SENSITIVE CONTENT Former idol sueing assailant, agency and police after stabbing attack

[abra]

Former idol Tomita Mayu was attacked and stabbed dozens of times by a stalker before a live performance in 2016. After the attack Tomita suffers from PTSD, is partially blind on one eye, has difficulty eating and breathing and still has to undergo reconstructive surgery. The attacker was sentenced to 14 and a half year in prison for attempted murder.

Tomita and her mother are now seeking damages of 76 million yen (approx. 635 000 euro) from the assailant, the Tokyo metropolitan government (responsible for the police) and her former agency. The claimants argue that the police department didn't take the necessary measures to protect her despite her warning them about the assailant's previous death threats. She had given the police a two-day heads up about her public appearance at the live venue, but the police did not send any officers to the location, and thus could not stop the attack.

To rub salt in her wounds, Tomita recalls how the police visiting her in hospital asked if she'd really been clear about the threat to her life or not. The police department would go on to admit that they did not understand the risk at stake, and believed that the assailant was unlikely to carry out an attack.

As for the agency, they are accused of not providing enough safety for Tomita.


"Reporting": abra @hallyuplus

Sources/further reading:

Spoiler

Singer stabbed by stalker sues police for failing to act on threats：The Asahi Shimbun

Article expired

News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More

www.japantimes.co.jp

 

[Golden]

I- this is horrible I hope she gets the justice she deserves

 

[sexy cutie]

damn. being an idol in japan is so scary. and the police should always take any death threat seriously.

 

[abra]

I- this is horrible I hope she gets the justice she deserves

I feel like she has a very good case
I'll be posting something more light-hearted soon... although maybe not that wholesome

damn. being an idol in japan is so scary. and the police should always take any death threat seriously.

Japan has an image of having very low violent crime, so that might play a part. But the Japanese police is also very lax, in many ways. It's a big issue.

 

[No.1]

I hope she is succesful. Not only for her own peace of mind, but because this could be what finally changes things a bit; it might push companies, the police and the justice system to actually protect the idols, even if they don't givw an actual crap about them, then just so that they can avoid losing money over suits.

 

[mochichan]

damn. being an idol in japan is so scary. and the police should always take any death threat seriously.

Honestly I hate that they keep adding the idol tag to her for sensationalism when it was a temporary group she formed with other actresses for a TV drama. She was working as indie soloist songwriter like Yui and perform stage theater and at pubs for 2 yrs iirc where she attracted the attention of the stalker. His blog also showed his interest in several indie type female soloists, not idols. Because she was performing at a pub that she didn't have any security when she was attacked outside the building. It's less an issue about idols and just Japanese law enforcement being completely shitty because they failed to protect her

 

[Idol Killer]

damn. being an idol in japan is so scary. and the police should always take any death threat seriously.

In every country. You would be surprised by the disgusting stuffs about the US/Korean or wherever you want.

 

[Bom]

I really hope she gets justice.
The permanent injuries she has been left with are awful, I wouldn't be able to deal with them. She is so brave.