The most interesting (bestest) thing about panhandling in Japan is that it doesn't even exist. (The closest thing are the hawkers - particularly the Chinese hostesses - who try to get you into their clubs but they tend to take no as an answer eventually). In fact, the homeless in Tokyo prefer to be left alone, and tend to get angry when approached (unless you come bearing a bottle of something). When I go back to Calgary, I'm always stunned at the agressiveness of these guys - I was staying in Sunnyside, went for a run around the river area in shorts and T-shirt and had a couple of these idiots line up to ask me for money while I was jogging past them....
As for these guys in TO, I have a friend who is a crown prosecutor and I hope he gets the case, and puts these twits away.
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