Japan's officials feared it, and it's happening... After the recent Akiba massacre that left 7 people dead, more-or-less serious copycats have been making the news in the past few days. And we wouldn't be all too surprised if this "trend" goes on. After all, similar cases popped up in the days after the Akiba massacre, and the sad souls below are only the copycats who have been arrested this week.

First off, on June 16 an Akihabara copycat was arrested (backup) after posting a message on 2ch, threatening to "kill 100 people" on the streets of Tokyo's Ikebukuro district. "I saw the TV coverage of the case in Akihabara and thought I'd create a bit of a stir", was his idiotic excuse. On the other hand, the guy had quit his job since October and "holed up in his home using the Internet and playing computer games", so he must've been bored out of his hikikomori mind. He sure got a bit of excitement now. And 15 minutes of fame.

The very next day (that would be yesterday), another man was arrested (backup) after posting a message on a police website, threatening that "at 9:30 p.m. today, I'll stab someone at Central Japan International Airport Station". Luckily, it turned out to be just another online prank.

And again today, yet another unemployed man was arrested (backup) after posting a message on a mobile phone bulletin board, threatening to "unleash something like what happened in Akihabara". His equally idiotic excuse? "Sometimes I just get annoyed and I did it for a joke". Our suggestion? Get a fucking job!

As a sad reminder of how history tends to repeat itself, Tsutomu Miyazaki - another "otaku" killer who murdered 4 little girls (blasphemy!) about 20 years ago - made the headlines for one last time: he was finally executed this week (backup), along with two other death row inmates. Justice has been served.