The noble daikon is a beloved vegetable of Japan with a wide range of culinary uses along with other uses like carving huge phalluses, making cute calendars, or avant-garde musical instruments.

However, during two days in December of last year 100 daikon were mercilessly snatched from their homes and brutally crushed in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture.

After a tireless investigation the police announced on 22 April that the culprits have been apprehended. The ringleader was an unnamed 14 year-old junior high school girl with a very strange motive indeed…

The girl, along with two male accomplices who attend the same high school, went on a reign of terror from 5:00 p.m. on 6 December to 7:30 p.m. on 7 December, 2012. During this time they allegedly stole the giant radishes from nearby homes by passing them over the brick walls of houses.

Having gathered the required number of daikon, the young lady reportedly lined them up on the street and watched as cars ran them over, getting off on the shapes and sounds they made as they exploded all over the asphalt.  These admittedly thought-provoking episodes drew scorn from daikon advocates who gave such heartfelt responses as “She sounds mad,” and, “Apologize to those daikon!”

In addition, the young bandits broke into an elementary school and kindergarten by smashing through the window. They allegedly made off with a trophy and one of those flashing blue beacons like cops have on unmarked cars.

According to police, while in custody on charges of breaking and entering and the destruction of property, the girl admitted to the crimes saying, “I did it for a laugh.”

So many daikon senselessly killed…

Source: NNN (Japanese)
Image: Wikipedia
[ Read in Japanese ]