Sword-swinging 'shaman' arrested for slashing follower
SHIRAKAWA, Fukushima -- A self-proclaimed shaman has been arrested for allegedly attacking one of his female followers with a sword, police said.
Police say Katsumi Jinguji, 62, of no fixed address, slashed the woman's shoulder with a Japanese sword at an apartment in the Fukushima Prefecture village of Nishigo at around 6:20 a.m. on Jan. 10 this year, leaving her with serious injuries. Jinguji was arrested on suspicion of bodily harm.
Jinguji is believed to have lost his temper after the victim asked him to lend her money. The suspect has reportedly denied the allegations, claiming: "It was a prayer ritual."
After being told by Jinguji to do volunteer work in order to be saved, the believer spent tens of millions yen on establishing a non-profit book-reciting organization and on living expenses for other followers, according to investigators. Jinguji, who reportedly started to perform shamanic prayers 12 years ago, was living with some 10 followers in the apartment in Nishigo.
Meanwhile, two other followers -- Naomi Ono, 36, an unemployed woman of no fixed address, and an 18-year-old male high school student from Nishigo -- have also been arrested on suspicion of violating the Law Concerning Punishment of Physical Violence. The two suspects are accused of beating the first follower more than 30 times at an apartment in the Gunma Prefecture city of Numata at around 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 22.