We’re Here for the Party: Yoshihiro Hattori's First American Halloween

On October 17th, 1992, 16-year-old Yoshihiro “Yoshi” Hattori was getting ready for his first real American Halloween party.

Yoshi had recently arrived in Louisiana from Japan as an exchange student. He was outgoing, adventurous and determined to experience everything his year abroad had to offer. That night, dressed in a white tuxedo inspired by John Travolta, Yoshi headed to a party with his 17-year-old host brother and friend, Webb Haymaker. But they got lost.

When the boys approached a house they believed might be hosting the party, they rang the doorbell. Nobody answered, so they started walking back toward their car. Then a door opened.

What happened next would devastate two families, spark outrage across Japan and force uncomfortable conversations about fear, self-defence, gun culture and the assumptions people make in a matter of seconds.

Sources:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50063364

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/22/gun-control-japanese-mother-march-for-our-lives-campaign-parkland-students

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260312/p2a/00m/0na/024000chttps://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/20/yoshihiro-hattori-mistaken-address-shooting-japan/

https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/95-0144-app-1-888785175

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-16-mn-39293-story.html

https://yoshi-c.com/Alyssa-and-Yoshi-message_jp.html

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/05/20/Lawyer-claims-exchange-student-shot-in-defense-of-home/5929737870400/

Follow me here:

► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/

► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/

► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/

► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik 

*Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper *

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices