Tomohiro Kato – Akihabara Killer

Some photos of Tomohiro Kato, the 25-year-old man who went on a stabbing rampage in Akihabara yesterday:

Tomohiro Kato drove a white two-ton rental truck into a crowd of pedestrians, running over at least three people and then emerging from the truck with a large knife, according to police and witnesses.

Indiscriminately slashing and stabbing as he went, Kato then ran and walked through the center of the Akihabara neighborhood, where thousands of young men from Japan and around the world gather for electronic gadgets and comic books, computer games and nerdy fellowship.

“I am tired of life,” Kato later told police. “I came to Akihabara to kill people. It didn’t matter who they were. I came alone.” – The Washington Post

Some details about Kato that have been reported in the press:

He had been to Akihabara many times in the past.
He worked for a Tokyo-based temp company that had dispatched him to a job in Shizuoka.
He was originally from Aomori Prefecture, where he lived until he graduated from high school.
He played tennis in junior high, and a junior high.
A yearbook page obtained by the press contains a sketch of an RPG character with some text Kato had written in English.
A high school classmate told the press there had once been rumors that Kato carried a knife at school.

A close up of the yearbook sketch, which appears to be from the game Tales of Destiny:

Kato drawn in ASCII, from 2-channel:

Police are currently investigating why Kato became “tired of life.”
All our updates about this story so far:

———–

46 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - June 9, 2008 at 7:35 am

Categories: General Japan Tags: akihabara, japan

Koiyuki

This is why you try to live a rounded life, kids. When you burn out, bad things are bound to happen
- Konrad
  
  The problem in Japan is that there is a serious lack of morality and lack of religious faith – especially among young Japanese people. People will blame society, psychological problems, burnout, etc… but few people have the balls to say this guy`s relationship with God and his moral values were in the same place where they are for many people living in Tokyo (including many foreigners living there) – in the sewer.
  
  After World War II In Japan life was very difficult, therefore, Kato`s parents or grandparents probably went thru much greater difficulties and psychological traumas than he did. They did not resolve their problems by going out on a killing rampage, though – I bet their sense of morality was more healthy than Kato`s. This guy has no excuse whatsover for what he did, though as a Christian I do hope that before he dies he will repent of his sins and receive Jesus Christ.
  
  2 Timothy 3: 1-9
  
  Godlessness in the Last Days
  
  But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
  They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth — men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
  - Dustin
    
    I am sorry, but I completely disagree with you. The level of violence in a society directly corresponds with the level of religiosity. Japan has one of the lowest crime rates and one of the lowest rates of people believing in religion. America is almost the exact opposite. This is one of the first times something this terrible has happened in modern Japan. How many times has someone walked in to a fast food joint in America and murdered 20+ people? America is 85-89% religious.
    
    “… but few people have the balls to say this guy`s relationship with God and his moral values were in the same place where they are for many people living in Tokyo (including many foreigners living there) – in the sewer.”
    ——> Suicide bombers think they have a very close relationship to go. Is that a virtue? I don’t remember the last time an atheist suicide bombed a daycare…
    
    Just because you think your religion gives you special morality does not mean it is true. open your eyes, the facts are that religion and violence go hand and hand. Believing in magic does not make you a more moral person.
    
    But seriously. Japan does needs to work harder to help the mentally ill and reform worker’s rights. These are the real problems, not “godlessness.”
Charon

Well… why that cleavage shot in the big picture collection?
- Roland
  
  I think the woman being interviewed wanted her identity concealed.
- Kevin
  
  That is the typical way to interview people in Japan without showing their face. The text at the bottom of the screen says, “He was smart and good at sports. He was a famous student that everyone respected.”
http://whatjapanthinks.com Ken Y-N

Has 2ch also discovered that he’s Korean? (To other people reading, no, I am not suggesting he is, but the standard behaviour from 2ch is to suggest Korean ancestory when anything bad happens.)
- http://www.japanprobe.com James
  
  I’ve seen at least one comment on there suggesting he’s Zainichi、but I’ve only skimmed over threads looking for news links and photographs…
- …
  
  It seems your propenseness is not different from theirs.
- aaa
  
  Im pretty sure the idiots at 2ch are already claiming hes zainichi. They do this all the time without any evidence. Its appalling.
Pingback: RN D/LAB …RADAR/NOIS™ » Stabbing spree in Akiba - 18 victims, 7 dead
Gojira

The thing that worries me about this is that the guy was clearly suicidal from his comments, but instead of killing himself he decided to go and kill a bunch of people so he could be executed. Considering the suicide rate in Japan I seriously hope there won’t be any more of this.
otsuka

His favorite weather is ‘blizzard’ and favorite word is ‘destiny’. Hmmm, I think he would have picked ‘sunny’ and ‘happiness’ instead.
Zanibas

Making a peace sign without any sign of happiness? That’s got to be one warped person.

But seriously, I really hope those still living make it through…
- Adam
  
  That’s how the Japanese pose for pictures. Similar to a thumbs up in the US.
Pingback: Asesinato en plena calle en Akihabara (Tokyo) | Un español en Japón
morningstar

Why are so many mentally ill people are out in the street in japan? What will the Government going to do to protect the public from these mentally ill people?
- Rip
  
  Yes, more government is the answer.
Pingback: Hardian Nazief dot Com » Doesn’t Have to Have the Tipical Mean Killer Face
Pingback: Akihabara Rampage « あなた　が…いない
http://www.timrudder.com tim

Funny how this sounds no different to something a teen movie fan would post on a web site about their favourite movie star..
“here’s a photo from Brad’s high school year book”
“here’s some ASCII art I did of angelina”

Think the media should be more wary of not creating a twisted form of fame for this person.
- http://tofusando.blogspot.com Akoua Doffou
  
  This is what they did to Nevada-tan…in a way…
Pingback: Tokyo Stabbings :: Beyond Reality
Pingback: MMO Clerks » Details Surface About Akihabara Killer (Ninja Gaiden 2 Confusion) [Tragedy]
Aria-san

OMG he looks creepy. He’s insane. omg…chocking…
http://myspace.com/blackpassenger blackpassenger

after living in japan for the past seven years, im convinced that most japanese in japan, are a tomohiro kato waiting to happen. family stress, school stress, work stress, social stress. stress is the backbone of japanese society. im sure therell be another mass stabbing soon, just watch
- http://pontasmemorandum.blogspot.com/ ponta
  
  I agree modern society is a complex and stressful society, and some mass murder might happen an any time. But is it exclusive to Japanese society?
  As you know, crime-rate is comparatively low in Japan.
  Which country are you from? Do you want me to check your country’s record?
- http://pontasmemorandum.blogspot.com/ ponta
  
  By the way Debito’s fans will be furious about your comment because you didn’t include gaijin in Japan as people who feel stress.
  According to them, gaijin feel more stress in Japanese society.
  And by your logic, gaijin will be tomohiro kato waiting to happen.
  It scares me.
  - jm
    
    I don’t think blackpassenger meant it in a bad way, I think you can take it as a compliment that there aren’t too many rampages considering the stress on Japanese teens and such in terms of their school load. No need to demand where he’s from, and what would it matter? If you’re neighbors were serial killers, doesn’t mean it’s ok for you to say shoot some guy every now and then and say hey, in comparison to them I ain’t killing too many people. My parents are Israeli but I’ve not once thought of how that would affect my view of crime on where I live now (although, you can find me stats on crime there, I personally don’t even know, kinda curious).
    - http://pontasmemorandum.blogspot.com/ ponta
      
      Well he didn’t put that way.
      What he said was “japanese in japan, are a tomohiro kato waiting to happen,”"im sure therell be another mass stabbing soon, just watch”
      
      So “Israeli people are psycho killer waiting to happen and there will be another mass killing soon, just watch.” It that compliment?
- helical
  
  It must be tough living your life everyday, expecting sudden stabbing rampages from everyone you meet, no?
nanico

I dont think its an issue about “strengthening” government. Its a societal problem that has ailed Japan since the Occupation. To be very brief, its my opinion that Japan collectively assumed a role in rapid economic development, with long work hours, and urbanization; at the expense of more traditional socio-cultural values which are important in ANY society. Just view the difference in urban population between pre-war (1928) and post war (1965) of Tokyo and it will give you a taste of how rapid the change has been.
At the core of Japanese society is the necessity for self, family, neighbors then community. These important elements have been all neglected through over-work, and as a result is a disability in fulfilling communication between generation and generation.
Ten years ago you would never hear about kids killing parents, parents killing kids, etc., but there is more frequency now. The people of Japan should re-think what is important in their lives, in society. But I dont think it has to do with government AT ALL. This is a national / social / family / self issue that has nothing to do with Kasumigaseki.
Hatix

oh god no, now that they found a manga drawing in his yearbook they’re gonna scapegoat otaku again… especially with the huge knife… But.. doesn’t anyone draw something in his life? Lately, the media always on the back of otaku that they are all maniacs and killers.

Don’t get me wrong though, it’s absolutely disgusting what he did, he should have stabbed himself if he was so tired of his life.
- http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett
  
  scapegoat otaku again
  
  Again?
  
  Despite an interest in (usually pornographic and/or violent) manga and anime and being loners being the connecting threads between virtually every mass-murderer or serial killer from Tsutomu Miyazaki to now and that being perhaps unfairly harped on, there are still few, if any, laws censoring the manufacture, marketing, sale, or distribution of manga, anime, or video games and there are certainly not discriminatory laws against people who are interested in those or other products associated with otaku. How are otaku being scapegoated?
  
  Pointing out that the men who have committed this type of crime in Japan over the past couple of decades have tended to share interests with otaku is not scapegoating. Considering that this is not even the first incident of its type this year, for investigators and authorities to look into every angle would be irresponsible, no?
  
  Saying that people who like Gundam have to register would be out of bounds, but saying that the interaction between Kato’s state of mind and interests led to his actions is perfectly reasonable.
  - helical
    
    Despite an interest in (usually pornographic and/or violent) manga and anime and being loners being the connecting threads
    I also hear a majority of these people have been using the Internet… OMG That must be another clue to the strings of crimes! Internet makes you murder! Look out, people who look at porn on the web MUST be sex predators in hiding!
    
    But in all seriousness, you sound like you’re biting the media’s version of the “otaku criminal”, hook, line, and sinker.
    There’s a similar trend in the tabloids of Western countries (maybe mainly the US?), where rational thought on cause and effect suddenly fly out the window when violent videogames are blamed for criminal behavior.
    
    There’s nothing wrong with pointing it out in itself. But to state overtly or implicitly that that is the cause of heinous behavior is irresponsible as well as insulting to those who enjoy the hobby without going around stabbing people. It also casts otakus and their hobby as the cause, averting attention from the real causes like what makes these people such a loner in the first place.
    As is with the clip on the “Fuji TV focuses on Akihabara killer’s love of anime” article, even merely mentioning at the beginning and end of the segment is still a not-so-subtle message by the program that anime is somehow to blame for his stabbing frenzy.
    
    I personally would call that scapegoating.
    - http://www.transpacificradio.com/ Garrett
      
      I’ll ask again. How are otaku being scapegoated?
      
      Before you answer, why not scroll up a bit and read what I wrote instead of latching onto one line out of context?
morningstar

Must be stress concern hot line . This is crazy to take fustration out on innocent people.
http://www.tpotpro.com Steve

nanico got it totally right – this problem is bigger than any government agency could control. The heirarchy offered of “self, family, neighbors then community” seems pretty accurate for most metropolitan Japanese.

In 2006 and 2007 I was living in Tokyo and – like most gaijin – I was making a living by teaching english. I taught in Shinjuku, a place not dissimilar to Akihabara (minus some of the electronics and manga and its about the same). All of my lessons were 1 on 1, meaning that I had a fantastic insight into the minds of thousands of Japanese people from all walks of life. I worked in a few places, but the longer I worked in Shinjuku I could see it as a microcosm of Tokyo generally.

The thing to keep in mind is that a LOT of people move to Tokyo for university and subsequently work. In the case of Tomohiro Kato he reportedly grew up in Aomori, a place which is famous for apples and little else. Aomori is essentially just an over-sized farm town. After leaving high school he went to Tokyo – to chase the dream of the big city.

Tokyo is an excellent place, but not a place for anyone who can not face the cold hard realities of suffering in this world – and especially not a place for those who are mentally unstable. In Tokyo you can see people flaunt their wealth in the form of expensive clothes, food, cars and women – while scores of homeless people sit in their cardboard empires, built under the Yamanote line.

In Tokyo you can see that money can buy everything. An endless neon wonderland where any sexual favour can be had (at a price). Kabuki-cho (in Shinjuku) offers blatant evidence that even the police can be bought (Don’t be ignorant and pretend it doesnt happen).

These things are realities of life. It is sad that while honest people in Japan work in their local convenience store for 800 yen an hour, others make enough money to spend 2 million yen in one night. These realities are ones which are hard to face, especially for a child fresh out of high school who most probably had lived the typical sheltered life of many Japanese children.

Japan’s government needs to realize that not everything can be controlled by force – especially the emotional well-being of people. They need to start in business – and start by forcing mandatory working limits, and working to help low-income earners in Japan (a category which I’m sure Tomohiro Kato fits into).

The Japanese government’s method of controlling unemployment has traditionally been to deny that a problem even exists. They seem to do this for a lot of issues – one of which is most definitely the social breakdown Japan is facing.

To Japanese people and those living in Japan: YOU PAY TAX FOR A REASON – WE OWN THE GOVERNMENT – MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND VOTE – BRING AWARENESS TO THE CORRUPTION OF GOVERNMENT FIGURES – DEMAND A BETTER LIFE FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN!
Pingback: Stabbing rampage in Akihabara [Tokyo]: 7 people killed | Japan Probe
jb

nice sentiments, steve, but the ruling bloc have been in power in this country for the majority of living memory and the vast majority of the public dutifully vote them back in each and every time in spite of their bungling. i have trouble imagining a dynamic political system in a country with such a rigid hierarchy…

back on topic, “self, family, neighbors then community”? there is not supposed to be a “self” in traditional japanese culture. people define themselves entirely by the groups they belong to. with respect to something like the akihabara attacks i would imagine kato is an example of a loner who finds himself alienated from any group (moved away from the hometown, temporary worker, etc.) and is totally isolated. most japanese are not dynamic about their own social life and so it’s possible to get stuck in a rut.

so i would probably blame changes in social conditions such as traveling long distances for work and unsympathetic working arrangements (temporary working). these are pressures of modern society that japanese culture is ill-adapted for and a return to traditional culture is the very opposite of what is needed since social conditions have changed so much for most people
Gaijin

There is no excuse for killing people. What an asshole.
mike

Here in the states, we like to say that nice guys finish last…well sure but don’t be surprised if the nice guy blows away everyone at his work before checking out. Treat people with some respect and this kinda shit won’t happen so often. Otherwise, it’s an eye for an eye.
Pingback: tomohiro kato | Inmars
Yuki Kanou

Hey Mr. Steve, the police can be bought in USA too!
Pingback: Random talks within the past two weekends « 両方失敗と成功は人生の経験だ。。
Pingback: Cyber Bullying Blamed For Akihabara Stabbing Rampage | Kotaku Australia

Tomohiro Kato – Akihabara Killer

Recent Comments

Further Reading

Russian political cartoon: Putin & the slant-eyed Japanese

Lone counter-protester disrupts pro-Sea Shepherd demonstration in London

Hundreds of copies of Anne Frank diaries vandalized around Tokyo / Western journalists imply connection to Shinzo Abe

Photos: Super cheap hotel in Osaka – 800 yen ($8) per night

New anime film highlights Soviet ethnic-cleansing of Kuril islands

Olympic figure skating: a Japan-Korea internet hate factory

Korean man fined after throwing feces at Japanese embassy in Seoul

NY State Senator Tony Avella’s pathetic pandering to Korean nationalists @TonyAvella

Hundreds of people remain stranded in snowed-in trains after Valentine’s Day blizzard hits Kanto region

Korean speed skater brings suitcase bearing anti-Japanese slogan to Sochi Olympics

Categories

Subscribe

Japan Blogs

Korea Blogs

Linkroll

Other Asia Blogs