The Japanese boy is reported to have been assaulted by a 44-year-old man near a Japanese school in the Chinese metropolis Shenzhen on Wednesday. China's leadership expresses its condolences to the relatives, but says, according to news agencies, that it was a violent crime that "could have happened in any country".
The incident occurred, however, on a date that is sensitive in Japanese-Chinese relations. A Japanese attack on September 18, 1931, marked the beginning of a Japanese occupation that lasted throughout World War II – the so-called Mukden incident is still mentioned today through popular cultural references, such as in the Tintin book "The Blue Lotus" and one of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's films.
Japan's government is not satisfied with China's statement.
At present, we strongly urge China to present the facts about what happened. It has been over 24 hours since this incident, we expect an explanation as soon as possible, says Prime Minister Kishida, according to the AFP news agency.
He also appeals to China to "ensure the safety of Japanese citizens". Several hundred thousand Japanese are believed to live in China.
