Criminal Incident in Chiba Prefecture

The peaceful ambiance of Kyoto Seika University was shattered in the evening of January 15th 2007 when a young student, Daisaku Chiba, was brutally stabbed to death by a mysterious man. His dream of becoming a manga artist was tragically cut short.

The incident is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism. The suspect is currently under arrest and a full investigation is underway.

Chiba Prefectural Police have released a video showing some of the methods used by car thieves. It will be screened at JR stations, auto dealers and driving schools throughout the prefecture starting on Oct. 7. Police are also urging people to take precautions by locking their cars and using alarm systems.

A murder case involving a foreign national has been reported in Ichihara City.  刑事事件　埼玉 , a female in her 30s, was found unconscious at home with severe head injuries and was later confirmed to have died. Local police are investigating the case and have begun questioning several suspects.

MATSUDO, Chiba Prefecture – A woman in her 30s was killed Thursday at the entrance of her house in Matsudo, and police are searching for two men who fled the scene. A passerby called the 110 emergency hotline after spotting the victim and heard her screaming for help.

Police seized data including the address of Kinuyo Oshio, 90, from a smartphone that was seized in connection with a robbery-homicide case. The phone was seized as evidence in the case, which is linked to the same suspected gang that robbed Oshio’s home in Komae, western Tokyo, last week and another crime they committed this month in Chiba prefecture.

Chiba has a reputation for being one of the safest cities in Japan, not just in terms of the crime rate but also in regard to the safety of solo female travelers. Locals are generally hospitable and respectful to women, and the public transportation system is admirably secure and reliable. Signs and information are frequently displayed in English, and staff at stations will happily provide assistance if you’re lost.

A number of services are available to assist foreign residents in the event of an emergency, and they can be accessed through the ANPIC website or by calling the ANPIC hotline (in Japanese only). ANPIC is an emergency management center that collects and aggregates information about foreigners living in Chiba so that it can be quickly used in a crisis. It is recommended that all foreign residents register with ANPIC as soon as they arrive in Japan. Click here for more information. If you have trouble registering, please contact your local municipality’s public security office. The contact details for each region can be found here. The site also includes links to other important government sites. Those without internet access can register in person at the ANPIC office located in the International House, Sagamihara Campus. The registration process takes about 10 minutes, and the information you provide will be kept confidential.