The nightmare in Akihabara last week, when a knife-wielding man drove a truck into a Sunday crowd, leaped out and started stabbing people at random, has continued to shock the country. As the victims' families grieve, the injured recuperate and witnesses struggle to recover, the attack has become even more horrifying as evidence reveals how well planned it was.
Even more disturbing was that each step of the way was blogged by the assailant on a cell-phone site, right up to the moment of attack. In a case like this, the possible solutions are overwhelmed by unanswered questions and deep concerns.
Certain recommendations seem obvious: restricting access to knives (the assailant purchased six); monitoring cell-phone blogs (he left a clear trail of messages about his plans); better employment opportunities; and higher levels of street policing (crowded areas need protection). However, none of these solutions will ultimately solve what the attacker described as his weariness of life.