Japanese Self-Defense Forces Officer Pleads Guilty in Court for Knife-Invasion of Chinese Embassy

According to Japan’s Asahi Shimbun, on October 1: Murata Kōdai (24), a member of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force stationed in Miyazaki Prefecture, was arrested in March this year for unlawfully carrying a knife into the Chinese embassy.

On October 1, the Tokyo District Court held its first hearing. The defendant admitted to the charges and apologized to the Chinese embassy during the trial, but denied engaging in threatening behavior.

At approximately 5:50 p.m. on March 24, 2026, the defendant entered the premises of the Chinese embassy located at 3-chōme, Genmae, Minato Ward, Tokyo, by scaling a perimeter wall topped with barbed wire, carrying a knife measuring 18 centimeters.

He reportedly told embassy staff: “Patriots of Japan will kill you in the name of Japan’s gods.”

The trial focused on the interpretation of the term “kill.” Prosecutors argued it constituted coercion, while the defense maintained that the defendant had no intent to cause physical harm, thus not meeting the legal threshold for coercion.

Prosecution testimony stated that the defendant, having been influenced by online information questioning China’s diplomatic stance, decided to meet with the ambassador to express his views. Murata Kōdai stated: “If I cannot see the ambassador, I will commit suicide,” which led him to bring a weapon into the embassy compound.

When informed by embassy staff that messages should be written on paper if he wished to convey a message to the ambassador, he wrote threatening language. He was then instructed to read the statement aloud and record a video for the ambassador’s review. According to reports, he complied with the request.

Psychiatric evaluation conducted by prosecutors indicated that at the time of the incident, the defendant was experiencing a mental condition exacerbated by medication, which heightened his interest in political matters.

However, prosecutors explicitly stated that the defendant showed no symptoms of delusions or hallucinations at the time, and therefore retained full capacity to understand and bear responsibility for his actions.

During questioning, the defendant confirmed that he had purchased the medication himself. He claimed that after being reprimanded by his superior during training, he felt mentally overwhelmed and took the drug to alleviate anxiety caused by stress.

When asked by defense counsel why he did not obtain a prescription following a hospital examination, the defendant replied: “I would have to report all details to my superiors. I did not want to be seen as seriously ill enough to require psychiatric care.” It is reported that he had taken the medication just days before the incident.

The defendant explained that his decision to commit the act stemmed from a dream the previous night, in which a divine figure told him: “Japan is being disrespected by China. You should negotiate with them.” He stated that he brought the knife because “if the protest failed, I would take my own life inside the embassy to create a strong social impact.”

After entering the embassy, he concealed the knife in nearby shrubbery, stating: “I had no intention of harming anyone.”

The defendant acknowledged: “It was clearly wrong to break the law in pursuit of personal beliefs,” and added: “I deeply regret causing immense fear and anxiety among embassy staff.”

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1877842896343043/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.