Teenage lovers arrested for murder in Japan

One 17-year-old boy bludgeoned passengers at a Tokyo subwaystation with a baseball bat after a fight with his father, another beat his mother to death with a metal bat, while a third stabbed an elderly neighbour to death because he wanted to experience killing someone.

The couple in the latest case, who reportedly admittedtheir crime when arrested on Friday, were quoted by Japanese media as telling police they killed the taxi driver to steal money so they could live together.

According to media reports, the two — one a high schooldropout, the other still a student — called to reserve a taxi on Wednesday evening.

Several hours later the boy stabbed the driver in the neckand the two stole 15,000 yen ($131) before hitchhiking from the scene.

"SEVENTEEN AND DEADLY"
Although Japan has traditionally been known for its lowcrime rate, the past year has seen so many teenage crimes that it has resulted in the coining of a new phrase, "17 and deadly".

The crimes are not limited to 17-year-olds, however. One ofthe grisliest incidents of recent years, the 1997 murder and beheading of an 11-year-old boy, was carried out by his 14-year-old playmate.

Analysts say youth crime is the result of a complex mix ofsocial pressures made worse by Japan’s lingering economic woes. Other factors include a breakdown in family values and violence in the media.

In an effort to tackle the problem, the government lastmonth toughened juvenile crime laws, the first change since the laws were enacted in 1949.

Under the revision, the minimum age at which suspects canbe held criminally responsible was lowered to 14 from 16.

The revision will allow family courts the option of sendingsuspects aged 14 and 15 to public prosecutors to be charged and to face criminal trials. In Principle they will also be required to send to prosecutors all suspects in serious crimes, such as murder, who are aged 16 or older.

But there will be no change to the law’s requirement tosend all suspects aged 19 or less to family courts rather than regular courts after their arrest.

CALLS FOR EDUCATION REFORM
Calls have also risen for changes in Japan’s oppressiveeducation system, cited as an additional factor in youth crimes.

Just a week ago, an advisory panel called for sweepingreforms to cultivate creativity for the new information age while strengthening moral values, saying the current system, which stresses rote learning and uniform standards, was outmoded and due for a change.

The panel made a number of recommendations, ranging fromreducing class size to setting up "morals" courses in schools.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who has madeeducation reform a key pillar of his policy platform, has vowed to legislate many of the panel’s recommendations during the next session of parliament, set to convene in late January.