A man and his wife were fatally stabbed at their home in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, on Wednesday night.
According to police, a call was made to 110 at around 6:10 p.m., by someone saying that two people covered in blood were lying on the ground outside their house, NHK reported.
When police rushed to the scene, they found Toshiaki Watarai, 59, and his wife, Reiko, 59, lying on the ground, having been stabbed with what appeared to be a knife. The man had been stabbed in the abdomen and the woman in the chest. They were taken to hospital, but were confirmed dead on arrival.
No knife was found at the scene.
Police said the caller reported hearing a woman screaming about 10 minutes earlier.
Police said they have learned that the couple had been involved in a financial dispute with a neighboring acquaintance in his 70s, whose whereabouts are unknown.
Meanwhile, according to police and the fire department, shortly after they got the 110 call, a fire broke out about 600 meters from the scene, burning down eight houses. Two residents of one house destroyed by the fire remain unaccounted for.
Police are investigating whether the murders and the fire are related.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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Fighto!
Horrible and shocking news. I just hope they find the madman who killed this poor couple very soon. And I hope those others unaccounted for in the fire are found - otherwise we are looking at potentially a mass murder of four.
Rest in Peace to the murdered couple.
Tokyo Guy
Police said they have learned that the couple had been involved in a dispute with a neighboring acquaintance in his 70s, whose whereabouts are unknown.
While there's no evidence yet of whether this is connected to this horrible story...
As I come from a country with a far worse crime rate than Japan, where most people think "conflict resolution" means shooting the other person, I can't take the moral high ground, but this seems to be A Thing in Japan sometimes: what seems like a dispute suddenly turns into a grisly murder - and we get arson thrown into the mix too. It's like the pressure and resentment builds up, and as there are few socially acceptable ways to let it out, we get this kind of thing.
Very unpleasant business.
HopeSpringsEternal
Chiba's great, nature, seafood, but always somehow had that 'gangsta' feeling; easy to confirm when you observe how many 'modified' cars there are, LOTS of low-riders...
SomeWeeb
Good lord, what's happening in Japan right now?
NOMINATION
If this "acquaintance" is the suspect, find him and give him the death penalty. No use on this planet for such trash.
falseflagsteve
Wickedness personified. What kind of demonic creature could commit crimes so heinous that even the most hardened man would be deeply shocked.
The perpetrator must be caught fast in case he continues his reign of terror.
wallace
Vicious crimes
Bret T
Fire started 600 meters from the crime scene. That's odd unless the killer thought all of his neighbors deserved some kind of harm. Killers often burn the place to cover evidence of crimes committed indoors, but the victims were outside, and the fire was distant. He may have been burning his bloody clothes and the fire got away from him.
Regardless, sad for the family of the deceased couple. Murder is a hard way to lose a relative. Lost my grandpa that way.
grc
SomeWeeb - well asked
oldman_13
As I always say, it's not surprising we are seeing more of these types of incidents in Japan.
njca4
It's pretty shocking considering how close it is to where I live.
This news coming right after the random stabbing at a McDonald's in Fukuoka gives Japan a bad look.
Mocheake
No country is immune and it's not shocking nor anywhere near a first nor so unusual for Japan. Hope they catch the perp(s) soon. RIP to the victims.
Roten
Why is it not surprising?
Why do you always say that? And, why do we care?
An explanation as to either of these might help to make your comment more cogent and relevant. As it is, it is of no value. Perhaps if you explained what you mean, it would add value to the article or subsequent comments.