Arson Suspected After 11 Fires in 9 Days in Japan’s Ibaraki Pref. City

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:39 JST, March 1, 2026

CHIKUSEI, Ibaraki — Eleven fires have been reported in the span of nine days in different parts of Chikusei, Ibaraki Prefecture, prompting police to suspect serial arson.

According to police, suspicious fires were detected between Feb. 20 and Saturday, including one that broke out at a children’s center at around 9:10 p.m. on Feb. 22. The fire destroyed the two-story building and charred a mikoshi portable shrine that had been kept inside. No injuries were reported.

Dry grass was set on fire at a different location in the city on early Saturday.

Police are investigating the incidents, and believe someone deliberately set the fires as there were no apparent fire sources at the scenes.