"It was a gun I was very attached to. This is an outrageous act." (Haruo Ikegami, Branch Chief of the Sunagawa Branch of the Hokkaido Hunting Association)
Haruo Ikegami, a hunter from Sunagawa City, Hokkaido, expressed his outrage.
Mr. Ikegami had his hunting rifle license revoked by the Hokkaido Public Safety Commission in connection with bear culling.
He subsequently filed a lawsuit and, in March, won the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the revocation.
"We apologize for the inconvenience and burden caused to Mr. Ikegami." (Hokkaido Police official)
Approximately two weeks after the verdict, a Hokkaido Police official visited Mr. Ikegami's home and returned one of his hunting rifles.
It had been eight years since he had the gun back.
He took the gun with him and went out on bear patrol.
However, his expression was somber.
"This isn't the gun in question. I want that gun back as soon as possible." (Mr. Ikegami)
A photograph of Mr. Ikegami holding the gun in front of the bear he killed.
This is a picture of Mr. Ikegami from the past.
This was the same hunting rifle he used to kill the bear that triggered the trial.
And above all, this gun was a memento he received from a fellow hunter.
"He entrusted me with the gun, saying, 'Branch Chief, please use it somehow,' and when I took it, I said, 'I will use this gun for the benefit of others in your place.' He passed away soon after." (Mr. Ikegami)
That gun, full of memories, has not been returned.
According to Mr. Ikegami's lawyer:
"According to the prosecutor's office's response, Mr. Ikegami submitted a document waiving ownership. They said the gun was disposed of because the investigation was over. I am extremely indignant." (Mr. Ikegami's representative, lawyer Noriaki Nakamura)
The police seized Mr. Ikegami's hunting rifle as evidence.
They then obtained a document from Mr. Ikegami stating that he was relinquishing ownership.
They claim to have disposed of it appropriately based on that document.
"This is an outrageous act. I don't remember writing anything about relinquishing ownership, and I immediately stated that I wanted it back. They say it was disposed of appropriately, but I don't understand what 'appropriately' means. Who could possibly understand that?" (Mr. Ikegami)
Mr. Ikegami's anger remains unabated.
He plans to request disclosure of the detailed circumstances leading to the disposal of the hunting rifle through his lawyer.
The Sapporo District Public Prosecutors Office responded to UHB's inquiry by saying, "We cannot comment on this matter."
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