Was this streamer specifically targeted, or was it a random attack? This video shows an incident where a man was shot with an airsoft gun while doing an outdoor livestream in Higashi-Shinbashi 2-chome, Minato Ward, Tokyo. It looks like he was hit two or three times. That white minivan that briefly appeared on the right side of the screen looks suspicious.
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The Line Between Airsoft Gun Discharge and Assault Charges
There have been multiple reports in Japan of people being shot by air guns by strangers on the street. Incidents include passersby being struck on train station platforms and the repeated targeting of residential exterior walls and balconies.
While air guns are sold as toys, their legal status is serious. Under the Act for Controlling the Possession of Firearms or Swords and Other Such Weapons, the possession of “quasi-air guns”—which fire metal BBs at high power (generally exceeding 0.989 joules for 6mm pellets)—is prohibited; violations are punishable by imprisonment or fines. Even harsher penalties apply to “air guns” powerful enough to endanger human life. Furthermore, firing at and injuring a person can constitute the crime of bodily injury under the Penal Code, while firing at someone without causing injury can still constitute the crime of assault.
Meanwhile, “nuisance streamers”—whose extreme behavior on the streets often sparks public controversy—have frequently become a social issue in recent years; private organizations have even been established to promote healthier streaming environments and monitor for violations. It can be argued that the very act of streaming on the street creates an environment that makes individuals easy targets for such attacks.
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