Politics · Japan · 17 hrs ago
Japan debates stalking laws after Tokyo Pokémon store murder
A 21-year-old shop assistant was killed in March at a Pokémon store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district.
Her ex-boyfriend, 26-year-old Taiki Hirokawa, entered the busy store and stabbed her repeatedly.
Harukawa had reported him to police, and a court had ordered him to stay away from her.
Hirokawa had already been arrested and charged with stalking her.
Both died in hospital after the attack.
The killing has sparked debate in Japan about how to prevent attacks driven by fixation.
Japan is now rethinking its stalking laws, though no specific changes are described.
Moe Harukawa, a 21-year-old shop assistant, was killed at her workplace in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district in March.
Her ex-boyfriend, Taiki Hirokawa, 26, stabbed her repeatedly before turning the knife on himself.
Both later died in hospital.
Harukawa had reported Hirokawa to police, and a court had ordered him to stay away from her.
The killing has prompted debate in Japan about how to prevent stalking-related attacks.
- Who
- Moe Harukawa, 21, and her ex-boyfriend Taiki Hirokawa, 26.
- What
- Hirokawa stabbed Harukawa at her workplace and then turned the knife on himself. Both later died in hospital.
- When
- In March; the article does not state the year.
- Where
- A Pokémon store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district.
- Why
- The killing has prompted debate about how to stop fixation-driven attacks. The sources do not state a specific motive.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Harukawa reported Hirokawa to police, and a court ordered him to stay away from her.
Hirokawa entered Harukawa’s workplace and stabbed her before turning the knife on himself.
Both Harukawa and Hirokawa died in hospital.
- Victim
- Moe Harukawa, 21
- Ex-boyfriend
- Taiki Hirokawa, 26
- Location
- Pokémon store, Ikebukuro district, Tokyo
- Incident date
- March; year not stated
- Prior protection
- A court had ordered Hirokawa to stay away from Harukawa