Society

Driver Flees 10-Car Crash, Later Arrested After Breaking Into Factory in Hokkaido

HOKKAIDO, Sep 27 (News On Japan) - A 10-vehicle collision on Route 36 in Eniwa, Hokkaido, on Thursday morning left two women with minor injuries and set off a dramatic police pursuit, as the driver suspected of causing the crash abandoned his car and fled on foot before being arrested several kilometers away.

Police identified the suspect as Tomohiro Imakita, a 33-year-old part-time worker from Eniwa City, who allegedly caused the chain collision by recklessly driving and crashing into multiple cars near the roadside rest area Hana Road Eniwa. After abandoning his car, Imakita fled on foot, escaping about three kilometers from the crash site before entering a factory premises.

Security camera footage later captured Imakita running through the factory grounds with several officers in pursuit. About 30 seconds after being cornered, he was subdued and arrested on the spot for trespassing. The pursuit and arrest took place roughly two and a half hours after the collision, with footage showing officers finally tackling the suspect from behind.

Police suspect he was responsible for initiating the accident by driving erratically, and investigators are examining the link between the collision and his subsequent actions. Imakita has so far remained silent during questioning.

Source: FNN

Osaka Suspends New Minpaku Registrations

Osaka City decided on September 30th to suspend new applications for so-called special zone minpaku, a category of private lodging that has seen a sharp rise in disputes with local residents.

North Safari Sapporo Closes After 20 Years Leaving 300 Animals in Limbo

North Safari Sapporo, a private zoo in the southern district of Sapporo, closed its doors on September 30th after 20 years of operation, leaving around 300 animals including lions and wolves without a confirmed relocation plan.

Severe Weather Expected Across Eastern and Northern Japan

Tokyo is expected to record a high of 22°C on October 1st, marking the first time in 112 days since June 11th that the temperature has fallen below 25°C, with rainfall cooling the air and bringing an end to the long stretch of summer-like days.

Photos of Asahara Adorn Aleph's Worship Centers

Photos of cult founder Shoko Asahara, whose real name was Chizuo Matsumoto and who was executed for his role in the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack, are being displayed alongside childhood pictures of his son in facilities linked to Aleph, the successor group to Aum Shinrikyo, according to findings by the Public Security Intelligence Agency (PSIA).

Takaichi Tops Poll at 34% for Next LDP President as Koizumi Trails

In a September opinion poll conducted by TV Tokyo and the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, former Minister of State for Economic Security Takaichi was the frontrunner with 34% when respondents were asked who they believed should be the next Liberal Democratic Party president.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Crackdown Begins on Japan's Anonymous Criminal Networks

Japan's National Police Agency and Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department launched a new structure on October 1st to pursue the leaders of the so-called Tokuryu, an 'anonymous and fluid' crime group responsible for large-scale fraud and violent robberies linked to black-market recruitment.

Spanish YouTuber in Japan Sparks Outrage With Shocking Livestreams

A Spanish tourist in Japan has become the subject of widespread criticism after a series of videos showed him pushing a passenger on a train, firing fireworks at a karaoke shop, and intruding into a shrine, with condemnation spreading even to his home country.

Top Harajuku Hairdresser Arrested for Indecent Acts in Salon Restroom

A hairdresser operating a salon in Tokyo’s Omotesando district has been arrested on suspicion of luring a female client into the restroom and committing indecent acts, raising questions about how a well-known stylist with a large clientele carried out such conduct.