Kiosks yank monthly over decapitation confession story

Kiosks at Hankyu, Nankai and other railway stations in the Kansai region have halted sales of a monthly magazine that carries the depositions of a 15-year-old boy who last year killed an elementary school student and beheaded him, it was learned Thursday.

According to the Hankyu railway, about 150 kiosks at all of its stations decided to withdraw copies of the magazine Tuesday evening after they hit the newsstands earlier that day. The March issue of the monthly Bungei Shunju carries prosecution documents detailing two killings, including the slaying and decapitation of 11-year-old Jun Hase, and other assaults. "Although it's important to respect the freedom of the press, we decided to pull the issue from the shelves in view of the public nature of railway business," a Hankyu official said.

The Nankai railway has suspended sales at its 118 stations since the magazine came out. The Keihan railway also halted sales. Kiosks at Osaka and Tokyo subway stations have followed suit.

The companies' decision to pull the magazine came the day after the Supreme Court lodged a protest with Bungei Shunju Ltd., the publisher of the monthly magazine, saying its publication of the depositions violates the "spirit" of the Juvenile Law.