Pokémon Center Stabbing Suspect Repeatedly Stabbed Victim, Himself up Until Losing Consciousness, Source Says

The Yomiuri Shimbun

11:43 JST, March 30, 2026

The suspect in a stabbing at a Pokémon Center in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district continued to stab his victim and himself alternatively right up until the moment he lost consciousness, a police source revealed.

The Metropolitan Police Department believe that the 26-year-old suspect planned the murder-suicide in advance. They are investigating the case as a homicide.

The police identified the victim as a 21-year-old part-time worker, who was formerly in a relationship with the suspect.

The suspect allegedly stabbed her in the neck and arms, resulting in her death, in the store on Thursday. He also cut his own neck and was pronounced dead at a hospital.

According to the source, the victim suffered more than 10 stab wounds mainly to her neck.

Footage from the store’s security camera showed the suspect stab the victim, who was at the register. He then straddled her and alternatively stabbed her and himself repeatedly.

The victim started working at the Pokémon Center around July 2025. It was her dream job. However, the suspect, who was in a relationship with her at the time, told her she was wrong for the job and that she should quit. As a result, she broke up with him.

Following that, the victim refused to receive his messages and cut all contact with him. He then repeatedly stalked her, waiting for her to return from work and lurking around her home.

The police received a report from her about the behavior and from December that year checked in with her nine times and advised her to change workplaces.