Tokyo man on fire video has been firing up the internet these past few days. The Tokyo man on fire incident happened at Tokyo's busy Shinjuku railway station on Sunday in what looks like a strong act of political protest in opposition to the Japanese government's efforts to weaken Japan's antiwar Constitution.
The Tokyo man on fire incident is reportedly very rare in the city, as it is usually quiet and orderly. What makes this news more horrifying is the fact that the Tokyo man on fire did the self-immolation in front of several dozen onlookers.
According to Daiji Kubota, an officer at the Shinjuku police station, the Tokyo man on fire who appeared to be in his 50s or 60s, was taken to the hospital after suffering serious injuries. No other details about the man's identity was released by police other than that the Tokyo man on fire was rushed to a Tokyo hospital after surviving burns in his entire body.
Meanwhile, more details about the identity Tokyo man on fire will probably be released after further investigation. The exact motive for the Tokyo man on fire is still under investigation, reports the New York Post. Despite the shocking incident however, according to the Associated Press, it seemed that firefighters have already been warned or discerned the man's intentions. Fire officials were quick to respond to the Tokyo man on fire incident and doused the man with water soon after he set himself on fire.
Since the Tokyo man on fire incident happened in broad daylight, the New York Times report that witnesses were able to record the incident through cellphones and other devices. The episode immediately went viral after videos and photos were released on social media sites.
Footage of the Tokyo man on fire incident showed the thin middle-aged man wearing a suit and tie. He sat cross-legged on a small mat along the metal scaffolding above the pedestrian lane in the Shinjuku train station before dousing himself with what probably was gasoline inside two plastic bottles.
According to witnesses, the man spoke through a megaphone to speak to the gathering and unsuspecting crowd. First, spoke of his protests against the Japanese government's moves to change the country's defense policy. After that was when Tokyo man on fire incident happened as the man suddenly doused himself with gasoline before lighting himself up before shocked crowds.
Television reports showed firefighters getting the man off the walkway through hoses and a fire extinguisher first before putting into an ambulance.
Most footage showing the Tokyo man on fire did not contain audio, however some postings said that the man was protesting against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to loosen restrictions in the Constitution using military force. Many have reportedly interpreted the action only as allowing the country to act in self-defense.
According to the Associated Press, Abe has allowed the armed forces to contribute to the defense of allied nations under attack, which they cannot legally do in the before. Abe reportedly stated that Japan needs more military alliances to compensate for China's growing power. Meanwhile, opposition groups are also warning Japan that the change could involve the country in American-led wars and have staged small street protests as well, though the Tokyo man on fire incident seemed to be a lone act.
On Tuesday, Japan's Cabinet is expected to agree to a long-standing proposal with regards to "collective self-defense." Before this change, Japan reportedly only limits itself to noncombat roles in participating with the U.N.'s peacekeeping activities.
According to critics however, the decision is weakening Article 9 of Japan's Constitution which renounces war. There have now been ongoing peaceful protests outside Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official residence as well.
The protest of the Tokyo man on fire was seen in one video, which was shot overlooking a window, the man being while sitting as if meditating.
According to the New York Times, Japan has had very rare occasions of self-immolations in past decades even though they have had a long history of suicides.
Tokyo man on fire protest, despite catching international attention, might however just become one of those unheard acts of political opposition.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
