Mr.Dibbs

Sign of the Times: Knife-Resistant Garb for Kids


Thu Jul 22, 8:45 AM ET Add Oddly Enough - Reuters to My Yahoo!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._protective_dc

TOKYO (Reuters) - They may not look cool, but knife-resistant kid's sweatshirts and coats are the latest products aimed at providing parental peace of mind in a Japan horrified by a series of gruesome attacks on children.

The sweatshirts, and coats that look like plain waterproofs, are made from the same fibers used in police and military knife-proof and bullet-proof vests, according to the maker, Madre.

"We created this product so children would be ok, even if they went off to play by themselves," said a spokesman for Madre, a provider of child day-care services before it added protective clothing to its portfolio earlier this year.

The clothing, sold only through the company's web site, www.defense.to, isn't cheap, at 46,095 yen ($419) for the coat and from 40,950 yen for the sweatshirt. They come in 12 colors and can be embroidered with initials or other slogans.

Japan has always prided itself on its low crime rate, but concern over child safety has grown after a series of crimes involving children.

An intruder attacked pupils with a knife at a primary school in western Japan in December 2003 and an 11-year-old schoolgirl murdered a classmate in June by slashing her throat.

Earlier this month, a Japanese software firm unveiled chip-embedded student ID cards that alert parents via email when children arrive at and leave school.

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"When I see guys huddling up after the game, to pray, that's what scares me about the game. I'm a Baptist, but I'm also a quarterback killer, and I ain't praying with you. But I will give you 30 seconds to ask your Lord and master to keep me from killing you." -- Hall of Fame defensive end "Deacon" Jones on what aspect of the modern game most upsets him.

Brandon_Webb

Wait so there using coats so they don't slit others throats?

Mr.Dibbs

I guess they'll just learn how to stab kids in the eye.

It seems like if you were really set on stabbing someone, a jacket that looks like a rain poncho would only slow you down for about 1 second.

__________________
"When I see guys huddling up after the game, to pray, that's what scares me about the game. I'm a Baptist, but I'm also a quarterback killer, and I ain't praying with you. But I will give you 30 seconds to ask your Lord and master to keep me from killing you." -- Hall of Fame defensive end "Deacon" Jones on what aspect of the modern game most upsets him.