A reporter for the Sankei Shimbun has been arrested on suspicion of violating the weapons control law for possessing a folding knife on a street in Yokohama.
Hiroki Honma, 48, a sports reporter based at the major newspaper's head office in Tokyo, was arrested at around 9:50 p.m. Saturday after pulling the knife from his bag during a quarrel with a man in front of Yokohama Station.
Honma was arrested after a passerby reported the incident to police, who confirmed the knife was in his possession.
He told police he was on his way home after having drinks but refused to explain why he had the knife in his bag, the police said.