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Host club stabbing trial begins in Tokyo

Shukan Jitsuwa Apr. 4
Shukan Jitsuwa Apr. 4
It was quite literally a case of backstabbing, reports Shukan Jitsuwa (April 4).

On January 13 at around 10:35 p.m. Keiichi Yazawa, 36, entered host club Balikan in Tokyo’s Hachioji City and assaulted a 28-year-old male employee from behind.

“I stabbed him in the back,” Yazawa told police in admitting to the allegations.

Police took Yazawa into custody on attempted murder charges. He had a kitchen knife and meat cleaver in his possession. His trial began on March 5 at the Tachikawa branch of the Tokyo District Court.

“Yazawa was a host and the victim was currently employed in that capacity at the club,” says a newspaper reporter. “The two had been competing to be the number-one host at the club. I imagined that the victim and attacker were involved in a dispute regarding this distinction.”

But that was not the case. At the time, Yazawa was dating a particular woman he met while working at the club, but he was also married.

“According to the testimony, the woman had an alcohol dependency,” says the same reporter. “She went to the club that day and made a call to Yazawa. But she was sitting next to the victim, who grabbed the phone and reminded Yazawa that he had a little lady at home.”

The defendant became enraged and rushed to the club with the knives. Two other ladies attempted to stop him but they wound up slightly injured themselves. The main target came away with several stab wounds.

Yazawa testified that he had no intention to kill. “Of course, such a claim is not reasonable,” says the writer. “But the victim and attacker did come to a settlement.”

The journalist finds it ironic that Yazawa was angered that the victim was with his girlfriend. “He’s the one who is married,” says the writer. (A.T.)

Source: “Hosuto kurabu satsujin misui ,” Shukan Jitsuwa (April 4, page 165)