Mailing threatening letters and a knife…Following METI Minister Nishimura and Prefectural Governor Yoshimura, a 51-year-old unemployed man threatens the president of a medical association… “Appalling motive”.

Why do they keep making the same mistake over and over again?

On May 16, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of Shinichi Takano, 51, a former employee of Obuse Town, Nagano Prefecture, and currently unemployed, for sending a threatening letter containing a cutter knife blade to a clinic run by Haruo Ozaki, chairman of the Tokyo Medical Association.

The suspect, Takano, committed the crime in early January of last year. He allegedly sent an envelope containing a piece of paper with “Ozaki Hashikei” written on it and a cutter knife blade to a clinic in Kurume City, Tokyo, where Chairman Ozaki serves as director, to threaten him. What is even more frightening is that this is not his first offense.

Takano was also arrested a total of three times between February and April of this year on charges of threatening to send threatening letters, cutter blades, and other dangerous items to Governor Nagasaki of Yamanashi Prefecture, Governor Yoshimura of Osaka Prefecture, and Minister Nishimura of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry in the past. However, there is no sign of remorse on his part. This is the fourth time he has been arrested, but he feels that he is doing the right thing, saying in response to an interrogation, “I have doubts about the infectious disease countermeasures of the medical association, and I wanted to express my feelings. We are currently investigating him to see if there are any additional crimes.

Takano is a suspect who has committed similar crimes in rapid succession. Criminal journalist Taihei Ogawa describes the viciousness of these crimes.

The crime of intimidation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 yen. Since Takano was arrested three times for the same offense and also charged with threatening Osaka Governor Yoshimura, I think he was in a situation where he could not avoid a suspended sentence. The fourth arrest under such circumstances is extremely malicious, so there is a possibility that he will receive a prison sentence.

However, in Takano’s case, the prison sentence may be heavier depending on his other crimes, according to Ogawa. Mr. Ogawa continues.

However, in Takano’s case, the prison sentence may be heavier depending on the number of additional charges,” Ogawa continued. Since this type of criminal may have committed multiple similar crimes, the police need to immediately investigate whether he has committed other crimes using the same technique. If new crimes are discovered, they will be judged more harshly.

In order to prevent new victims, Takano must be dealt with harshly.