Japanese Musician Beaten By Teens in NYC Who Thought He Was Chinese

The incident, which left the victim with multiple injuries, occurred at a subway station near his home around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27.

Tadataka Unno, 40, a jazz pianist, was allegedly hit by a teenage boy as soon he arrived at the ticket gate of the downtown Manhattan station from work.

While he managed to escape the station, he was then chased and beaten by a group of eight boys and girls, whom he heard say the word “Chinese.”

The Tokyo-born musician, who was rushed to the emergency room, suffered fractures in his right arm and shoulder, a broken collarbone and bruises all over his body including his head, according to Jiji Press.

It’s unclear what exactly provoked the attack, but the group reportedly claimed that Unno had touched one of them.

Due to his injuries, Unno has not played the piano for at least a week after the incident, and he reportedly suffers from trauma. He has not been able to hold his newborn son as well. How the musician will provide for his family now that his main source of income has been put on hold is a source of concern for many, according to SoraNews24.

Soon after the incident, Jerome Jennings, a friend and colleague of Unno’s, set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his family.

“Tadataka Unno is a husband, good friend, father, and one of the brightest lights in jazz piano. He has performed in the working bands of Jimmy Cobb, Roy Hargrove, Winard Harper, John Pizzarelli, Clifton Anderson and many other greats,” Jennings wrote. “Due to his broken collar bone he cannot play and does not know when he will be able to.”

 

“I have known Tada to be one of the kindest and gentlest souls,” Jennings added.

The fundraiser closed in just four days after amassing $89,611 from some 1,700 donors. Contributions will go toward “emergency medical bills, physical therapy, rent, utilities, groceries, mental health support (therapy), taxis, moving expenses (in order to move to a neighborhood where they feel safer) and childcare,” Jennings said.

Unno is scheduled to visit the hospital Friday and will learn whether he’ll need to undergo surgery.

Feature Images (left) via Jim Coleman, (right) GoFundMe