NationStates Jolt Archive

Man who stole 2 yen from shrine sentenced to 22 months behind bars

KOBE -- A man who stole 2 yen from the offertory box at a Kobe shrine and a set of batteries from a convenience store was sentenced to 22 months in prison.

Defense lawyers for Seiji Kondo had argued that stealing only 2 yen didn't constitute a punishable crime, but the Kobe District Court dismissed their claim.

"Even 2 yen is part of the monetary offerings of shrine visitors. We cannot take what he did lightly despite the amount of money," the court's judge said when handing down the sentence on Tuesday.

Kondo, 27, an unemployed man from Kobe's Hyogo-ku, took 2 yen from the offertory box of a shrine and batteries and other items worth about 800 yen from a convenience store between June and October in 2005, the court said. (Mainichi)
March 15, 2006
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060315p2a00m0na004000c.html

2 yen is about 1.6 US cents and 800 yen is about $6.67.

Is this just or not?

Nope.

Hard to say... rationally, with a Westerner's background, no, it's not.
That said, I don't know enough about Japanese religion to know if in their beliefs, the 2 Yen taking out of the offerings might impact the fulfillment of whatever had been prayed for with the offering. Considering the amount, though, the impact cannot be that substantial, really.
The judge reasoned that the amount stolen was immaterial, and that the very act of stealing from the offerings was what seems to have offended so. In that case, it is my feeling that the amount of time the thief will have to spend in prison ought to be immaterial either, and that the simple act of sending him to prison for a day or so would suffice.

Considering the guy is unemployed, I think they ought to throw him a parade for not stealing more than he did.

2 yen...WTF?

I say yes it is because it is a shrine and he is lucky he didn't lose his hand.

I would say yes even if it wasn't a shrine, though 22 months is perhaps a bit on the harsh side either way.

I would understand the guy getting a minor fine or something of that nature for "defacing" a shrine...by almost two years? Bullshit I say! Bullshit!

I knew Japan was extremely right wing, but this is just insane, indeed, almost theocratic when you think about it.

The sentence was a bit too long, in my opinion.

(:p)

yes but the man not only stole from a shrine, he also stole from a store, indicating habit.

2 yen is worth nothing. so why did he steal it? batteries are not necessary for life, so why did he steal them?

its not the value of the things stolen but the habit of theft that makes a 22 month sentence reasonable.

Bah. Such a tiny amount. I give more than that to the average homeless person with a sign.

They should have said, "Hey ... cut that out ... and get a job." Then let him go.

Interesting post. The writer, the defense attorney and the OP have all grossly under estimated the magnitutide of the crime by a factor of 400 for the obvious purpose of minimizing the crime of theft. I would venture to say these people have a much smaller problem with this sort of crime that we in our part of the world do, and a much greater understanding in what constitutes effective laws.
That said, justice would be to find the man a job on the first offense. The second, 22 months or 22 years would be entirely justified.

The punishment does not fit the crime.

omg no! not 2 yen!:rolleyes:

I wonder if death row there is full of shoplifters.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060315p2a00m0na004000c.html

2 yen is about 1.6 US cents and 800 yen is about $6.67.

Is this just or not?
Totally ridiculous!! This would cost the taxpayers' how much?

40 hours of community work would have been more inline with the crime.

If you're stealing 2 yen, Im sure you'd be more-or-less happy to spend an extended period of time in a place where others pay his heating/food/rent

2 yen? omg kill him allready.

Sending him to jail for 22 months costs a few million times more than what he took...

Definently the wrong punishment allthough he should get something this is definently wrong.

Totally ridiculous!! This would cost the taxpayers' how much?

40 hours of community work would have been more inline with the crime.

As far as I know, there is no such thing as community service in the Japanese legal system. It's one of the numerous faults.

Why would he steal batteries?

The Japanese legal system makes NO sense, it really doesn't. I think even the Japanese admit this.

Why would he steal batteries?

Maybe for a flashlight. If he was unemployed, maybe his lights got turned off and he needed some light. Or maybe he had a hand held Yahtzee game he just couldnt put down.

it would have been funny if he had burnt the shrine to the ground along with a half dozen wise and wizened monks to cover up his 2 yen theft... okay maybe just to me.

Totally ridiculous!! This would cost the taxpayers' how much?

40 hours of community work would have been more inline with the crime.
Yeah this seems much more reasonable than 2 years in jail. Of course if he is unemployed and desperate maybe he did it just to get the jail time, I guess that would depend on the conditions of the prison.

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20060315p2a00m0na004000c.html

2 yen is about 1.6 US cents and 800 yen is about $6.67.

Is this just or not?

Just. Maybe a bit on the long side, but justifiable.

Bah. Those of you who said that it isn't just would probably scream bloody murder if it were their yen or stolen from a cause they felt strongly about.

As far as I know, there is no such thing as community service in the Japanese legal system. It's one of the numerous faults.
Gee, then I wonder what would happen to people if they were to commit more serious crimes, such as busting someones nose???? :(

10 years with no parole?

Just. Maybe a bit on the long side, but justifiable.

Bah. Those of you who said that it isn't just would probably scream bloody murder if it were their yen or stolen from a cause they felt strongly about.
I lose more then 2 cents a day from coins falling out of my pocket.

I lose more then 2 cents a day from coins falling out of my pocket.

Maybe you should sew up that hole, then... ;)

The Japanese legal system makes NO sense, it really doesn't. I think even the Japanese admit this.

Yes and no. It makes sense when seen as a tool for controling the people. But the mind boggling arbitrariness of it just makes no sense at all.

Gee, then I wonder what would happen to people if they were to commit more serious crimes, such as busting someones nose????

10 years with no parole?

Funny thing you should ask. I personally know several people who've spent time in the Japanese penal system (mostly foreigners, but a few Japanese - at least a few who will admit to it, usually career mafia types). One guy got six months for an assault and battery for beating someone into a week long hospital stay. (And that case serves as an important lesson: if you come home and find your wife screwing around and try to kick the guys ass, make sure you actually can kick his ass. It's hard to beat being cucholded and then getting beaten by the other man for a humiliating experience.)

Seriously though, the courts here are very arbitrary. I've seen some cases where some pretty heinous murders drew amazingly short sentences.

Yeah this seems much more reasonable than 2 years in jail. Of course if he is unemployed and desperate maybe he did it just to get the jail time, I guess that would depend on the conditions of the prison.

http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engASA220041998
Here's the AI report on Japan's penal system. I don't agree with every single complaint. Prison isn't meant to be a vacation. But over all, Japan's prisons are horrible places that go way beyond what is justified.

Bah. Those of you who said that it isn't just would probably scream bloody murder if it were their yen or stolen from a cause they felt strongly about.

Hmm... That gives me an idea.

Here ya go Rakiya. http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=10582886

Yes and no. It makes sense when seen as a tool for controling the people. But the mind boggling arbitrariness of it just makes no sense at all.
Tell me about it. Didn't those bid riggers who stole yen in the billions get a suspended sentance?

im not so sure about those asian jail systems, but here in the united states it would of cost way more then that to keep the man in jail for just one day

You would be surprised that Japan has only 60 people incarcerated per 100,000 people, while in America 724 per 100,000 are incarcerated. This is probably because Japan has very low crime. Therefore, thier justice system must be effective.

http://www.sentencingproject.org/pdfs/1044.pdf

You would be surprised that Japan has only 60 people incarcerated per 100,000 people, while in America 724 per 100,000 are incarcerated. This is probably because Japan has very low crime. Therefore, thier justice system must be effective.
Effective is a tricky term. Japan has a 97% conviction rate, mainly due to suspects signing confessions. However, the police can hold you for as long as they like to without contact with a lawyer and trials are done without jurries (shortly to be changed, kinda).

It's a system ripe for abuse.

Effective is a tricky term. Japan has a 97% conviction rate, mainly due to suspects signing confessions. However, the police can hold you for as long as they like to without contact with a lawyer and trials are done without jurries (shortly to be changed, kinda).

It's a system ripe for abuse.

Not just confessions, but forced confessions.

Maybe you should sew up that hole, then... ;)
Most likely would require more then two cents of thread. Not worth it then, eh?