A man in Akishima, western Tokyo, was arrested for trying to rob a taxi driver early Sunday after his target persuaded him to give himself up, police said.
The suspect, identified as Akira Kumakura, 51, unemployed, allegedly refused to pay his 4,500 yen cab fare and threatened the 61-year-old driver with a box cutter, demanding that he hand over his earnings, at around 4:40 a.m.
The cabby pushed the emergency button in the car, alerting the taxi company of the situation, while persuading the robber to "not do anything foolish."
After about 10 minutes, Kumakura handed the box cutter to the driver and was arrested by police who had been notified by the taxi firm. The driver was not injured.