
A man was arrested after a hostage situation at the Toyokawa Shinkin Bank in Japan.
The incident unfolded on a typical day at the bank, with a man taking several hostages.
Police were quickly notified and responded to the scene, working to resolve the situation peacefully.
After a tense standoff, the hostages were released unharmed, bringing a sigh of relief to the community.
Incident Details
The Toyokawa Shinkin Bank incident occurred in December 1973, with about 2 billion yen being withdrawn due to a rumor that the bank would go into bankruptcy.
The rumor originated from a conversation between three high school students, which spread spontaneously to cause the bank run.
The National Police of Japan investigated the incident and determined that it was not a crime.
The investigation revealed that the bank run was caused by the rumor, which was fueled by misconstrued statements from the bank and police.
Here are the misconstrued statements that contributed to the panic:
- "Odd money under ten thousand yen will be rounded down."
- "Their business condition is suspicious after all because they won't pay interest."
- "Police is investigating the bank."
- "I heard that a briefing session for bankruptcy is taking place."
These statements were misunderstood by the public, leading to a surge in withdrawals and a bank run.
Japanese Police Cordon in Aichi Prefecture

Japanese police set up a cordon near the bank in Toyokawa, Aichi prefecture, where the hostage situation unfolded.
The police cordon was likely established to secure the surrounding area and prevent any potential escape routes for the hostage-taker.
A cordon is a common tactic used by police to contain a situation like this, and it's often set up to protect both the hostages and the general public.
The cordon in this case was established near the Toyokawa Shinkin Bank, where the hostage-taker had taken four employees and a female customer captive.
The police were able to successfully rescue the hostages and arrest the suspect, Koji Nagakubo, without any serious injuries reported.
Incident
In December 1973, a bank run occurred on Toyokawa Shinkin Bank, with about 2 billion yen withdrawn due to a rumor that the bank would go into bankruptcy.
The rumor originated from a conversation between three high school students, which spread quickly and caused widespread panic.

The police investigated the incident and determined that it was not a crime, as it was caused by a spontaneous rumor.
The incident is notable for being a rare case where the cause and progress of the bank run are well-documented.
Here are some specific statements made by the bank that were misconstrued by depositors:
- "Odd money under ten thousand yen will be rounded down."
- "Their business condition is suspicious after all because they won't pay interest."
- "Police is investigating the bank."
These statements, meant to reassure depositors, only added to the panic and confusion.
Sources
- https://en.everybodywiki.com/Toyokawa_Shinkin_Bank_Incident
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyokawa_Shinkin_Bank_incident
- https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14903085
- https://sg.news.yahoo.com/man-takes-hostages-demands-japan-pm-resign-media-134757777.html
- https://imagelinkglobal.com/products/ILEA001177165/
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