Akihabara massacre

] cite news
url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1812808,00.html
title=Japan Reeling from Stabbing Spree
publisher=Time (Magazine)
author=Masters, Coco
date=2008-06-09
accessdate=2008-06-09] cite news
url=http://www2.asahi.com/special2/080609/TKY200806100128.html
title=４人、一突きで失血死　容疑者に強い殺意　秋葉原殺傷
date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-24
publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company
language=Japanese] cite news
url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/akihabara/archive/news/2008/06/20080620k0000e040073000c.html
title=秋葉原殺傷：通行人を次々襲い交差点縦断…殺人で再逮捕
date=2008-06-20
accessdate=2008-06-26
publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS
language=Japanese]

The Tokyo Police arrested Nihongo|Tomohiro Katō|加藤智大|Katō Tomohiro, 25, on suspicion of attempted murder. The suspect, dressed then in a black T-shirt with a jacket and off-white trousers, [cite news
url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/09/asia/09tokyo.php
title=Man who killed 7 in Tokyo left online warnings
publisher=International Herald Tribune
author=Onishi, Norimitsu|date=2008-06-09
accessdate=2008-06-09] was a resident of Susono, Shizuoka.cite news
url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/akihabara/archive/news/2008/06/20080610k0000e040034000c.html
title=秋葉原通り魔：加藤容疑者を殺人未遂容疑で送検
date=2008-06-10
accessdate=2008-06-26
publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS
language=Japanese] He was held at the Manseibashi Police Station. [cite news
url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/46.html
title=加藤智大容疑者が留置されている万世橋署に集まった報道陣
publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS
date=2008-06-09
accessdate=2008-06-25
language=Japanese] Two days later on June 10, he was sent to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office. He was later re-arrested by the police on June 20 on suspicion of murder.cite news
url= http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/akihabara/archive/news/2008/06/20080621k0000m040132000c.html
title=秋葉原殺傷：「ネットで存在感誇示」　殺人容疑で再逮捕
date=2008-06-21
accessdate=2008-06-26
publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS
language=Japanese]

Details

The incident

The suspect Katō drove a two-ton rented truck into a crowd at the crossing of Kanda Myōjin-dōri and Chūō-dōri streets in Akihabara. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7442327.stm |title=Seven dead in Tokyo knife attack |publisher=BBC News|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-09] While Kanda Myōjin-dōri was open to traffic, Chūō-dōri was closed to vehicular traffic for the convenience of shopping pedestrians, which was a practice since 1973 on Sundays and holidays.cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/archive/news/2008/06/13/20080613dde041040020000c.html|title=東京・秋葉原殺傷：歩行者天国の中止、公安委員会が決定(No more pedestrians-only street in Akihabara following stabbing rampage)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-13|language=Japanese] Police concluded it was at 12:33 p.m. when he hit five people with the truck;cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/akihabara/news/20080616k0000e040056000c.html |title=秋葉原殺傷：突入から逮捕まで２分間で１７人襲う　容疑者(Akihabara mass slayer attacked 17 victims in 2 minutes)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-16|accessdate=2008-06-17|language=Japanese] [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080617TDY02301.htm |title=Knife rampage, arrest over in 2 mins |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-17] he had ignored a red light earlier. As some people gathered to care for the victims, [cite news|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080617p2a00m0na004000c.html |title=Akihabara random killer stabbed three people who were caring for victims|publisher=Mainichi Daily News|date=2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-17] He then left the truck and stabbed at least 12 people, while, a witness told, he was screaming. [cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/09/japan.internationalcrime1 |title='He was screaming as he stabbed people': seven die in frenzied knife attack in Tokyo|publisher=The Guardian|author=McCurry, Justin|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09] [cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-06-08-stabbing-tokyo_N.htm |title=7 dead in Tokyo stabbing rampage |publisher=USA Today (Associated Press)|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-09] Police chased him, cornered him into a narrow alley, and a police officer pointed a gun at him; he dropped his knife and was held down by the police at 12:35 p.m., about convert|170|m|sp=us|sigfig=1 away from the truck.cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/today/news/20080609k0000m040013000c.html|title=秋葉原通り魔：死亡７人、負傷１０人に…２５歳男を逮捕|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese]

The victims

At least 17 ambulances rushed to the scene as passersby tried to revive the victims. Five of the victims reportedly went into cardiac arrest at the scene. [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/2093408/Tokyo-stabbing-Five-killed-as-man-goes-on-knife-rampage-in-Akihabara.html|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-09|title=Tokyo stabbing: Five killed as man goes on knife rampage in Akihabara|author=Banerjee, Subhajit|publisher=The Telegraph] It was initially reported two people died from the attack, and during the day the death toll increased to seven. Later it was determined through autopsies that three victims died as a result of being hit by the truck while the other four were fatally stabbed.cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080610k0000e040071000c.html |title=秋葉原通り魔：被害者３人は全身打撲、４人は失血死(3 of Akihabara attack victims were fatally hit by truck, 4 others stabbed to death)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10|language=Japanese]

According to police and hospital officials, six of the seven who were killed were men, including Kazunori Fujino and his friend Takahiro Kamaguchi (both 19), Katsuhiko Nakamura (74), Naoki Miyamoto (31), Mitsuru Matsui (33), and Kasuhiro Koiwa (47). A woman, Mai Mutō (21), was also killed. [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080610TDY01302.htm |title=7 die in Tokyo stabbing frenzy / Suspect posted messages on Net warning of Akihabara attack |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] Communication records showed that Mutō probably made an emergency call for police from her , though she left no message. [cite news|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080619p2a00m0na014000c.html |title=Akihabara street rampage victim called police during attack|publisher=Mainichi Daily News|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2008-06-20] Later that day, a makeshift memorial was created by passersby. [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/index.html|title=秋葉原で通り魔　白昼の惨劇|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese :cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/41.html|title=通り魔事件の現場近くの交差点に犠牲者の冥福を祈り置かれた花束|publisher=|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese:cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/42.html|title=通り魔事件の現場近くの交差点に犠牲者の冥福を祈り花束とともに置かれた人気アニメ「機動戦士ガンダム」のセル画|publisher=|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese:cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/43.html|title=花束が置かれた通り魔事件の現場交差点で、手を合わせ犠牲者の冥福を祈る男性|publisher=|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese:cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/44.html|title=事件現場で正座し手を合わせる男性|publisher=|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese:cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/47.html|title=通り魔事件の現場の交差点に手向けられた花束を前に目頭を押さえる男性|publisher=|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese:cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/graph/20080608/48.html|title=通り魔事件の現場近くの交差点に手向けられた花束を前に手を合わせる男性|publisher=|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-25|language=Japanese] cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/archive/news/2008/06/13/20080613dde041040014000c.html|title=東京・秋葉原殺傷：アキバを愛すオタク流の弔い　アニメのセル画、献花台に手向け(Akihabara regulars pay 'otaku' tribute to stabbing rampage victims)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-13|language=Japanese]

Perpetrator

Early life and education

Nihongo|Tomohiro Katō|加藤智大|Katō Tomohiro (born 1983) grew up in a suburban home in Aomori, Honshu.cite news|title=For Akiba mass murderer Tomohiro Katō, the problems began at home, say shrinks |publisher="Sunday Mainichi Magazine" (サンデー毎日)|date=2008-06-22] His father was a top manager in a financial institution. Katō's grades were considered to be exceptional in elementary school and was a top track athlete. He entered Tsukuda Junior High School and became a president of a tennis club in middle school. He started to act violently at home after enrolling at Aomori Prefectural High School, an elite high school.cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Asia/STIStory_246337.html|title=Japan massacre suspect said he was ugly, lonely |publisher=The Straits Times (AFP)|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] Katō was unpopular with his classmates and his class academic ranking fell to 300 (of 360 students). He failed entrance examinations for the prestigious Hokkaido University, eventually training as an auto mechanic at Nakanihon Automotive College. He was hired as a temporary worker at an auto parts factory in central Shizuoka Prefecture, though he was recently told that his job was going to be cut at the end of June.

Katō reportedly did not get along well with his parents, and seldom returned home.cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080614TDY03302.htm |title=Rampage suspect didn't get on well with parents |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-14|accessdate=2008-06-16] cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/world/tokyo-killer-stifled-by-strict-mum-20080616-2rf1.html |title=Tokyo killer 'stifled' by strict mum |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald (AFP)|date=2008-06-16|accessdate=2008-06-17] An interview with Katō's brother revealed that his parents had put immense pressure on their studies and performance, ordering that their homework be redone to standards in order to impress teachers in school and recalling one incident where Katō was made to eat scraps of food from the floor. Another neighbour described Katō being punished by his parents, who made him stand outside for hours in deep cold during winter. Previous online postings before his announcement of the attack contained sharp criticisms towards his own upbringing. [cite news|url=http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200806110280.html|title=Akihabara suspect blames parents, work|publisher="International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun"|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-16] Under debt and believing that his family had given up on him, Katō unsuccessfully attempted suicide in 2006 by ramming his car into a wall.

Motivations

Three days before the attack, on June 5, Katō accused people at his workplace of hiding his work clothes, and left work immediately afterwards. Apparently he believed at this point he was going to lose his job, though this was not actually the case.cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080609k0000e040040000c.html|title=秋葉原通り魔：「作業服ない」騒ぐ…加藤容疑者(Missing work clothes at factory may have sparked Akihabara stabbing rampage)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09|language=Japanese] cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7445694.stm |author=Hogg, Chris|title=Japan seeks answers on knife attack |publisher=BBC News|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080611TDY01301.htm |title=Katō 'claims job despair made him kill' |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-12] This may have triggered the attack. [citeweb|url=http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0708/TKY200807080004.html|title=秋葉原事件、作業着の騒ぎが犯行のきっかけ　容疑者供述|accessdate=2008-07-07|publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company|language=Japanese]

The suspect apparently posted messages from his mobile phone to a Web site "Extreme Exchange, Revised" [cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/12/ap5110866.html|title=Tokyo stabbing melee foretold on Internet postings|author=Eric Talmadge & Mari Yamaguchi|publisher=Forbes (Associated Press)|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-12] (partly erroneously reported as 2channel), [ [http://www.japanator.com/elephant/post.phtml?pk=8063 7 dead in Akihabara stabbings [UPDATE - Japanator.com - anime blog, anime podcast, manga, anime wallpapers, pictures, games, movies, and more! ] ] which has since been shut down by authorities, revealing his intentions, posting his last message via his mobile phone 20 minutes before the attack. [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7443233.stm |title=Japan police probe stab 'warning' |publisher=BBC News|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09] A police official stated the first message read, "I will kill people in Akihabara." Other messages he is alleged to have posted include, "If only I had a girlfriend, I wouldn't have quit work," "I would never have become addicted to my mobile phone. Anybody with hope couldn't possibly understand how I feel," [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/archive/news/2008/06/10/20080610ddm041040022000c.html |title=誰でもよかった：秋葉原通り魔事件／上（その１）　孤独な心情、サイトに(Akihabara mass murder suspect said he empathized with indiscriminate killers)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10|language=Japanese] and "I don't have a single friend and I won't in the future. I'll be ignored because I'm ugly. I'm lower than trash because at least the trash gets recycled." It also referred to "a stabbing spree in Tsuchiura." [cite news|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/p-gn-tp0-20080610-370417.html|title=加藤容疑者、直前まで実況中継|publisher=Nikkan sports|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-13|language=Japanese] Commentators referred to the incident, based on the messages, as another case with the phenomenon of Hikikomori or Internet suicide. [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20080613TDY13001.htm |title=SOFT POWER, HARD TRUTHS / No man, or nation, is an island |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|author=Kelts, Ronald|date=2008-06-13|accessdate=2008-06-15] [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/06/11/do1106.xml|title=Japan's recluses emerge and start killing |publisher=The Daily Telegraph|author=Ryall, Julian|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-11] [cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4170649.ece|title=Japan gripped by suicide epidemic|publisher=The Times|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2008-06-20] Later messages revealed his plan to use a vehicle until it became inoperable, and then to use a knife to continue the attack on foot. [cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/06/09/japan.attack.ap/index.html |title=Knife frenzy suspect warned: It's time|publisher=CNN|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09] [cite news|url=http://thestar.com.my/news/nastory.asp?file=/2008/6/9/worldupdates/2008-06-09T162426Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-339745-2&sec=Worldupdates |title=Blog warnings posted ahead of Tokyo knife rampage|author=Reynolds, Isabel|publisher=The Star (Malaysia) (Reuters)|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09] He waited out for Chūō-dōri to close at noon to vehicular traffic before commencing the attack. [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080612TDY02308.htm |title=Katō 'waited for crowds to form' / Akihabara knifing spree suspect said to have known busiest time in area |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-12] cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080611k0000e040032000c.html |title=秋葉原殺傷：加藤容疑者、ホコ天開始までトラック止め待機(Suspect waited for crowds of pedestrians before going on Akihabara rampage)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-13|language=Japanese]

Investigation

The suspect Katō was arrested red-handed on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer spotted him stabbing a woman. On June 10 the police sent him to Tokyo District Prosecutor's Office. The police on June 20 arrested him again on suspicion of murder of the seven victims. On the same day the Prosecutor's Office withheld action on him for the first suspicion.cite news|url=http://www2.asahi.com/special2/080609/TKY200806200200.html|title=加藤容疑者、7人殺害容疑で再逮捕　秋葉原無差別殺傷|date=2008-06-20|accessdate=2008-06-26|publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company|language=Japanese] While being positive about his capacity to hold the criminal liability, the Prosecutor's Office decided by June 20 to demand that his detention for a psychiatric test be authorized by the Tokyo District Court.

Katō was cooperative during the inquiry but unapologetic, and cried at times. Police seized from his apartment empty packages of knives, their receipts, and one club.

Katō erased all contacts and communication records from his mobile phone just prior to the attack, the purpose of which he confessed was to avoid annoying those around him. Katō later said that he posted the online messages hoping that police would take notice and stop him. [cite news|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080612p2a00m0na005000c.html|title=Akihabara stabbing rampage suspect hoped Net warning would alert police|publisher=Mainichi Daily News|date=2008-06-12|accessdate=2008-06-25]

The knives were reportedly purchased two days before the attack from a military supply shop in Fukui at about 12:40 p.m. Katō spent about 20 minutes in the store, purchasing a telescopic baton and a pair of leather gloves while the store closed-circuit television captured him talking to and laughing with the salesman and demonstrating stabbing motions. [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080611TDY02303.htm |title=Katō 'spent 20 minutes choosing knives' |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-12] cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/10/asia/tokyo.php |title=Knives in Tokyo rampage bought just before the assault |publisher=International Herald Tribune (Associated Press)|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] Katō came to Akihabara a day before the attack to sell his personal computer and some software to raise money to rent the truck.cite news
url=http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/10/ap5100395.html
title=Japan stabbing suspect cries during interrogation
author=Talmadge, Eric
publisher=Forbes (Associated Press)
date=2008-06-10
accessdate=2008-06-10]

Japan's Code of Criminal Procedure limits police custody of the arrested to 48 hours, and limits prosecutor's time to 24 hours before filing charge against or requesting detention of or releasing the transferred suspect; the term of detention (begining with the day of requesting) is limited to 10 days, whose extension on unavoidal condition is limited to 10 more days as to suspicion like murder. [ [http://law.e-gov.go.jp/htmldata/S23/S23HO131.html 刑事訴訟法（昭和二十三年七月十日法律第百三十一号）] : 第百九十九条、第二百三条、第二百五条、第二百八条、第二百十二条、第二百十六条(Code of Criminal Procedure - Act No. 131 of 1948: Articles 199, 203, 205, 208, 212, 216). Last effective revision promulgated on 2007-06-27. From a [http://law.e-gov.go.jp/cgi-bin/idxsearch.cgi database] managed by the [http://www.soumu.go.jp/english/gyoukan/index.html Administrative Management Bureau] of [http://www.soumu.go.jp/english/index.html Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications] .]

Reactions and consequences

The attack made global headlines and sent shock waves across Japan, [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080610TDY03101.htm |title=Killings make global headlines |publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] shaking public confidence in what is traditionally considered a society safe from violent crime.cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20080610TDY04305.htm |title=Society's notion of safety shaken to its core|publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10] The Government of Japan is now reviewing laws regulating knives. [cite news|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/3BA697A2-BCA6-4752-863C-36F03AD5B91F.htm |title=Japan to review knife rules |publisher=Al Jazeera|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09] [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7442545.stm |title=Bewilderment in Tokyo after attack |publisher=BBC News|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-09] [cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4095334.ece |title=On the spot: Japan's geeks come to mourn|publisher=The Times|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-09] The Tokyo Metropolitan Public Safety Commission announced that the 35-year old practice of closing Chūō-dōri on Sundays and holidays was to be suspended until safety measures were reviewed.

Konami canceled three launch events of "" in Tokyo, with the "safety of participants in mind" as a result of the attack. [cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1813463,00.html |title=Tokyo Suspect Had Several Knives |publisher=Time (Magazine) (Associated Press)|author=Yuasa, Shino|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-11] [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/news/20080611mog00m200003000c.html |title=秋葉原殺傷：コナミ　「メタルギア」の発売記念イベント中止　「安全性を考慮」 (Konami cancels 'Metal Gear Solid' release events following Akihabara stabbing spree)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-11|language=Japanese] Katō's parents gave an apology to the victims in a television interview. [cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/2109255/Tokyo-stabbing-Japanese-knifeman%27s-parents-apologise-to-victims.html |title=Tokyo stabbing: Japanese knifeman's parents apologise to victims |publisher=The Daily Telegraph|author=Ryall, Julian|date=2008-06-11|accessdate=2008-06-11]

The massacre also sparked many conversations in Japanese blogs when it was discovered that two Ustream users (Lyphard and kenan) had broadcast live video streams of the tragedy, attracting a viewership estimated at between 1000 and 3000 people. No recording has been saved of the videos, although the event has been written about in many Japanese blogs and online IT magazines. [cite news|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/06/16/japan-reflections-on-the-akiba-massacre-part-2/
title=Japan: Reflections on the Akiba Massacre (Part 2) |publisher=Global Voices|author=Salzberg, Chris|date=2008-06-16|accessdate=2008-06-16]

The current Super Sentai series at the time of the attack, "Engine Sentai Go-onger" (2008) featured transforming daggers as part of the heroes' standard personal sidearms, called "Switch Funshaken Rocket Dagger"(s) (in reference to their rocket-shaped themes). After the attack, which occurred the day immediately after the Rocket Daggers made their debut in the series, both Bandai [the company that makes the toy versions of the weapons] and Toei [the company that produces the TV series] changed their names to "Switch Funshaken Rocket Booster"(s)" and re-designated them as "swords" rather than "daggers" out of respect for the victims of the attack, and to lessen any trauma toward the 6-8yrs audience that the "tokusatsu" franchise regularly targets. [ [http://www.iza.ne.jp/news/newsarticle/event/154896/ 「【秋葉原通り魔事件】ダガーナイフ連想…ゴーオンジャー武器の名称変更」事件です‐事件ニュース:イザ！ ] ]

On 17 June 2008, Tsutomu Miyazaki was executed by hanging, which was suspected to be a reaction to Katō's massacre. [cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/world/asia/18japan.html?ref=world|title=Japan Hangs Three Convicted Killers|publisher=The New York Times|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2008-06-17] [cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008003414_japanhang18.html |title=Japanese executions at brisk pace|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=2008-06-18|accessdate=2008-06-18]

Related or similar events

The stabbings occurred exactly seven years after the Osaka school massacre, where eight elementary school students were killed. [cite news|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/12-stabbed-others-hit-by-assailants-car-on-akihabara-street|date=2008-06-08|accessdate=2008-06-08|title=7 killed, 10 injured in stabbing rampage in Akihabara|publisher=Japan Today] In 2008, there has also been another random knife killing by Masahiro Kanagawa, [cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/seven-killed-as-knifeman-goes-on-rampage-in-tokyo-842794.html|title=Seven killed as knifeman goes on rampage in Tokyo|publisher=The Independent|date=2008-06-09|accessdate=2008-06-11] though on a smaller scale. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who visited the site a week after the massacre to offer prayer to the victims, [cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Asia/STIStory_249568.html |title=Japan's Fukuda prays for stabbing victims |publisher=The Straits Times (AFP)|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2008-06-20] said that he "is worried that similar cases occur about 10 times a year in Japan." [ (NHK World website 10/6/08)] According to the National Police Agency, 67 similar random attacks have taken place between 1998 and 2007. It was reported that Katō's massacre was "the worst case of its kind" since World War II "in terms of the number of deaths." [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=15&entry_id=27197 sfgate.com, A bloody rampage shocks low-crime Japan] ] [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080610TDY03104.htm |title=7 knife frenzies in 10 yrs; Akihabara worst postwar street stabbing|publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-10]

A few days after the attack, police arrested several people who stated their intention to make copycat killings elsewhere in Japan, [cite news|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080616TDY02301.htm |title=Papers to be sent on girl over bloodbath warning|publisher=The Daily Yomiuri|date=2008-06-16|accessdate=2008-06-16] [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080615k0000e040014000c.html |title=脅迫：無差別殺傷ほのめかすメール送った男逮捕　大阪府警(Man nabbed after threatening singer's agency to go on 'Akihabara-like' killing spree)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-15|accessdate=2008-06-16|language=Japanese] [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080617k0000e040084000c.html |title=書き込み：「空港駅で人を刺す」…２４歳男逮捕　愛知(Man arrested over random stabbing threat at airport railway station)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-20|language=Japanese] [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/today/news/20080620k0000e040063000c.html |title=ネット書き込み：「渋谷で大量殺人」…福井の私大生逮捕(University student arrested over mass murder threat in Shibuya)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-20|accessdate=2008-06-20|language=Japanese] [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080623k0000e040066000c.html|title=ネット殺人予告：１６歳少女を家裁に書類送致　警視庁(Girl posts 'Akihabara-style' mass murder threat on Internet)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-23|accessdate=2008-06-23|language=Japanese] [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/akihabara/news/20080624k0000e040058000c.html |title=秋葉原殺傷：犯行予告の書き込み、事件後に１７件　警察庁(Flood of 'Akihabara-style' murder threats posted on Internet: NPA)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-24|accessdate=2008-06-26|language=Japanese] including one case who made his intentions known to popular message board 2channel. [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/jiken/news/20080616k0000e040072000c.html |title=偽計業務妨害：秋葉原事件まねた書き込み男逮捕　池袋署(Akihabara copycat arrested for threatening Toyko street attack)|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-16|accessdate=2008-06-16|language=Japanese] [cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/17/asia/AS-GEN-Japan-Web-Threats.php |title=4 arrested in Japan for Web posts warning of more bloody attacks|publisher=International Herald Tribune (Associated Press)|date=2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-17] Also on June 22, three women were injured by an unknown suspect at Osaka Station. [cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200806231110.htm|title=Japanese police search for female stabber|publisher=The Hindu|date=2008-06-23|accessdate=2008-06-23] A 38-year-old woman confessed of two cases. [cite web|url=http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080626p2a00m0na005000c.html|title=Woman arrested over Osaka Station attacks admits slashing 2 victims with razor|publisher=Mainichi Shimbun|date=2008-06-26|accessdate=2008-07-16] First actual stabbing event that happened after the Akihabara massacre. [cite news|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/06/23/asia/japan.php|title=Japanese police arrest man over Internet stabbing threat|publisher=International Herald Tribune (Associated Press)|date=2008-06-23|accessdate=2008-06-23] Between June 8 and June 23, 12 people have been arrested, and five people warned for the threatening messages. The 17 people involved in the threatening are age ranged 13 to 30 years old. [cite news|url=http://www.sanspo.com/shakai/news/080624/sha0806241245007-n1.htm|title=ネット殺人予告で１２人逮捕　秋葉原事件後|publisher=Sankei Sports|date=2008-06-24|accessdate=2008-06-25] On 26 June 2008, Police overpowered and arrested a man who was found to have a knife in possession in Akihabara. [cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/today/news/20080627k0000e040067000c.html |title=傷害：川崎の２２歳無職と判明　秋葉原で逮捕の男 Arrested man identified after knife scuffle with police in Akihabara|publisher=THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS|date=2008-06-27|accessdate=2008-06-27|language=Japanese]

ee also

*List of events named massacres

References