A 42-year-old man was arrested Monday after he hijacked a bus in Iwata, Shizuoka Prefecture, at knifepoint, police said.
The suspect identified himself as Yoshikazu Arase of Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture, investigators said. He was under the influence of alcohol when the incident occurred just after 4 p.m., they added.
The suspect boarded the bus, operated by railway firm Enshu Tetsudo, brandishing a kitchen knife, according to investigative sources.
Two female high school students who were waiting for the vehicle at the same bus stop were told by the man not to board the bus and to wait for the next one, the sources said.
They ran to a convenience store to call police, having noticed that the man had a knife when he got on the bus.
The suspect ordered the two other passengers who were on the bus to get off before ordering driver Tadashi Miyazawa, 60, to take him to the city of Fuji.
The bus proceeded for about 360 meters but its path was blocked by police cars. Investigators persuaded the suspect to release the driver, suggesting that they switch hostages. After the driver got out, about 10 officers stormed the vehicle and arrested the suspect at 4:45 p.m. on suspicion of hostage-taking and violating the law controlling swords and firearms.
Officials representing the bus operator said the driver had notified the local bus depot via a cell phone that a drunk man wielding a knife had boarded the vehicle.