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KASHIMA, Ibaraki -- A supermarket owner here sustained severe head injuries after fighting back against a samurai sword-wielding thief who robbed him of 300,000 yen in cash, police said Friday.



Akiyoshi Mizuno is expected to recover from his injuries sustained while trying to ward off the swordsman and another bandit who burst in on him in the office of the Mizuno Community Store supermarket as he counted the day's takings on Thursday night.



Both robbers escaped on foot after grabbing 300,000 yen in cash that Mizuno left on a desk in the office.



Investigators described the sword-wielding robber as being about 160 centimeters tall and his cohort another 15 centimeters taller. Both wore full-face masks with holes cut out for the eyes to allow them to see.



Police said Mizuno was working on the supermarket's accounts when the men suddenly burst into his office, attacked him and stole the money before fleeing. (Mainichi Shimbun, April 4, 2003)