Japan
Country Intelligence Summary
108
Dec. 31, 2025
Top Motives and Outcomes in Japan
Top Motives
- Jealousy — 56 case(s)
- Revenge — 44 case(s)
- Control/domination — 39 case(s)
- Fear of exposure — 39 case(s)
- Eliminate romantic partner — 32 case(s)
Top Outcomes
- Arrest made — 96 case(s)
- Legal case ongoing — 89 case(s)
- Homicide during marriage — 65 case(s)
- Investigation still ongoing — 62 case(s)
- Deadbody recovery — 53 case(s)
State / Province Case Counts in Japan
19 case(s)
10 case(s)
7 case(s)
5 case(s)
4 case(s)
4 case(s)
4 case(s)
4 case(s)
4 case(s)
4 case(s)
3 case(s)
3 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 case(s)
2 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)
Cases in Japan: Motive — Fear of exposure
Karen Suzuki Murdered by Shogo Nishimitsu, Osaka, Japan
On May 16, 2024, Karen Suzuki, a 19-year-old university student living in Osaka, was fatally stabbed by her boyfriend Shogo Nishimitsu, who confessed to the murder. Nishimitsu had lied about his employment status and concealed …
State/Province: Osaka, Japan | City/Region: Osaka | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: May 16, 2024
View DetailsHara Tadayuki Allegedly Murdered by Nishitaka Mai, Iwaki Shohei, and others, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
Hara Tadayuki, a Japanese internet streamer known as YuiGa, was found dead inside a weighted suitcase near the Tama River in Kawasaki. According to the source, Hara had been in a financially exploitative relationship with …
State/Province: Kanagawa, Japan | City/Region: Kawasaki | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Dec. 15, 2023
View DetailsShiori and Sato Allegedly Murdered by Haruki, Nagoya, Japan
According to the video report, Japanese influencer and former host Haruki allegedly killed two women in December 2023. He allegedly drowned his live-in partner Shiori in their bathtub at about 3 a.m., then went to …
State/Province: Aichi, Japan | City/Region: Nagoya | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Dec. 4, 2023
View DetailsNakata Tachibana Allegedly Murdered by Genki Yamanaka, Izumisano City, Osaka, Japan
On May 9, 2023, 18-year-old Nakata Tachibana was found dead in an apartment in Izumisano City, Osaka, after suffering brutal and sustained physical abuse by her boyfriend Genki Yamanaka, 22. Yamanaka admitted to assaulting Tachibana …
State/Province: Osaka, Japan | City/Region: Izumisano City | Incident Type: Non-Murder | Date: May 9, 2023
View DetailsUnnamed first male victim and Unnamed male victims Allegedly Murdered by Miyuki Ueta, Hiroshima, Japan
The source describes seven men who died in or near Kurayoshi between 2004 and 2009, with sleeping medication reportedly found in their blood. The deaths were initially classified as suicides or accidents despite unusual circumstances, …
State/Province: Hiroshima, Japan | City/Region: Hiroshima | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Jan. 14, 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 DetailsY-san Disappearance Involving Katagiri Shu, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
Y-san, a 47-year-old married high school teacher, disappeared after telling her family she was going to Kushiro on May 29, 2022. Police determined that she had been killed by Katagiri Shu, her married affair partner, …
State/Province: Hokkaido, Japan | City/Region: Obihiro | Incident Type: Murder | Date: May 30, 2022
View DetailsHaruka and Haruka's unnamed daughter Allegedly Murdered by Watanabe Ken, Niigata City, Japan
According to the video report, Watanabe Ken allegedly killed his wife, Haruka, and their approximately one-year-old daughter at their home in Niigata City in November 2021. The reported relationship context involved a continuing affair, separation, …
State/Province: Niigata, Japan | City/Region: Niigata City | Incident Type: Family Homicide | Date: Nov. 15, 2021
View DetailsYoko Watanabe and Nozomi Watanabe Murdered by Ken Watanabe, Niigata, Japan
On November 7, 2021, nurse Ken Watanabe killed his wife, Yoko Watanabe, and their young daughter, Nozomi, in their home in Niigata. He initially staged the scene to resemble a suicide and created messages using …
State/Province: Niigata, Japan | City/Region: Niigata | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Nov. 7, 2021
View DetailsSato Ishizawa Murdered by Yoshiki Mizumoto, Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan
On September 30, 2020, Yoshiki Mizumoto, 35, attacked his former romantic partner Sato Ishizawa, 23, near her workplace in Koshigaya, Saitama. The source reports that Mizumoto had been married while conducting an affair with Ishizawa, …
State/Province: Saitama, Japan | City/Region: Koshigaya | Incident Type: Murder | Date: Sept. 30, 2020
View DetailsAkihiko Sekiya Allegedly Murdered by Komi Koga, Toa Town, Hokkaido, Japan
According to the source, on August 30, 2020, Akihiko Sekiya, 41, died in hospital after his wife, Komi Koga, 45, allegedly brought a lit gas burner close to his face while kerosene had spilled on …
State/Province: Hokkaido, Japan | City/Region: Toa Town | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: Aug. 30, 2020
View DetailsAyaka Taira Allegedly Murdered by Seiya Taira, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan
On June 27, 2019, Ayaka Taira, 26, was found dead and partially dismembered near the coast in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Her husband, Seiya Taira, 26, surrendered that evening and reportedly admitted transporting her body in …
State/Province: Kanagawa, Japan | City/Region: Hiratsuka | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: June 27, 2019
View DetailsMayuka Tamura Allegedly Murdered by Hiroaki Suzuki, Tama, Tokyo, Japan
Mayuka Tamura began dating her colleague Hiroaki Suzuki in 2014 without knowing that he was engaged to another woman. After Suzuki's fiancée obtained a 500,000-yen compensation order against Mayuka, Suzuki promised to reimburse her but …
State/Province: Tokyo, Japan | City/Region: Tama | Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide | Date: March 16, 2018
View DetailsShiho Noda Allegedly Murdered by Noda, Shirahama, Wakayama, Japan
On July 18, 2017, 28-year-old Shiho Noda was found submerged in shallow water while snorkeling at Rinkaiura Beach in Shirahama, Wakayama. She died two days later. Her husband, Noda, initially reported her missing and later …
State/Province: Wakayama, Japan | City/Region: Shirahama | Incident Type: Murder | Date: July 18, 2017
View DetailsSugawara Mi Allegedly Murdered by Yasunori Maezono, Katsuyama, Fukui, Japan
On March 12, 2015, Yasunori Maezono, a 42-year-old associate professor, strangled Sugawara Mi, a 25-year-old graduate student and former student with whom he had an illicit relationship, inside a stopped company car in Katsuyama, Fukui. …
State/Province: Fukui, Japan | City/Region: Katsuyama | Incident Type: Murder | Date: March 12, 2015
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