Home → Japan
Japan
Country Intelligence Summary
49
Dec. 31, 2025
Top Motives and Outcomes in Japan
Top Motives
- Jealousy — 35 case(s)
- Revenge — 21 case(s)
- Control/domination — 17 case(s)
- Eliminate romantic partner — 14 case(s)
- Money / Financial Gain — 12 case(s)
Top Outcomes
- Arrest made — 42 case(s)
- Legal case ongoing — 32 case(s)
- Homicide during marriage — 30 case(s)
- Investigation still ongoing — 26 case(s)
- Deadbody recovery — 16 case(s)
State / Province Case Counts in Japan
9 case(s)
3 case(s)
3 case(s)
3 case(s)
3 case(s)
3 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
1 case(s)
Cases in Japan: Motive — Eliminate romantic partner
Haruka Komatsumoto Allegedly Murdered by Takumi Ouchi, Mito, Ibaraki, Japan
Haruka Komatsumoto, a pregnant nail technician in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend Takumi Ouchi. The case involves stalking, obsessive behavior, and a brutal attack using two weapons—a hammer and a kitchen …
State/Province: Ibaraki, Japan | City/Region: Mito | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Dec. 27, 2025
View DetailsHase Allegedly Murdered by Yahara, Kawamura, and others, Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, Japan
In October 2024, 20-year-old university student Hase was found dead in a park in Ebetsu City, Hokkaido, with severe trauma and stripped naked. Six suspects, including Yahara, Hase's girlfriend, and five friends, were arrested after …
State/Province: Hokkaido, Japan | City/Region: Ebetsu City | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Oct. 26, 2024
View DetailsMs. M Disappearance Involving Shota Ozawa, Kofu City, Yamanashi, Japan
In spring 2024, Ms. M, a 40-year-old employee in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, disappeared after leaving work. Security footage showed colleague Shota Ozawa waiting for her and later interacting with her. Ozawa had stalked Ms. …
State/Province: Yamanashi, Japan | City/Region: Kofu City | Incident Type: Murder | Date: April 30, 2024
View DetailsA-ko Disappearance Involving Tsuchiya, Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
In 2023, A-ko, a 33-year-old divorced single mother and insurance saleswoman from Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, disappeared after dropping her children at daycare. Investigations led to Tsuchiya, a 31-year-old married office worker from Numazu City, …
State/Province: Shizuoka, Japan | City/Region: Numazu | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Feb. 21, 2023
View DetailsDonna Nelson Allegedly Murdered by Kelly, Tokyo, Japan
Donna Nelson, a grandmother from Perth, was arrested in January 2023 at Tokyo's Narita airport carrying nearly 2 kg of methamphetamine. She was deceived in a prolonged romance scam by a man named Kelly, who …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Tokyo | Incident Type: Non-Murder | Date: Jan. 4, 2023
View DetailsKako Sasaki Allegedly Murdered by Kojiro Yamamoto, Sakai City, Osaka, Japan
On August 26, 2022, Kako Sasaki, a 20-year-old university student in Sakai City, Osaka, was fatally stabbed by her ex-boyfriend Kojiro Yamamoto after a recent breakup. The incident involved domestic violence, jealousy, and a violent …
State/Province: Osaka, Japan | City/Region: Sakai City | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Aug. 26, 2022
View DetailsHaruka Watanabe Murdered by Ms. A and Watanabe, Niigata City, Niigata, Japan
In 2021, nurse Haruka Watanabe and her one-year-old daughter were found dead at their home in Niigata City. Initially considered a suicide or accident, investigation revealed horizontal rope marks inconsistent with hanging. Haruka's husband, Watanabe, …
State/Province: Niigata, Japan | City/Region: Niigata City | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Nov. 7, 2021
View DetailsTsuyoshi Furukawa Allegedly Murdered by Chiharu Sato and Mr. A, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan
In 2021, Tsuyoshi Furukawa, a renowned traditional craftsman in Kyoto, was found dead with multiple stab wounds and an arrow in his back at a love hotel. The suspect, Chiharu Sato, his disciple and involved …
State/Province: Kyoto, Japan | City/Region: Kyoto City | Incident Type: Murder | Date: July 9, 2021
View DetailsArashi Allegedly Murdered by Nobuaki Ishihara, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
On July 22, 2018, Ms. Arashi, a 28-year-old married woman, was found dead in Nobuaki Ishihara's luxury mansion in Shibuya, Tokyo. Ishihara, a 69-year-old tax accountant and real estate executive, was her affair partner. Ms. …
State/Province: Tokyo, Japan | City/Region: Shibuya | Incident Type: Murder | Date: July 22, 2018
View DetailsMizuki Miura, Sogonis Sogonishinaka, and others Disappearance Involving Takahiro Shiraisi, Zama, Kanagawa, Japan
Takahiro Shiraisi, a Japanese man born in 1990, exploited vulnerable individuals with mental health issues via Twitter by pretending to offer help to those contemplating suicide. He lured victims to his apartment in Zama, Kanagawa, …
State/Province: Kanagawa, Japan | City/Region: Zama | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Aug. 22, 2017
View DetailsMisaki Mochizuki Allegedly Kidnapped by Kenichi Matsui, Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan
On November 9, 2004, the body of Misaki Mochizuki, a 25-year-old newlywed woman, was found hanging from a tree with her neck slashed in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. She had gone missing two days earlier …
State/Province: Shizuoka, Japan | City/Region: Numazu | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Nov. 7, 2004
View DetailsMasa Matsuda, Mino Matsuda, and others Disappearance Involving Masa Matsuda, Tokyo, Japan
In 1994 Tokyo, Masa Matsuda, a former Sony music executive, disappeared after his wife and daughter were found murdered by strangulation in their apartment. His son was also found dead. Masa was missing initially, leading …
State/Province: None | City/Region: Tokyo | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Nov. 10, 1994
View DetailsA-ko Nomoto, A-ko's daughter, and others Disappearance Involving Motoharu Nomoto, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
In 1994, A-ko Nomoto, a 31-year-old nurse, and her two young children disappeared from their home in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. The husband, Motoharu Nomoto, a doctor, initially reported them missing but later confessed to killing …
State/Province: Ibaraki, Japan | City/Region: Tsukuba | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Oct. 29, 1994
View DetailsChihoko Yasumichi Allegedly Murdered by Taichi Yamada, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
Chihoko Yasumichi, a 20-year-old female swimming coach in Kanazawa City, was found strangled to death in her car on October 1, 1992. The case remains unsolved after the statute of limitations expired in 2007. Evidence …
State/Province: Ishikawa, Japan | City/Region: Kanazawa | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Oct. 1, 1992
View Details