Authorities in Tokyo have apprehended a 22-year-old South Korean sociology student in connection with a hammer attack at Hosei University’s Tama campus. The incident, which occurred during a Friday class, reportedly left several students with minor injuries.
According to Tokyo metropolitan police, the suspect was arrested at the scene after allegedly attacking a male classmate with a hammer, causing minor injuries. Local media reports indicate that seven additional students were injured as the attacker allegedly struck them in succession.
Kyodo News reported that the suspect claimed she acted out of frustration, citing feelings of being ignored and bullied by classmates. She allegedly used a hammer found on campus during the attack. Witnesses described her demeanor as expressionless, noting that she seemed to swing the hammer aimlessly without targeting specific individuals.
One student told Kyodo that the attacker struck students seated in the back row, prompting the rest of the class—nearly 150 students in total—to flee the room.
Police have not confirmed whether the attack was premeditated and stated that investigations are ongoing.
The incident has brought renewed attention to safety concerns at schools in Japan, where violent crimes are relatively rare. However, incidents of random violence have occurred in recent years, including stabbings at public venues and educational institutions.
In December, a teenage girl was fatally stabbed while waiting in line at a McDonald’s in Kitakyushu. In 2022, a knife attack outside the University of Tokyo injured two students and led to the conviction of a 17-year-old for attempted murder.
Cultural tensions between South Korea and Japan have also been highlighted, with some noting the lingering discrimination Koreans face in Japan due to historical grievances stemming from Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula.
The university has yet to issue a statement on the incident, and counseling services have reportedly been offered to affected students.
