aghast
10代の犯罪がり人々を震撼させる事件がここ数年の間で多くなってきているように感じますが、その動機が戦後すぐの頃とは明らかに変わっているようです。当時は、貧困が1番の理由でしたが、現在では心理的な問題が大きく関わっています。
“aghast”には、「（驚き・恐怖で）衝撃を受けて、愕然として、ぞっとして」という意味があります。『Wisdom英和辞典』（三省堂）類義語として、shocked, horrified, traumatize等があり、何か悪いことに対して精神的なダメージを伴う意味が含まれています。
The changing motives behind juvenile crime in Japan
In 1997 in Kobe, “Seito Sakakibara” (an alias, as his real name was never officially made public) bludgeoned to death one primary school girl and seriously injured another before decapitating an 11-year-old special-education student. The killer taunted police in messages to the Kobe Shimbun and threatened more killings, terrorizing the city’s residents.
The nation was left astonished, aghast and appalled when Sakakibara, who was arrested June 28 of that year, turned out to be a 14-year-old junior high school student.
After nearly 30 years behind bars, Nagayama, age 48, went to the gallows on Aug. 1, 1997. From the timing of his execution, 34 days after Sakakibara’s arrest, it was clear that the authorities had proceeded with the hanging to appease public anxiety.
Sakakibara, meanwhile, underwent psychiatric treatment and was eventually released. The causes of his homicidal behavior remain buried in his medical records.
このような事件が少しでも減少すればと思います。（Starlight）
