2023 Japan military facility shooting

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2023 Japan military facility shooting
LocationGifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Date14 June 2023
Around 9 a.m. (JST, UTC+09:00)
TargetMilitary personnel
Attack type
Shooting, double-murder
Deaths2
Injured1
MotiveFragging
Accused18-year-old Self-Defense Force member

On the morning of 14 June 2023, a shooting occurred at a military training center in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan.[1] A cadet allegedly opened fire on his colleagues during a live-fire training exercise, resulting in the deaths of two people and the injury of a third. The 18-year-old suspect Naoto Watanabe (渡辺直杜) was arrested.[2][3][4]

Attacks[edit]

The incident took place at the Hino Basic Shooting Range, located about 7 km east of JR Tokai Gifu Station, which was established in 1907 as a firing range for the 68th Infantry Regiment of the Imperial Japanese Army and has been used by the Japan Ground Self Defense Force since 1960. Originally an open-air firing range, the area was converted to an indoor firing range in 2015 due to the development of residential areas in the vicinity.[5][6]

On the day of the incident, live-fire training for the education of new cadets was being conducted from around 9:00 a.m., and this was the last day of firing training.[7] Naoto Watanabe (then 18 years old), one of the self-defense cadets, was working with other cadets at a place called the "preparation line" located in front of the firing position, receiving live ammunition and putting it into the magazine under the instructor's instruction, when he suddenly loaded his gun without permission. Sergeant Kosuke Yashiro[8](then 25 years old), who was in charge of the waiting area, noticed this and instructed Watanabe to stop moving. At around 9:08, Watanabe fired at Sgt. Kosuke Yashiro with a Type 89 5.56mm rifle, and then turned toward Master Sgt. Yasuchika Kikumatsu (he was 52 years old[9]), who was in charge of the "ammunitions staff" that managed and delivered live ammunition in the back. He then turned around and fired at Yasuchika Kikumatsu, who was in charge of managing and receiving live ammunition behind him, and fired at Yusuke Hara. Kosuke Yashiro was hit in the side, Yasuchika Kikumatsu was hit twice in the chest, and Yusuke Hara was hit in the left thigh.[10][11][12] Sergeant Yusuke Hara was seriously injured with a total recovery of three months.[13][14][15] Sergeants Kosuke Yashiro and Yasuchika Kikumatsu who died and Sergeant Yusuke Hara who was seriously injured were all assigned to Moriyama Garrison.

Candidate Watanabe, who fired the gun, was taken into custody on the spot, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and handed over to the Gifu Prefectural Police. On 15 July, the prefectural police switched the charge against Watanabe to murder and sent him to the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office.[16] Since this case occurred inside a Self-Defense Forces facility, it is now a joint investigation by the prefectural police and the MP force.[17] On July 20, the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office began to detain Watanabe for evaluation in order to examine his mental condition at the time of the incident. On November 22, the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office announced that it had applied to the Gifu Summary Court for an extension of the expert testimony detention, which was granted. On January 18, the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office announced that the expert opinion detention had been terminated.[18] On January 23, the Gifu District Public Prosecutors Office referred Watanabe to the Gifu Family Court on charges of robbery-homicide and attempted robbery-homicide;[19][20] on February 19, the Gifu Family Court (Judge Saori Hamaguchi) noted that "this is a brutal crime with no regard to the seriousness of human life and the social impact is serious," and decided to remit Watanabe back to the court as the criminal punishment was appropriate.[21][22]

Suspect[edit]

The suspect, Naoto Watanabe (Japanese: 渡辺直杜),[23] a JSDF cadet, had enlisted in the JGSDF 35th Infantry Regiment stationed at Moriyama Garrison in April of the same year.[24] The suspect stated that "a 52-year-old instructor was his target."[12] On September 20, the JGSDF disciplinary dismissed Naoto Watanabe from his position.[25]

Impact[edit]

Within Japan[edit]

  • Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada apologized for the concern he had caused the public and expressed his condolences to the victims.[24]
  • Chief of the Ground Staff [ja] Yasuomi Morishita [ja] held a press conference to apologize and announced that an investigation committee had been set up to determine the cause of the incident and prevent its recurrence.[24]
  • Shigeki Sato, chairman of the Diet task force committee of the New Komeito Party, said that he hoped the ruling party would make efforts to clarify the cause, take measures to prevent recurrence, and restore trust at the meeting.[24]
  • Former Assistant General Hiroshi Suzuki said that while he was sorry for the incident, it reminded him of the 1984 incident [ja] of a trained Self-Defense Force soldier shooting small arms.[26]

International[edit]

  • Foreign media, including the BBC in the United Kingdom, also reported the incident.[27][28][29][30]

Aftermath[edit]

  • The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force suspended firing drills throughout the country.[24]
  • Sergeant Kosuke Yashiro was specially promoted to the rank of 2nd Sergeant and Sergeant Yasuchika Kikumatsu was specially promoted to the rank of Chief.[31][32]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Two killed, one wounded in shooting at Japan military range". Al Jazeera. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Two dead after Japanese cadet opens fire on colleagues at shooting range, military says". CNN. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Teen soldier arrested in Japan after allegedly killing two at military shooting range". ABC News. 14 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Japan military shooting: Two soldiers killed and one hurt after fellow recruit opens fire". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 14 June 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  5. ^ "陸自射撃場で発砲か、2人死亡1人負傷 18歳の自衛官候補生を逮捕". 朝日新聞デジタル. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  6. ^ "陸自日野射撃訓練場(岐阜市）覆道射撃場新設工事が完成" (PDF). 東海防衛だより通巻第23号. May 2015. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  7. ^ "逮捕の自衛官候補生、実弾射撃訓練の最終日に発砲か 隊員3人死傷". 朝日新聞デジタル. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  8. ^ "Ex-SDF cadet indicted over fatal shootings at Gifu firing range". Feb 28, 2024.
  9. ^ "射殺された52歳自衛官は宮崎県出身". テレビ宮崎. June 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  10. ^ "自衛官候補生、取り押さえられた際も発砲…無断で弾倉を装填". 読売新聞. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  11. ^ "自衛隊銃撃 陸自元幹部"管理規則や弾薬使用あり方見直しを"". NHK. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  12. ^ a b "陸自射撃場発砲事件 逮捕の候補生 連射ではなく1発ずつ4発発射". NHK NEWS WEB. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  13. ^ "死亡の52歳、胸に2発被弾 逮捕の候補生、狙ったか 他の2人は1発ずつ・陸自小銃発砲". 時事通信. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  14. ^ "【速報】陸自射撃場で銃発射、死者2人に 新たに男性隊員の死亡確認 18歳隊員は殺人未遂で現行犯逮捕 岐阜市". FNN. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  15. ^ "陸自３人死傷事件 自衛隊・警察が動機の解明進める". NHK. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  16. ^ "陸自射撃場で3人銃撃した18歳候補生、殺人容疑で送検". 読売新聞. 2023-06-15. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  17. ^ 「取り押さえられそうになったから」自衛官候補生、発砲の理由を供述 朝日新聞2023年6月16日
  18. ^ "陸自3人殺傷事件、自衛官候補生の男を鑑定留置 岐阜地検". 朝日新聞. 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  19. ^ "陸自小銃発射事件で元候補生の鑑定留置を延長 来年1月まで". 産経新聞. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  20. ^ "元候補生の男鑑定留置終了 岐阜市の陸自小銃発射事件". 産経新聞. 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
  21. ^ "陸自元候補生を家裁送致、強盗殺人の非行内容 地検「弾薬奪う目的」". 産経新聞. 2024-01-23. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  22. ^ "元自衛官候補生の逆送決定 3人死傷の小銃発砲―岐阜家裁". 時事通信. 2024-02-19. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  23. ^ "実名も公表…陸自射撃場で3人死傷した銃撃事件 19歳の元自衛隊員を起訴 父親「隊への不満は口にせず」" (in Japanese). Feb 28, 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d e 日本放送協会 (2023-06-14). "【速報中】陸自射撃場発砲事件 2人死亡 18歳自衛官候補生逮捕 | NHK". NHKニュース. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  25. ^ "自衛官候補生を懲戒免職 岐阜の陸自小銃発射事件". 産経新聞. 2023-09-20. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  26. ^ "陸自施設の射撃事故「偶然はありえない」OBが思い出した山口事件". 朝日新聞デジタル. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  27. ^ "Japan: Cadet shoots dead two instructors at military firing range". BBC. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  28. ^ "Aerial footage shows aftermath of shooting at military training center in Japan". CNN. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  29. ^ "Two killed, one wounded in shooting at Japan military range". aljazeera. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  30. ^ "Japanese army trainee shoots 3 fellow soldiers, killing 2". Fox61. 2023-06-14. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
  31. ^ "隊員3人死傷の守山駐屯地 自衛官候補生の修了式行われる". 日テレNEWS. Yahoo! News. 2023-06-28. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
  32. ^ "小銃発射事件の死亡自衛隊員２人が特別昇任 公務災害も認定". サンケイスポーツ. 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
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