Man admits attack on N-party Tachibana; ``slander cannot be tolerated''; victim participates - Tokyo District Court

At the first trial held at the Tokyo District Court on the 2nd for the attack on Takashi Tachibana (59), leader of the political organization ``Party to Protect the People from NHK,'' Mr. Tachibana, who was indicted in a separate case and is currently in detention, participated as a victim and directly questioned defendant Shion Miyanishi (32). It was an unusual scene where both the victim and the defendant were surrounded by prison officers, and there was a sense of tension in the courtroom.

Mr. Tachibana, who took questions from behind the prosecutor, addressed the defendant, who was sitting on the witness stand a few meters away, saying things like ``Nice to meet you,'' and ``Miyanishi-kun.'' When asked if he had any intention of apologizing, the defendant immediately answered, "No." When asked, ``He revealed his private life on social media, and there were other opportunities for the attack.Maybe he wanted to do it at a campaign event.''When questioned, the defendant denied, saying, ``The location of his speech was clearly marked, so it was easy to target him.''

In earlier questions from prosecutors, the defendant explained that he initially had high hopes for Tachibana as a new type of politician, but that he had grown distrustful of him. He asserted that he had a ``brazen personality that doesn't budge with his words,'' and ``He's not even worth talking to.'' He also said, ``If you think you're sorry, you wouldn't have caused the incident.''