“I’m Going to Commit a Robbery Now”: Preventing “Tokuryu”-Related Incidents Through Police Stop-and-Searches—The “Vulnerabilities” of Lonely Foreigners Revealed in Court

“I had given up on life”

The trial of defendant Koichi Scatamburo Kauan (20 at the time of arrest), who is charged with attempted robbery for possessing a weapon with the intent to commit robbery, was held on October 12 at the Tokyo District Court.

“In connection with this case, three individuals—Koichi, Shota Tsunoda (34 at the time of arrest), and a 16-year-old juvenile—have been arrested. When a Metropolitan Police Department traffic patrol officer stopped a juvenile acting suspiciously near Ueno Station and questioned him, the juvenile stated, ‘I’m about to go commit a robbery.’ The officer then confirmed the whereabouts of the other two suspects and arrested them.

Their plan was to steal money from their victims by posing as gold traders. Since the three did not know each other and communicated via a highly secure app, authorities believe this was a crime committed by a “Tokuryu” (an anonymous, fluid criminal group). This is a rare case where a crime was prevented before it occurred thanks to a police stop.” (Crime reporter for a national newspaper)

Defendant Koichi, with his gold-mesh hair, appeared in court wearing a short-sleeved navy polo shirt. A geometric tattoo was visible on his left arm. Once seated, he appeared sullen, scanning the gallery with a sharp gaze.Koichi had only been temporarily released from a juvenile detention center on April 30 of this year and was arrested while on probation, a period set to last until March of next year.

On this day, the cross-examination of the defendant Koichi’s mother was conducted first.Since she does not understand Japanese, the questioning was conducted through an interpreter. According to his mother, she and her husband came to Japan in 2006 to work. Two years later, his older sister, older brother, and Koichi (then 2 years old) joined them, and the family of five lived together. She had traveled to Tokyo from Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, specifically for this day’s testimony.

When asked by the defense attorney how she felt upon learning of the arrest, she slumped her shoulders and said, “I was very sad. This is the third time he’s been arrested.” Regarding Koichi, who has repeatedly committed delinquent acts,

“He is the youngest child, and I think coming to Japan at such a young age had an impact on him. He struggled to adjust to life in Japan. I feel responsible for not being able to pay enough attention to him because I was so busy with work,”

she said regretfully. Although Koichi had appeared sullen as he entered the courtroom, he shed tears upon hearing his mother’s words. Regarding the future,

“Personally, I want to let him do what he wants to do. I hope he’ll learn a trade and become a skilled craftsman. To that end, our whole family wants to support him. If he were working, I don’t think he’d do things like this. I want him to graduate from high school. By learning a trade and earning a certification, I hope he’ll become a responsible person. My husband and I remain committed to providing financial support for that. I want him to think seriously about his future,”

she pleaded.

Next, the defendant Koichi took the stand. After his provisional release from the juvenile detention center,

“I was feeling hopeless because I couldn’t manage life or work. I felt so ashamed that I couldn’t bring myself to accept help from others, so I couldn’t even talk to my family,”

he said. To cut ties with his local bad influences, he took a job as a construction worker in Saitama Prefecture—a position he had held before—but

“The work style was different from my previous company. I couldn’t adapt due to differences in mindset and values, and I kept failing. There were times when I wasn’t accepted into the group or was ignored,”

, which only deepened his sense of loneliness.

“I have no memory of my life in Brazil.”

He quit his job and took refuge at a rehabilitation facility in Okazaki City, but after receiving a message from someone with whom he’d previously had trouble, he felt he “couldn’t stay there” and lost his place to stay. It was then that an acquaintance introduced him to an illegal part-time job, and he ended up applying for it. This might be considered a classic example of “Tokuryu” exploiting the emotional “vulnerabilities” of lonely young people and foreigners.

When asked about his current state of mind, defendant Koichi said,

“I’m sorry for making my mother come to a place like this (the courthouse). I didn’t want to cause her any more trouble,”

he apologized.

“Even if I have to return to juvenile detention, I want to take a hard look at myself. My time there was by no means a waste; I believe it helped me grow. Since I was able to find my dream, I want to keep working toward it, little by little,”

He reaffirmed his commitment to rehabilitation.

Koichi, a Brazilian national, is residing in Japan on a one-year residence status. This must be renewed annually, and depending on the verdict, he could face deportation. When the presiding judge pointed this out, Koichi replied,

“I have no memories of life in Brazil. Since I’ve spent 18 years in Japan, my personality leans more toward that of a Japanese person,”

expressing his anxiety.

The prosecution sought a prison sentence of one year and six months, arguing that his “sense of moral standards is dulled.” At this point, the presiding judge showed unusual consideration.Koichi’s mother, who had been watching from the gallery after the witness examination concluded, did not understand Japanese. Since she lives in Aichi Prefecture, she had been unable to visit him while he was in custody, and as this was their first reunion in a long time, the presiding judge encouraged him, saying, “It’s okay to express your feelings to your mother in Portuguese.”

Defendant Koichi turned toward his mother in the gallery, conveyed his feelings to her, and began to cry again. While I want to believe in those tears, his rehabilitation will likely require a considerable amount of determination on his part.

The verdict will be handed down on October 30—