Week 5: 掏摸(スリ)

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Week 5

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Start Date: Nov 15
Previous Part: Week 4
Next Part: Week 6

Reading:

Week Start Date Chapter Start Page Page Count
Week 5 Nov 15 Chapter 8 - 9 71 17

Discussion Rules

  • Please use spoiler tags for major events in the current chapter(s) and any content in future chapters.
  • When asking for help, please mention the chapter and page number. Also mention what version of the book you are reading.
  • Don’t be afraid of asking questions, even if they seem embarrassing at first. All of us are here to learn.
  • To you lurkers out there: Join the conversation, it’s fun! :durtle:

Participants

Mark your participation status by voting in this poll.
(Please feel free to update your status whenever you like!)

  • I’m reading along
  • I have finished this part
  • I’m still reading the book but I haven’t reached this part yet
  • I am no longer reading the book
0 voters

Proper Noun Readings

Previous Proper Nouns
Name Reading Notes Proof
石川 いしかわ ch. 1, former pickpocket partner (Week 1)
立花 たちばな ch. 2, wants to be a partner
新美 にいみ ch. 4, 石川’s new name (Week 2)
佐江子 さえこ ch. 5, woman of the past
木崎 きざき ch. 6, strange man in the office (Week 3)
棚部 たなべ ch. 6, gang boss
西村 にしむら ch. 6, narrator’s real name
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Done with this week’s reading as well. I don’t know the exact reason, maybe I’m more used to the writing style, maybe I’m so burned from 国宝 in comparison, but the last 3 weeks actually feel real pleasant to read now. (maybe the book just got easier?)
This week was no exception, I liked every bit of it.

Okay so we are back in the present and him steeling randomly again.
I love, love, love his interaction with the child. The kid is such a great character. Even though he doesn’t say much :smile:. That the kid followed him up to his apartment is bonkers. Does anybody remember if it is established how old the kid is exactly? I somehow imagine the child being around 8–12 years, given the hints in this chapter.
I loved him recounting all these famous pickpoketers in history and then the child kinda implying " really, no Japanese example :frowning: ?"
I think I have to look up if the case of stealing the judge’s glasses case really did happen. That’s such a great move during your own trial XD.

By the way. Are these women that are anti theft walking around convenience stores actually a thing in Japan? I can’t remember ever realizing it while shopping there in Japan. They mostly had cameras against theft as far as I could tell.

I so want to continue to read the story… but I sadly have to wait another week now.

EDIT: Just realized we are already halfway done. That’s way to fast to be already half over :frowning:

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スーパーで食料品28点を万引きか…止めようとした女性警備員を自転車ではねてケガさせた疑い 24歳の男を逮捕（東海テレビ） - Yahoo!ニュース

I found this article about a 24 yo shoplifter injuring a 64 year old female security guard at a supermarket. A few other articles came up referencing female security guards but nothing about the being special. I also read that in cases of a woman caught shoplifting they prefer female staff to deal with the person (presumably to avoid accusations of sexual misconduct).

There was also some stuff I skimmed which implied women can be preferred because they have better communication skills and can de-escalate situations, which… I don’t think that’s a strictly female trait, but Japan’s gonna Japan.

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I agree! Either it got easier or I got used to the writing style. I remember the first couple weeks were a slog. Now I’m zipping through it.

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