How Anime Helped a Yokohama Woman Stop a Crime in Progress
by Danica Davidson
October 3, 2024
A story out of Yokohama shows that not only is anime entertaining, it can potentially teach helpful life hacks and save the day!
It all started on the night of September 16. Karin Ryo, a 23-year-old office worker, was at a convenience store shopping when she happened to witness a crime. A man grabbed a six pack of beer and tried to make a run for it without paying. Seeing the theft, a worker endeavored to stop him, and this led to a physical fight between the two men by the door. Ryo saw this happening and decided to get involved.
“At the time, I wasn’t scared, it felt like my body was just moving on its own,” she remarked later.
Ryo seized the thief’s legs, pulled him to the floor, and got him in a head lock so he couldn’t escape. He tried to fight back and even bit her. But Ryo wasn’t swayed, holding him in place until authorities got there to arrest him.
“I’ve never done martial arts. I took tea ceremony lessons,” she would later say after people assumed all of this must mean she’s a martial artist. Instead, she replied, “I like anime, so I just sort of imitated what I’ve seen in it.”
Apparently watching martial arts in anime was enough to teach her what to do in this situation, training or no training.
Karin Ryo Being Honored
The local police precinct honored Ryo publicly and gave her a letter of commendation. The police’s representative did caution laypeople about getting involved in stopping crimes, saying it’s important to call the authorities as fast as they can instead. Ryo was lucky the thief wasn’t armed, or it might have been a different story. But at least in this case everything worked out, and both Ryo’s bravery and martial arts anime saved the day!
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.