
Police arrest 50-something anime fan on a Sunday afternoon.
If you’re in your 50s, you’re past the age where you parents can tell you to turn off the TV and stop watching anime, and if you’re unemployed, it’s not like you have a boss to cramp your viewing style either. So on September 1, a 57-year-old man in Hyogo Prefecture’s Toyooka City decided to spend the afternoon watching some Japanese animation in his home.
Whether because of his enthusiasm for the art form or the age-diminished capabilities of his ears, the anime fan decided to crank the volume on his speakers. However, even though we’ve flipped the calendars over to September, the weather remains summer-sultry, hot and humid in Japan, and so the man also had his window open.
Unfortunately for the rest of the neighborhood, that didn’t just let in fresh air, but also let out the booming sounds of his anime. It’s one thing to share your passion for Japanese animation with other fans at a convention or club screening, but in general broadcasting the audio of whatever episode you’re currently watching to everyone in the general vicinity is a poor way to go about enjoying the hobby. Eventually, a 50-year-old man who lives diagonally across the street from the anime fan came over to complain about the noise, which is when, according to the younger 50-something Toyooka resident, the anime fan became even more inconsiderate, grabbing a katana with a 46-centimeter (18.1-inch) blade and shouting “I’ll kill you!”
The sudden transition from annoying otaku to violent maniac meant it wasn’t long before the police were summoned. The katana was discovered to be a replica, not a legitimate samurai sword, and although the older man said “I did not wave a replica sword around and threaten [the other man],” police still felt there was enough evidence to place him under arrest, so hopefully for his sake whatever anime he was watching was a recording or online stream, so that he can finish it when he’s finally released from custody.
Source: Kobe Shinbun Next via Yahoo! Japan News via Hachima Kiko
Top image: Pakutaso
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

What’s so special about Japanese swords? We interview master katana maker Norihiro Miyairi!
One Piece anime katanas recreated as exquisite letter openers by Japan’s swordsmith legacy heirs
Samurai road rage as man attacks motorist with replica samurai sword on Japanese expressway
We get a haircut by a stylist who cuts with katanas and fire at “Samurai Salon” in Spain
Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano anthropomorphizes katana made from a meteorite
Top Japanese cosplayer Enako returns to Comiket after 6 years, creates mayhem with admirers
Private booths are coming to Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains even sooner than we’d thought【Video】
What makes a good boss in Japan? Workers sound off in survey
Things get heavy with the Gold Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard
Frozen senbei packaging “looks like Anna hailing a cab for drunk Elsa” 【Pic】
McDonald’s Japan has free smiles on its delivery menu, but does asking for one make a difference?
Nearly one in ten young adults living in Japan isn’t ethnically Japanese, statistics show
Pizza Hut Japan’s hot lucky bags are perfect for a New Year’s pizza party
Nine countries, tons of food, one mode of transportation – From Beijing to London by train
The Purple Lucky Bag from Village Vanguard is an extra-large waste of money
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya’s 2026 Smile Box lucky bag basically pays for itself
Hayao Miyazaki says Happy New Year to Studio Ghibli fans with new art for Year of the Horse
Cup Noodle tries an authentic Jiro-style ramen, but something’s not quite right
The best Starbucks Japan Frappuccinos we want to drink again in 2026
We revisited Sweets Paradise after a decade to see if Japan’s dessert buffet still delivers
That time Seiji called JASRAC to ask why he didn’t get paid royalties for his song being on TV
We found possibly the quietest Japanese-style hotel in Tokyo’s bustling Shinjuku district
Japan’s oldest largetooth sawfish in captivity back on display in Mie Prefecture
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Real-life Rurouni Kenshin reverse-blade katana, forged by master swordsmith, now on display【Pics】
Real-life Rurouni Kenshin katana forged based on sword of series’ most merciless villain【Photos】
Dojigiri, the millennium-old katana said to have slain a demon, is now on display in Tokyo【Pics】
Legendary crescent moon katana, one of Japan’s Five Swords Under Heaven, now on display in Tokyo
Real-life Rurouni Kenshin reverse-blade katana now on display in Tokyo【Photos】
Family: Utah man was cosplaying Samurai Champloo when shot, killed by police
A Gintama fan’s emotional 19-year journey to buy a proper Lake Toya bokuto wooden katana【Pics】
Samurai style for the rainy season! Wooden samurai bokuto sword umbrella goes on sale in Japan
Man At Arms is back, forging the epic Excalibur from Fate/Stay Night【Video】
Man in Japan breaks through his own apartment floor to attack woman’s TV
Cosplaying Utah man was shot 5 times from behind by police
50-year-old Sapporo man arrested for punching boy in back of head while wearing miniskirt, tiara
Man in Kobe reported to police after saying hello to schoolgirl who said hi to him first
Japanese garbage man challenges coworker to literal bladed duel following workplace argument
Man arrested in Japan after walking around supermarket in a monkey mask
Italian man kisses woman on train in Wakayama “as a greeting,” gets arrested instead of her number
Leave a Reply