Physical Confrontations?

[aquamarine]

Just wondering how many folks here have been in actually hand-to-hand confrontations in one way or another with some of the J-folks around here. The first 'encounter' I had was not directed at me in any shape, way or form. It was my third day in Japan and my buddies took me for dinner to a little Mexican place up Dogenzaka in Shibuya. There was a young and well-built J-dude outside in the street (or alley, for those of you who actually visit Dogenzaka). He was swinging at anyone and everyone not Japanese. Eventually he picked a fight with a tall skinny white dude with a brush-cut (whom I would only assume was one of the military folks stationed here). The J-dude swung a few and finally nailed the tall guy in the back of the neck. From there, the white guy swung around, nailing the drunk gent in the solar plexes, he promptly went down, BUT where it gets bad is the white fuck curb-stomped the Japanese guy and then took off running.

My buddy who I was with rushed outside to see if he could help. The ambulance came, covered him with a white sheet and took him away while the Shibuya police finally arrived (they came AFTER the ambulance). From what my pal told me, his eyes were right fucked and was most likely dead when they took him away. Welcome to Japan.... here's your pale-faced murderer.


The next time I had any physical issues was in a 7-11 at Futako Tamakawa station. I was inside and a small group of school-boys kept on picking on this one kid who looked the part of a typical geek (he was with a friend). The kid kept on being pushed further and further to the back of the store (I was looking to buy some milk at the time) so I was watching this happen). The group of kids were yelling and finally started throwing things at the two. I distinctly heard the term otaku quite a few times so I felt for the main kid getting picked up. At last, one of the kids got closer and gave a few sucker punch shots to the kid, which is where I lost my tempter.

I'm SURE I would have been thrown-the-fuck out of Japan if the police were around, but I wasn't thinking about that at the time. I pulled each of the kids away by the back of their hair (sorry, I'm a cheap fighter) and threw them behind me (there were three before the 'ring leader). I finally put my arm around his neck and pulled him right to the ground screaming at him in a fit of anger and rage that he would do shit to this poor kid in the middle of a 7-11 with women and their kids trying to by stuff.

I swore/screamed at the top of my lungs for a good minute before I finally made a fist above his face and let it hang there. It was then that I realized that if I struck the kid, I was going to get into some serious shit so I snarled (as much as a fat man can snarl at least) at him and released my grip on his neck. I walked up to the kids at the back who were still sorta cowering there, asked 'genki desuka?' (yea, I didn't know exactly what to say, let alone know how to say 'daijobu desuka?'). One said Genki and they took off out of the store.

In retrospect, I'm not sure if what I did to help the two kids was right or not, CONSIDERING I didn't know what was going on. For all I know, the two kids could have been peeping into a girls locker room and what-not. Would I do it again? Well, now that I can listen to people and understand more Japanese, I'd have to say yes if I could figure out why the kids were doing that.

Oh the way out, I bought my milk and a can of Chu-Hi, kept apologizing by saying "sumimasen" (I now know that was TOTALLY not the right word to use) to everyone that was in there and apologized profusely as best I could to the mother and her little girl that were standing by the door. I never saw those kids again, but apparently they went to the Futako Tamakawa international school (although they were all Japanese).

HOW ABOUT YOU?

[Neo-Rio]

Best thing to do is stare them down and invade their personal space and yell like a maniac. Scaring them into submission and causing them to flee should always be your first port-of-call with an irate local.

If that doesn't work, physically lift the runt up and drop him outside - or if you know aikido, get him in a hand lock and twist his arm to the ground.

Pushing and punching these guys - regardless of who started it - will create attention and look bad for you if there are witnesses.

[aquamarine]

Yep, thinking back to the ordeal, I completely agree. I personally should have acted as a better ambassador of Canada, sadly though I let my emotions get in the way. However after being able to scream like the reaper himself was approaching, I have NEVER slept as good as I did that night.

[Tengu Kid]

Hey Aquamarine, interesting thread...and my first post incidentally!
I think you did the right thing with the kids. Didn`t physically hurt them, just showed them how the two geeks felt.
Funny though, just last week a salary man shoulder barged me in the street for no apparent reason. The English rage flashed on and I spun round to see him waiting for me scowling. I was ready to go but just a few days previous I was talking to a friend who spent a little while in a Japanese prison for punching someone and after hearing what a harrowing ordeal it was settling for letting loose a torrent of verbal abuse.
Use your words kids...use your words.

[kusai Jijii]

Use your words kids...use your words.

Words are overrated. Nothing cures that 'rage against Japan' feeling we all suffer periodially suffer from like smacking some fuck who wants to get smart with the gaijin.

Seriously though, it aint worth it. Too much to loose. When the boys in blue roll up, you know you're up Shit Creek regardless of what went down.

Chill Pilgrims!

KJ

[pbm]

the best things to do is to walk away.

[amdg]

[Greji]

the best things to do is to walk away.

Agreed, but not before reducing the offending MF to a pile of teeth, hair and eyeballs spread evenly around the concrete! Then I stroll....

[Iraira]

I've done the following on a couple of occasions when some overly aggro salari-type did the passive-aggressive thing on me:

Get in his face and make it look like gay lover's quarrel. Refer to him by some Japanese last name (I use Tanaka) and say over and over that you and him broke up months ago and for him to get over it and find a new boyfriend, as you are not into putting small, furry, live animals up your ass or other's asses. Saying this in Japanese is preferrable and that I grew up near West Hollywood helps.
He, being Japanese, is completely mortified that the numerous people around him now think that he is some preverted freak. I, being a damn foreigner, really don't care.

[Greji]

[Catoneinutica]

I've done the following on a couple of occasions when some overly aggro salari-type did the passive-aggressive thing on me:

Get in his face and make it look like gay lover's quarrel. Refer to him by some Japanese last name (I use Tanaka) and say over and over that you and him broke up months ago and for him to get over it and find a new boyfriend, as you are not into putting small, furry, live animals up your ass or other's asses. Saying this in Japanese is preferrable and that I grew up near West Hollywood helps.
He, being Japanese, is completely mortified that the numerous people around him now think that he is some preverted freak. I, being a damn foreigner, really don't care.

I damn near sprayed coffee on my MacBook Pro screen! It made me think of that fight between two English cavalrymen in Barry Lyndon: "Damn you! Why must I love such a detestable man?!"

C'mon, Iraira, have you really done that?! If so, that's about 127 kind of awesome (as the young people today say).

[Samurai_Jerk]

I one time smacked a choke hold on a guy who was trying to attack a women in the train. I did just long enough to make him stop. Then I took off when I saw the cops coming.

On new years eve 2000 there was a big party on the streets of Shibuya. I group of guys suddenly flipped out in the middle of the crowd and starting fighting with people. Myself and about 5 or 6 other gaijin stepped in a broke it up. No one was hurt, thankfully.

Then there was the time I got confronted in Ebisu ...

[Iraira]

I damn near sprayed coffee on my MacBook Pro screen! It made me think of that fight between two English cavalrymen in Barry Lyndon: "Damn you! Why must I love such a detestable man?!"

C'mon, Iraira, have you really done that?! If so, that's about 127 kind of awesome (as the young people today say).

It's kinda weird, when I immitate a gay person or an Indian (red dot, not woo-woo), my Japanese gets really good. I suppose if I immitated a gay Indian, I'd pass for completely fluent. Done the ex-boyfriend thing twice, last time was about 2 years ago, right before my divorce. Since then, freedom and the improved sex life that it brings has kept me sedated. Fifteen orgasms over the span of a weekend is the opiate of the masses. Confused Viagra for my vitamin supplements that time.
Also, thanks for the English lesson, I need to spend more time on Urbandictionary.com, or risk mentally falling out of the prime MTV demographic.

[ttjereth]

an Indian (red dot, not woo-woo)

That made me laugh a lot more than it probably should have

[ttjereth]

As for the topic...

I was on the tohoku honsen (utsunomiya line) when some guy who didn't have a ticket flipped out and started bashing the train conductor's head in with a hammer. I grabbed the guy from behind and held him until we got to the next station, then spent 8 hours in the police station for saving the conductor's life, they wouldn't even let me wash his blood off my hands which had me praying that he didn't have any diseases...

Then even after all it, when they finally realized I was the good guy, I had to go back again and again for questioning sessions, trial and crap afterwards.

I eventually had to go back home for a month to get them to stop bothering me.

All that time of mine wasted they tried to make up for it with a medal and box of cookies





Medal from the police, cookies from JR. I think they gave me some free train cards too...

[aquamarine]

I should point out that I'm Native American (albeit I look pale-face). We dont' say woo-woo anymore, you racist jerk.



We say "pass da bottle of da hard stuff, cousin".

[ttjereth]

I should point out that I'm Native American (albeit I look pale-face). We dont' say woo-woo anymore, you racist jerk.



We say "pass da bottle of da hard stuff, cousin".

My maternal great grandmother is full blood cherokee and my paternal great grandfather is fool blood blackfoot, and I still think it was funny.

[JimDanger]

Me and a buddy were at hostess bar in Kawasaki, right around closing time. We walked outside and were waiting for the girls who were going to go to a club with us when about 12 people came rushing out of a karaoke bar right across from where we were standing. They all had to be about 19 or 20, and comprised of 8 guys and 4 girls. Immediately one dude started getting his ass beat by the rest of the group. Me and my friend rushed over and I got in in the middle of the herd and started pushing everyone away from the guy they were pummeling and yelling "STOP STOP STOP" at them because my Japanese is lame. My friend had one of the guys in a semi-choke hold while I kept pushing the guy whoa was getting pounced on away. He was bloody now and was breathing heavily, spitting some blood on me with every breath. The guys who were initially beating him up started to shake my hand and then I learned why they started fighting. The guy's girlfriend was behind him and started screaming, in Japanese, to the rest of the group. I don't know what she was saying, but I was sure it translated to "whatever I'm saying, kick my boyfriend's ass." They all got riled up again at which point I started pushing the bloody dude and his girl down and alley yelling "GO." Every time they kept trying to get passed me I just kept pushing them back until they finally left.

You don't have to fight, but it's not always a bad idea to step in and mediate, even if it's by intimidation, 6'4" 245lbs, etc.

Another time I was in my local town on a Friday night and walking with 2 friends to the train station. I wasn't paying attention and was kind of day dreaming when some older guy went nuts on me. He was dressed all flashy, wore sunglasses at night, pompadour, etc. I guess I had been unintentionally staring him down and he didn't appreciate it. He showed me his cut off pinky and pulled out his cell phone and told me "I call friend, I call friend." I kind of stood there for a second wondering if I should just leave, punch him in the mouth, or what. I said the only thing I knew in Japanese at the time "Haji-mamashita, watashi-wa James-des, Yuroshiko onigaishimas" (Not sure how to spell it) and then reached out my hand. He shook my hand, calmed down and then wanted to go party. I was able to weasel out of that one, but I was just glad I wasn't getting stomped on by a bunch of Yakuza dudes.

[kamome]

Me and a buddy were at hostess bar in Kawasaki, right around closing time. We walked outside and were waiting for the girls who were going to go to a club with us when about 12 people came rushing out of a karaoke bar right across from where we were standing. They all had to be about 19 or 20, and comprised of 8 guys and 4 girls. Immediately one dude started getting his ass beat by the rest of the group. Me and my friend rushed over and I got in in the middle of the herd and started pushing everyone away from the guy they were pummeling and yelling "STOP STOP STOP" at them because my Japanese is lame. My friend had one of the guys in a semi-choke hold while I kept pushing the guy whoa was getting pounced on away. He was bloody now and was breathing heavily, spitting some blood on me with every breath. The guys who were initially beating him up started to shake my hand and then I learned why they started fighting. The guy's girlfriend was behind him and started screaming, in Japanese, to the rest of the group. I don't know what she was saying, but I was sure it translated to "whatever I'm saying, kick my boyfriend's ass." They all got riled up again at which point I started pushing the bloody dude and his girl down and alley yelling "GO." Every time they kept trying to get passed me I just kept pushing them back until they finally left.

You don't have to fight, but it's not always a bad idea to step in and mediate, even if it's by intimidation, 6'4" 245lbs, etc.

I would never do this. Best not to interject yourself into a violent situation. You might think you are doing a good deed but it isn't your place and you don't know the back story. In Japan, my policy was always "walk away" and I never had any trouble.

[kurohinge1]

. . . some guy who didn't have a ticket flipped out and started bashing the train conductor's head in with a hammer. I grabbed the guy from behind and held him until we got to the next station . . .

. . . All that time of mine wasted they tried to make up for it with a medal and box of cookies . . .

Well done, ttjereth-san!

The time wasn't wasted. You deserve the medal. Not only did you possibly save one life, but without assistance like yours, the assailant could've injured or killed others before witnesses finally took the time to help the system take him out of circulation. Thank you.

[Iraira]

I should point out that I'm Native American (albeit I look pale-face). We dont' say woo-woo anymore, you racist jerk.

We say "pass da bottle of da hard stuff, cousin".

See, at least you can drink...I was stuck at all the Bar Mitzvahs drinking that diabetes-sweet Manachewitz wine, thinking I looked fierce in my yamulke, and playing alone with my dredle. I'm just bitter.....

[Iraira]

As for the topic...

I was on the tohoku honsen (utsunomiya line) when some guy who didn't have a ticket flipped out and started bashing the train conductor's head in with a hammer. I grabbed the guy from behind and held him until we got to the next station, then spent 8 hours in the police station for saving the conductor's life, they wouldn't even let me wash his blood off my hands which had me praying that he didn't have any diseases...

Then even after all it, when they finally realized I was the good guy, I had to go back again and again for questioning sessions, trial and crap afterwards.

I eventually had to go back home for a month to get them to stop bothering me.

All that time of mine wasted they tried to make up for it with a medal and box of cookies


Medal from the police, cookies from JR. I think they gave me some free train cards too...

I think the moral of the story is: It's best to have a bunch of J-witnesses around and make sure that the person you are going to restrain/subdue/beat the crap out of is a certified loon/maniac before even forming a fist. Then, and only then, will the gaijin be percieved as having channeled their violence-loving gaijin DNA into doing the right thing.

OK, I'm off to go help an old woman across the street.

[Greji]

I think the moral of the story is: It's best to have a bunch of J-witnesses around and make sure that the person you are going to restrain/subdue/beat the crap out of is a certified loon/maniac before even forming a fist. Then, and only then, will the gaijin be percieved as having channeled their violence-loving gaijin DNA into doing the right thing.

The proper move would have been to immediately set up a book and take bets on whether the conductor, or the guy with the hammer is going to take the race. I would have gave the hammer 5 to 3, assuming that the conductor only had his ticket punch.

OK, I'm off to go help an old woman across the street.

I saw you trying to drag her across the street in front of the eki this morning. Didn't look like she wanted to go.

[Catoneinutica]

Well done, ttjereth-san!

The time wasn't wasted. You deserve the medal. Not only did you possibly save one life, but without assistance like yours, the assailant could've injured or killed others before witnesses finally took the time to help the system take him out of circulation. Thank you.

Seconded!

[amdg]

Seconded!

Thirded! Well done. Did the medal have any cool inscription, like "Congratualtions on stopping hammertime", or the like?

[Iraira]

I saw you trying to drag her across the street in front of the eki this morning. Didn't look like she wanted to go.

She settled down once the Spanish Fly kicked in....or shall I say that she couldn't settle down....

[Greji]

She settled down once the Spanish Fly kicked in....or shall I say that she couldn't settle down....

Glad to hear it worked out, but should you really be using the Date-rape drug on 80 year olds?

[ttjereth]

Well done, ttjereth-san!

The time wasn't wasted. You deserve the medal. Not only did you possibly save one life, but without assistance like yours, the assailant could've injured or killed others before witnesses finally took the time to help the system take him out of circulation. Thank you.

I thought the medal was pretty cool at first too, but then when I was being hustled around to local schools to talk about the experience (I worked for the city at the time, so they tried to get as much PR our of it as they could) I noticed that one of the school principals was using 3-4 identical medals as paperweights in his office.

Apparently the police have them made up in bulk and hand them out for all sorts of things, from "heroic deeds" to "being an elementary school principal"

[ttjereth]

I think the moral of the story is: It's best to have a bunch of J-witnesses around and make sure that the person you are going to restrain/subdue/beat the crap out of is a certified loon/maniac before even forming a fist. Then, and only then, will the gaijin be percieved as having channeled their violence-loving gaijin DNA into doing the right thing.

OK, I'm off to go help an old woman across the street.

There were at least 15 other people in the car with me when the whole thing went down.

Guess how many tried to help in anyway whatsoever while it was happening and how many stuck around for any type of questioning or anything after the fact.

I'll give you a hint, the answer to both questions is the same number.

[ttjereth]

The proper move would have been to immediately set up a book and take bets on whether the conductor, or the guy with the hammer is going to take the race. I would have gave the hammer 5 to 3, assuming that the conductor only had his ticket punch.

The conductor already had his head busted open, he got nailed in the forehead area with the hammer (a dry wall hammer for those keeping score) 3-4 times before he or anyone else realized what was going.

The only reason things turned out the way they did is because I didn't have time to think about what the hell I was doing. If I had thought about it, or acted in any sort of rational manner I probably would have gotten in trouble, because I probably would have kicked the guy in the side of his knee hard enough to shatter it or drop him, or something else instead of opting for the genius move of "grab the guy swinging the hammer in a bearhug and hope he isn't stronger than you".



Of course that probably also would have saved my jacket from becoming a blood stained mess...