Crime
Man arrested for fatally assaulting acquaintance after drinking together
Police in Sapporo, Hokkaido, have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of fatally assaulting a 24-year-old man. According to police, the incident occurred early Sunday morning. Hokkaido Broadcasting Corp reported that the suspect, Tetsuya Yanagida, had been drinking with the victim, Tenchi Tsuruo, and another man at his (Yanagida’s) apartment.… Read
Shizuoka local police chief apologizes to man acquitted over 1966 murders
A local police chief in Japan on Monday apologized in person to an 88-year-old man who spent nearly half a century on death row before being acquitted in a retrial over a 1966 quadruple murder case. "I am sorry for the unspeakable burden and trouble we have caused you over… Read
Man stabbed in parked car in Miyazaki dies; acquaintance arrested
Police in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture, have arrested a 67-year-old man on suspicion of murder after he allegedly stabbed a 65-year-old acquaintance in the neck while they were in a parked car. According to police, at around 6 a.m. Sunday, a passerby walking along a street near a park east… Read
91-year-old sister of longest death row inmate sees hope in his acquittal
Hideko Hakamada, 91, spent much of her life working to free her brother from nearly a half-century on death row. Now that he has been acquitted she feels that the siblings are beginning a new chapter of their lives. She backed her brother, Iwao Hakamada, the world’s longest-serving death row… Read
17-year-old boy arrested for assaulting mother in Shizuoka Prefecture
Police in Shizuoka Prefecture have arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of assaulting his mother, who is in her 50s, by kicking her waist and other parts of her body at their home. According to police, the incident occurred at around 7 a.m. on Sunday, Shizuoka Broadcasting Corp reported. After… Read
Around 30 arrested over spate of robberies in Kanto region
Japanese police said they have made about 30 arrests as of Friday in connection with a spate of robberies and other incidents in and around Tokyo, with the suspects believed to have been recruited and instructed to carry out their alleged crimes via social media. The police forces of Tokyo… Read
20-year-old woman arrested for abandoning newborn baby's body at her home
A 20-year-old woman has been arrested for abandoning the body of her newborn baby daughter in a plastic bag at her home in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. Police said Akane Tomioka, a company employee, gave birth at around noon on Oct 14 in the bathroom at her home, TV Asahi reported.… Read
22-year-old man arrested over robbery-murder case in Yokohama
Police on Saturday arrested a 22-year-old man for allegedly killing an elderly man and stealing cash in Yokohama near Tokyo earlier this week. The suspect, Mazuki Takarada, admitted to the allegations, telling police, "There were three including me," in the robbery case, they said. Hiroharu Goto, 75, was found dead… Read
Woman arrested for fatally assaulting 9-year-old stepdaughter
Police in Otaru, Hokkaido, have arrested a woman in her 40s for fatally assaulting her 9-year-old stepdaughter by allegedly punching her in the stomach and kicking her. According to police, the woman is accused of punching and kicking the girl sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning, Hokkaido Broadcasting Corp… Read
Man robs convenience store, then asks staff to call police to come and pick him up at park
Police in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, have arrested a 47-year-old unemployed man on suspicion of robbing a convenience store. According to police, the incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, Fukuoka Hoso reported. Police said that Minoru Higashino, of unknown address, threatened an employee with a cutter knife and stole 12… Read
