Arsonist references Halloween night train crime in Tokyo.
Japan takes great pride in its rail network, which is not only one of the cleanest and most reliable in the world, but also one of the safest. All of that goes double for the high-speed Shinkansen lines, which made an incident that occurred on Monday morning especially shocking.
Shortly after 8:50 a.m., the Sakura 401 Shinkansen was heading south along the Kagoshima Route of the Kyushu Shinkansen, on Japan’s southwestern island of Kyushu. Sometime after the train pulled out of Kumamoto Station, an elderly passenger in the number 3 car began pouring a liquid substance on the floor of the train. Next, he took out a lighter and lit a wad of paper, then set the burning mass down in the liquid, in an attempt to ignite it.
Other passengers quickly fled to the adjoining cars as the alarm was sounded. Using a fire extinguisher, a conductor was able to put out the fire before it spread, and no passengers suffered injuries. Police officers boarded the train and placed the man, later identified as 69-year-old Fukuoka City resident Kiyoshi Miyake, under arrest for attempted arson. Regular service along the line resumed approximately one hour after the incident.
Miyake has admitted to the charges, and while the exact liquid he was spreading hasn’t been reported, he made his intent clear. “I thought I’d imitate what happened on the Keio Line last month,” he told investigators, referencing an incident in which a costumed man on Halloween night started a fire onboard a commuter train in Tokyo.
Sources: NHK News Web via Jin, FNN Prime Online
Top image: Wikipedia/ロリ
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Bullets on the bullet train as three men found carrying guns on Japan’s Shinkansen
Human body parts found in crack on bonnet of Shinkansen bullet train
Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains to remove all onboard payphones
Stranded passengers on Shinkansen bullet train served out-of-date bread during typhoon
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
Starbucks Japan now offers close-to-closing discounted items through its mobile order app
Sushi passed up by ramen in survey of foreign tourists’ favorite thing to eat in Japan, but why?
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Japan’s EF English Proficiency Index rank drops for 11th straight year, hits lowest ever
A whole slew of Totoro Christmas cakes are on their way to make the season extra merry【Photos】
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Beef bowl king Yoshinoya to start serving ramen this summer with new beefy mazesoba
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Tokyo hotel lets you make your stay a Sanrio one with special My Melody and Kuromi rooms【Pics】
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
The ultimate Shinkansen trip: Riding Japan’s bullet train network from one end to the other
Japan’s West Kyushu Shinkansen bullet train service to Nagasaki is set to open this fall
New Shinkansen bullet train design revealed for Nagasaki extension
Japan is getting a Disney Mickey Mouse Shinkansen bullet train this spring!
Japan’s Shinkansen trains are getting a Super Mario makeover【Pics】
Man dressed as Batman’s Joker commits stabbing/arson attack on Tokyo train on Halloween night
Shinkansen makes unscheduled stop as elderly man whacks other passenger in the head with phone
Hokkaido Shinkansen apologizes for driver “spacing out” while operating bullet train
Two die after man sets himself alight on bullet train in Kanagawa Prefecture
Japan’s high-speed Shinkansen train makes emergency stop as snake is found onboard
Train driver sues Japan Rail…over 56 yen for a one-minute delay
What’s the rule for where to put strollers on Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains?
Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train will start offering wider seats, but will charge more for them too
Traveler in Japan filled with gratitude as bullet train conductor shares Shinkansen lifehack
Shinkansen conductor caught playing GPS smartphone game on bullet train…for TEN years
Leave a Reply