12 years sought for attacker of anti-NHK group leader

Public prosecutors sought a 12-year prison term Wednesday for a man accused of attempted murder for allegedly attacking Takashi Tachibana, head of a political group criticizing NHK, in March last year.

Tokyo District Court is scheduled to sentence Shion Miyanishi, 32, on Friday.

In its closing argument, the prosecution emphasized that Miyanishi assaulted Tachibana, 59, because he believed that Tachibana’s behavior caused the suicide of a former member of the assembly of Hyogo Prefecture.

Tachibana, who is currently on trial for allegedly defaming the former Hyogo assembly member, attended the day’s court hearing and requested a severe punishment for Miyanishi, saying that he would likely reoffend.

At the same time, Tachibana expressed regret as a politician for providing Miyanishi with a reason to attack him.

The defense said that a five-year sentence is appropriate for the accused, adding that he will not repeat the same crime and should be allowed to rehabilitate in society.

According to the indictment, Miyanishi cut Tachibana’s head with a 16-centimeter machete on a sidewalk outside the industry ministry in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district on March 14 last year, leaving him with injuries that would take three weeks to heal.