After a limited express train struck and killed four track workers on the Tobu Nikko Line in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, users on 5channel (Japan’s largest anonymous forum) raised questions about why two of the four victims were reported as having an “unknown occupation.” Discussion also centered on how the workers failed to evacuate even though a lookout had waved a flag and the train had sounded its horn, as well as the fact that two of the four victims lived together at the same residence in Utsunomiya.
Identities of four workers killed after being struck by limited express train on Tobu Nikko Line tracks confirmed — Kanuma City, Tochigi
Police announced tonight that the identities of the four deceased have been confirmed.
The four are Kazuyoshi Ishikawa (67) and Toshihiko Watanabe (65), both of unknown occupation, who lived together at a residence in Kamiozo, Utsunomiya; Shigenobu Ōge (53), of unknown occupation, from Tega, Nikko City; and company employee Kazuya Sato (54), from Kiwatajima, Nikko City.
Source: news.yahoo.co.jp / original article here
There was apparently a Timee listing for it
So what was the guy in that role even doing?
In the accident where the limited express Spacia X No. 2 struck and killed four male workers at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko Line on the morning of the 20th, Tobu Railway told reporters that the work lookout had signaled the driver with a flag, and the driver had sounded the horn in response. It appears the workers were unable to evacuate for some reason.
According to Tobu Railway, when weeding or other work is done on the tracks, the lookout is supposed to signal with a flag that work is underway whenever a train approaches. This time too, a green flag was raised, and the driver sounded the horn to confirm the flag had been seen.
the lookout is only told to wave a flag when a train comes.
They're not actually obligated to ensure the safety of the workers on site,
and they probably aren't paid enough to carry that kind of responsibility anyway.
If you're getting paid, give it your all.
Wasn't the lookout supposed to be a Tobu employee though?
If even they don't take accident prevention seriously, the poor Timee workers can't exactly trust them with their lives.
｡ﾟ(ﾟ´Д｀ﾟ)ﾟ｡ (a crying kaomoji)
Have you never heard of Keidanren? (Japan's powerful business lobby, the Japan Business Federation)
You're right.
(Before edit) The four are Kazuyoshi Ishikawa (67) and Toshihiko Watanabe (65), both of unknown occupation, who lived together at a residence in Kamiozo, Utsunomiya; Shigenobu Ōge (53), of unknown occupation, from Tega, Nikko City; and company employee Kazuya Sato (54), from Kiwatajima, Nikko City.
(After edit) The four are Kazuyoshi Ishikawa (67) and Toshihiko Watanabe (65), both of unknown occupation, from Kamiozo, Utsunomiya; Shigenobu Ōge (53), of unknown occupation, from Tega, Nikko City; and company employee Kazuya Sato (54), from Kiwatajima, Nikko City.
>>122
Whaaat……
This is TBS (a major Japanese TV network/news outlet) we're talking about……
That's what I thought too.
11 AM, in broad daylight, really?
Why report it as 'unknown occupation'?
There must be some dark secret they really don't want to say.
Let's list out the possible factors.
One each, everybody.
Maybe no flag was actually waved and no horn actually sounded.
Maybe there actually was no lookout at all.
Private railways don't have such a soft rule.
Tobu even has a hardcore driver who's been in two fatal accidents on the same train.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5channel (Hello! Project board) thread “The Mystery: Track Worker Hit by Tobu Line Train Was of ‘Unknown Occupation’.”
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