TOKUSHIMA – A 55-year-old driver admitted in court earlier this month to assaulting a teenage railway enthusiast following an argument over photographers blocking a roadway in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture.
During the first hearing of his trial at the Tokushima District Court on October 9, the defendant pleaded guilty to charges of assault, reports Nikkan Spa! (Oct. 26).
“There is no mistake,” the defendant told presiding judge Gen Sato when asked about the allegations.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on the evening of August 14 near the Iyashiki railroad crossing in Naruto. The defendant was driving home when he encountered a crowd of around 40 toritetsu — enthusiasts who photograph trains — occupying roughly half the roadway.
Believing the group was obstructing traffic, the defendant honked his horn. When a 19-year-old male photographer glared in response, a verbal altercation broke out.
The defendant grabbed the youth by his collar and subsequently reversed his car toward him, forcing the teenager to scramble out of the way to avoid being struck.
Footage of the confrontation was captured by bystanders and circulated widely on social media platforms, sparking intense public debate over railfan etiquette.
The gathering was prompted by the operation of vintage, National Railways-era passenger cars, which had been brought into service to transport visitors to the region’s famous Awa Odori festival. Enthusiasts had flocked to the scenic rural crossing to capture the train’s composition without visual obstacles.
The trial drew heavy interest from members of the railfan community, prompting heightened security at the courthouse. Court staff conducted baggage inspections on attendees—a precaution typically reserved for high-profile cases involving celebrities or organized crime figures—and repeatedly warned spectators against unauthorized recording.
