Japanese police arrested Junichi Inoue, 44 [1], on suspicion of attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed another driver in the face with a kitchen knife.
The incident highlights the volatile nature of "aori unten," or tailgating and aggressive driving, which has led to increasingly violent confrontations on Japanese roads.
The attack occurred on April 29, 2026 [2], on a national highway in the Shimomigao area of Noda City, Chiba Prefecture [3]. The violence followed a chain-reaction collision involving a total of three vehicles [4]. While no one was injured during the initial traffic accident [5], the situation escalated immediately after the cars stopped.
Authorities said Inoue used a deba kitchen knife to stab the other driver in the right cheek [6]. The victim suffered a light injury that is expected to take two weeks to heal [6]. Inoue was apprehended at the scene by police.
During questioning, Inoue said he became angry because of the other driver's aggressive driving behavior [7]. He acknowledged the physical attack but disputed the intent to kill.
"There is no mistake that I stabbed [him] with the knife. I did not intend to kill," Inoue said [8].
“"I did not intend to kill,"”
This incident underscores a persistent trend of road rage in Japan, where disputes over driving etiquette can escalate into felony crimes. The use of a weapon during a traffic dispute elevates the legal classification of the crime from simple assault to attempted murder, reflecting the severe legal consequences for such outbursts.
