'Cat killer doesn't represent us': Japanese raise €12k for animal charities
'The individual action of one person does not represent the values of all Japanese people,' fundraisers say
The Japanese community in Malta has raised over €12,000 for animal welfare organisations, after a Japanese man admitted to a string of brutal attacks on cats.
Crowdfunding organiser Naoki Yasuzawa said his friendship group were "deeply shocked and saddened" when they heard about the killings and expressed their "deep sorrow and anger" for the slain cats.
“We wish for the people in Malta to know that the individual action of one person does not represent the values of all Japanese people,” Yasuzawa said.
The crowdfunding project was launched on August 13 and will continue until around mid-September. So far, just over 400 people have contributed to this campaign.
Yasuzawa said they plan to donate the funds to a “couple of Maltese animal welfare organisations”, but he did not specify which ones.
“We understand that funds cannot bring back those cats who lost their lives, no matter how many funds we collect. However, we sincerely wish for our feelings and actions to be known,” he said.
This fundraiser was launched shortly after 31-year-old Japanese resident Okamura Satoshi pleaded guilty to being responsible for a string of cat killings in Sliema.
A court heard how Satoshi used to lure cats with treats to attack and kill them while wearing a pair of latex gloves. One cat was found with its tail cut off, and another had part of its tongue missing.
Footage obtained by Times of Malta captured Satoshi violently slamming a cat to the ground in Sliema in the early hours of the morning.
The court is carrying out a pre-sentencing report to evaluate the ideal punishment. His sentence is due on September 15.
Animal activists launched an online petition that has amassed over 9,400 signatures for the man to be given the maximum legal penalty.
The comments on the online petition are full of Japanese people calling for the maximum sentence and apologising on behalf of the Japanese community.
“As a Japanese person, I sincerely apologise to the people and cats of Malta,” one Japanese person wrote. “He is a disgrace to Japan! Please give him the maximum punishment!” another Japanese commenter wrote.