Tokyo International News Agency

In a case where the body of a woman, wrapped in a futon, was discovered in a copse in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, last year, the Shiga Prefectural Police and Gifu Prefectural Police on the 10th re-arrested Mohamed Hammoud (22), an unemployed Syrian national who had previously been apprehended on charges of abandoning a body, this time on suspicion of murder. Hammoud is suspected of repeatedly stabbing Mayumi Kiriyama (then 64), the victim, in the neck with a bladed weapon and then strangling her to death. His plea has not been disclosed. Mohamed Hammoud, who was re-arrested, resided in Shimasato, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. According to investigative sources, he arrived in Japan approximately two years ago on a short-term visa and had worked as a temporary employee for a period, but is currently unemployed, and suspicions of illegal stay have also emerged. The crime is believed to have occurred around March 14 last year, in Ms. Kiriyama's home garage in Tarui Town, Gifu Prefec...

A joint investigative task force from the Shiga and Gifu prefectural police on the 18th arrested Mohamed Hamood, a 22-year-old unemployed Syrian national residing in Shimazato 2-chome, Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, on suspicion of abandoning a body. This arrest is connected to the discovery of a woman's body in a thicket in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, last April. Hamood is believed to possess knowledge regarding the woman's murder, and the police are expanding their investigation to include potential murder charges. The deceased has been identified as Mayumi Kiriyama, who was 64 years old at the time and a resident of Maibara City. She had been reported missing since March of last year. Her body was discovered wrapped in a futon within the thicket, and signs of compression were found on her neck, leading police to suspect strangulation as the cause of death. The incident has garnered significant attention on social media. While many expressed relief with comments like "...

On January 21, police announced the arrest of a male acquaintance in connection with the murder of a female nail artist in an apartment in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, on New Year's Eve 2025. The arrested man is believed to be in his 20s. The victim, Haruka Komatsumoto, 31, a nail artist residing in an apartment in Kakurai-cho, Mito City, was found murdered at her home. It was widely reported that Ms. Komatsumoto was pregnant, and the incident sent significant shockwaves through Japanese society. Since the incident occurred, police have focused their investigation on the victim's social circle, which ultimately led to this arrest. According to investigative sources, police suspect that there was some form of trouble between the arrested acquaintance and Ms. Komatsumoto. Authorities plan to interrogate him further to determine the detailed circumstances and motive behind the crime. The arrest comes approximately one month after the incident, alleviating concerns that the case ...