TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 21-year-old man and four teenagers on suspicion of assaulting and attempting to rob a man who casually greeted them outside a convenience store, reports Nippon News Network (July 2).
Shoyo Watanabe and his four accomplices—a group of teenage boys and a girl—allegedly attacked the man in his 30s in February. According to police, the incident unfolded shortly after 1:00 a.m. when the victim exited a convenience store and said “otsukare” (a common greeting meaning “cheers” or “good work”) to the group, despite having no prior acquaintance with them.
Enraged by the unsolicited remark, Watanabe and the youths reportedly ambushed the man nearby. After telling the victim to “come around the back,” they cornered him in a deserted alleyway and subjected him to a six-minute barrage of punches and kicks. The man sustained injuries requiring about two weeks of recovery.
During the vicious assault, Watanabe also allegedly attempted to extort the victim, demanding, “Hand over 10,000 yen.”
During police questioning, Watanabe and three of the teens denied the allegations. However, the remaining youth admitted to the charges, telling investigators, “He was drunk and talked to us, which pissed me off.”
