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Man accused of assault after dispute with Pokemon Go player in Shibuya

Police in Shibuya accused a man of assaulting a female Pokemon Go player after a misunderstanding
Police in Shibuya accused a man of assaulting a female Pokemon Go player after a misunderstanding

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 27-year-old man who is alleged to have assaulted a woman in Shibuya Ward during a misunderstanding as she played the popular smartphone game Pokemon Go, reports the Asahi Shimbun (July 25).

At 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, the man, a resident of Chiba Prefecture, allegedly grabbed the right arm of the woman as she walked in the Dogenzaka area. The suspect accused the woman of taking his photograph and demanded that it be deleted.

A passerby witnessing the encounter then alerted police. The man, who has been charged with assault, denies the charges. “I didn’t do anything,” the suspect is quoted by the Shibuya Police Station.

Like in other countries, the game has taken Japan by storm since its release on Friday, with players seen staring at smartphone screens in parks and on streets nationwide.

The woman in Shibuya told police that she was occupied by the game just prior to the incident.

“Since an unusual Pokemon emerged, I just took a picture,” the victim is quoted.