Tokyo subway stabbing suspect begins telling investigators of motives for attack
The suspect in a stabbing incident at a Tokyo subway station has begun revealing motives for the alleged attack to investigators, citing parental pressure to excel in education. He says he aimed to show that parents who are overzealous about their children's schooling can push them to commit crimes.
Tokyo police arrested 43-year-old Toda Yoshitaka on suspicion of assaulting a university student with a knife on the platform at Todaimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line on Wednesday evening. The student was injured. Another man was also hurt while detaining Toda.
Toda was turned over to public prosecutors on Friday on suspicion of attempted murder and violating a law on the possession of firearms and swords.
Investigative sources say the suspect has now admitted to allegations and begun speaking about his motives.
He said that when he was in junior high he became unable to attend school and suffered hardships due to pressure from his education-obsessed parents.
Toda said he wanted to show people that children can turn delinquent and commit crimes if their parents push them too far.
He said he chose Todaimae Station because the name comes from a nearby campus of the prestigious University of Tokyo. He added he thought the choice could easily suggest educational child abuse.
Toda said he attacked the victim because the student happened to be nearby.
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