Earthquake and Aviation Accidents Followed by Incidents
Atmosphere of Self-Restraint Spreads Inside and Outside Japan
Following the Noto Peninsula earthquake and the aircraft collision at Haneda Airport, Japan has experienced a series of incidents including a stabbing on the Tokyo subway and a large fire in the restaurant district of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka. Amid continuous incidents and accidents nationwide, Japanese media have expressed concern, stating, "Dark news has been ongoing since the beginning of the year." Within Japan, a mood of self-restraint seems to be spreading in response to the successive accident reports.
According to NHK on the 4th, around 11 p.m. the previous day, a woman estimated to be in her 20s wildly swung a bladed weapon at passengers on the JR Yamanote Line outer loop train in central Tokyo. Four men were injured, three of whom sustained serious wounds to the chest and back and were transported to the hospital.
Passengers recognized the weapon rampage and pressed the emergency button, causing the train to stop at JR Akihabara Station. Police who arrived at the scene arrested the suspect on suspicion of attempted murder and are investigating the circumstances. It is reported that the suspect mostly admitted to the charges during the investigation.
On the same day at 3 p.m., a large fire broke out in the largest food alley, Torimachi Shokudogai, and the adjacent shopping street, Uomachi Gintengai, in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture. This bustling area is only about 200 meters from JR Kokura Station. Torimachi Shokudogai is a busy district that began shortly after World War II and is home to the restaurant 'Tarumado,' known as the birthplace of Japanese yakiudon.
Twenty-three fire trucks were dispatched to extinguish the fire, and so far, no casualties have been reported. According to the Mainichi Shimbun, as of 4 a.m. on the day, 13 hours after the fire started, the major flames have been controlled but the fire has not yet been completely extinguished. The fire was exacerbated by the fact that most buildings are wooden and shops are densely packed in narrow alleys.
Additionally, the death toll from the Noto Peninsula earthquake on the 1st rose to 73 as of 5 a.m. that day. With many missing and injured, the number of casualties is expected to increase further. In Ishikawa Prefecture, damage to houses, including total and partial destruction, was reported for 183 buildings, but an accurate count is currently difficult, making it hard to grasp the overall situation.
The cause of the Haneda Airport collision incident is still under investigation, with differing opinions on responsibility. Moreover, travelers who returned home for the year-end and New Year holidays are experiencing inconvenience as they remain stranded in areas near Haneda Airport due to the aftermath of the accident.
In response, Japanese media and influencers have expressed concern, saying, "Japan is in serious trouble from the start of the year." In Japan, where the social pressure to conform ('d?ch? atsuryoku' (同調?力)) is strong, a mood of self-restraint is spreading on social networking services (SNS), urging people not to post cheerful content and to refrain from celebrations for the time being.
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