A recent noise dispute at a Tokyo apartment building promoted an elderly man Monday to attack his neighbor with a samurai sword and wound police who tried to subdue him, police said.
Two officers were dispatched to disarm Shizuo Ozawa, 73, during a standoff at around 3 a.m. in the Adachi Ward apartment.
During the struggle, the 77-cm blade chopped off one officer's left thumb, the police said, adding the other officer was also injured. The 64-year-old neighbor, whose name was not released, sustained cuts in his hands.
Ozawa, who has owned up to wielding the sword, was arrested for attempted murder and illegal possession of a sword.
According to the Ayase Police Station, the injured neighbor had complained to Ozawa about the noise from his apartment.
A samurai sword of sorts was also involved in an incident earlier this month in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture.