"Dave Fossett" <reply@via.newsgroup> wrote in message news:<1Z_Pa.444$FN4.261@news1.dion.ne.jp>...
> Ken Yasumoto-Nicolson wrote:
> 
> > I saw this in the paper:
> >
> > http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20030712wo22.htm
> >
> > and I can't think of any other reason for them to bring it up, and if
> > so, it doesn't seem like very good timing to me to make that sort of
> > statement.
> 
> I haven't heard anything in the TV reports. While the identity of the boy
> has not been and will not be made public, I suspect the media would have
> been quick to start hinting at any "non-Japanese" slant on the story if
> there had been one.

I have heard that there are crimes committed by Brazilian lads sharply
increasing in number in Aichi Prefecture.  But the crimes should be
generally minor.  Although I don't think that it is okay to ignore
minor crimes, it would not be appropriate to discuss such offenses
commited by young 'foreigners' shortly after the serious one by the 12
year old boy.  In a sense its timing is bad.  The Minster may have
given something of implication to the Brazilian community in Japan, I
suppose.

Masayuki