense now.

Cause Pheonix Wright is written as a satire of the Japanese justice system. A lot of that is lost with the weirdo American translation though.