TOKYO (Reuters) - They may not look cool, but knife-resistant kid's sweatshirts and coats are the latest products aimed at providing parental peace of mind in a Japan horrified by a series of gruesome attacks on children.
The sweatshirts, and coats that look like plain waterproofs, are made from the same fibers used in police and military knife-proof and bullet-proof vests, according to the maker, Madre.
"We created this product so children would be ok, even if they went off to play by themselves," said a spokesman for Madre, a provider of child day-care services before it added protective clothing to its portfolio earlier this year.
The clothing, sold only through the company's web site, www.defense.to, isn't cheap, at 46,095 yen ($419) for the coat and from 40,950 yen for the sweatshirt. They come in 12 colors and can be embroidered with initials or other slogans.
Japan has always prided itself on its low crime rate, but concern over child safety has grown after a series of crimes involving children.
An intruder attacked pupils with a knife at a primary school in western Japan in December 2003 and an 11-year-old schoolgirl murdered a classmate in June by slashing her throat.
Earlier this month, a Japanese software firm unveiled chip-embedded student ID cards that alert parents via email when children arrive at and leave school.
Gender: Female Location: every which way but loose
Do you really find it that amusing that 5 year old children are now wearing knife-proof and bullet-proof clothing? Are you smiling at the fact that these children are having to wear tham because of the dangers that face them?
I'm sorry, but I heard this info on the news, and I'm not finding it in the least bit funny. I have a 6 year old sister and I can just imagine myself laughing at the thought of buying her a knife/bullet-proof jacket. Not.
seriously, it is quite funny..... its not like Stabbings only happen in Japan...yet they have these stupid looking expensive stab-proof jackets. kind of Over the top dont you think?
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Jul 23rd, 2004 06:20 PM
