What happened to the guy who stabbed all those people in Akihabara? His prison sentence? Emotionally unstable girls throwing themselves in front of trains, does this happen often these days? Is it true that the law requires the girls family to pay for the clean up? Japan used to have a reputation as being one of the safest countries, but things have changed alot and I don't think Japan is all that safe anymore.

Agreed...

the what?

The XIX-centuryesque intellectual status quo of the common people makes me sad.
Actually - narrow-mindedness in general, especially when coupled with intellectual hubris.

http://youtu.be/q-K9V9qz6P4

the this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR5mZqeDNtg

He was handed a death sentence (which will be by hanging) earlier this year. As to when that will actually happen, no one knows. Japan is very hush hush on such things and do not notify anyone, including the family, until after the sentence has been carried out.

It could be decades before he is actually executed. The last major killer (Tsutomu Miyazaki - killer of 4 young girls) to be executed was on death row for 11 years (2 of those after his sentencing had been upheld by the supreme court) and incidentally, he was executed shortly after that Akihabara incident, with people speculating that there was some connection in the timing - to which the authorities have declined to comment.

As for people jumping in front of trains (I don't think gender really makes a difference there), it probably does still happen. I've heard rumors that some train companies do try to seek payment from the families, but I've never heard of any law demanding it.

that gotta be urban legend

Maybe, maybe not. There's certainly a few customs here from which it could be derived.

I guess not. She jumped off a bridge as far as I remember.