Tear Gas Spray Incidents Frequent in Japan, Multiple People Hospitalized for Discomfort

(CNA, Tokyo, 12th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Multiple mass injury incidents involving tear gas spray have recently occurred across Japan. Following intentional spraying of irritant gas at the Sapporo subway and a large Nagoya shopping mall, a student in a Hyogo Prefecture elementary school also accidentally discharged a tear gas spray they were carrying.

According to Sapporo Television Broadcasting (STV), around 3:30 PM Japan time yesterday, four women in their 20s reported a strange odor to staff at Sapporo Municipal Subway's Odori Station. Station staff and local police reviewed security footage, which showed two young men spraying a mist-like substance in the ground-level elevator hall of the station's Exit 8.

Police stated that although the fire department's analysis of the spray did not detect any harmful substances, a man in his teens who passed through the area later sought medical attention at a hospital after feeling unwell upon returning home.

Police are currently investigating the whereabouts of the two men on suspicion of "forcible obstruction of business."

The Mainichi Shimbun and Sankei Shimbun reported that around 4:50 PM on the 8th, a suspect sprayed tear gas in an arcade on the 4th floor of the "mozo WONDER CITY" shopping mall in Nishi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. This forced the management to evacuate customers for safety, causing chaos and disrupting normal business operations.

The incident caused a total of 23 customers and staff to experience throat and eye discomfort, with 8 of them being sent to the hospital.

Aichi Prefectural Police searched the suspect's home today, seizing 9 tear gas sprays and arresting Yuto Saito, a 27-year-old company employee from Honmachi, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business. According to police, he has admitted to the crime, stating, "I used tear gas spray."

Kansai TV (KTV) reported that around 2:40 PM yesterday, at an elementary school in Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture, a student accidentally discharged a personal defense tear gas spray when they fell and supported themselves with their hand.

Immediately, 27 students and 2 teachers in the classroom and hallway experienced eye and throat pain. A total of 29 people were taken to the hospital, all with minor symptoms.

Local police investigation revealed that the spray was attached to the outside of a backpack and was a self-defense item given to the student by their parents.

The Kakogawa City Board of Education stated that it has already issued a notice to all students and parents through the school's communication app, urging them to properly store self-defense items inside their bags.