In the case where a 26-year-old man armed with a knife killed a 21-year-old female store clerk inside a store in Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, it has been revealed that the two had previously been in a relationship. It has also been revealed that the man had a previous arrest record for violating the Stalker Regulation Law against women.
■The scene is Sunshine City, Ikebukuro. This photo was taken 8 minutes after the incident. It appears that people are calling the police from the floor lined with Pokémon characters. People can be seen talking on the phone or using their smartphones. Perhaps to ensure safety, the shutters are down despite it being business hours.
People who were inside the store at the time of the incident said the following: “A foreigner came running in at an incredible speed, and everyone was screaming as they ran outside.” “People rushed in from near the registers, knocking over poles and everything, everyone was in a panic and running away.”
“(As I was running) I turned around and saw a man-like person causing a disturbance near the registers.”
At around 7:15 p.m. on the 26th, with 45 minutes remaining until closing time, numerous 110 calls were made.
110 emergency call: “A man with a knife is on a rampage.” “A man and a woman are lying on the ground bleeding.” The scene was on the second floor of Sunshine City, a complex located an 8-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station. It was the “Pokemon Center,” where you can buy merchandise of the popular Pokemon, which is popular overseas as well. According to witnesses, it was the start of the spring break season and the store was bustling with many customers.
■ Suspect has a history of stalking arrests
The man was identified as Hirokawa Daiki (26), whose address and occupation are unknown. Security camera footage showed him holding knives in both hands and heading straight for one of the five or so store employees behind the counter, a woman. The weapons were wrapped in towels and tied with something like rubber.
After stabbing the woman, Hirokawa cut his own neck. Both were then transported to the hospital but died.
The deceased woman was Harukawa Moe (21), a part-time worker from Hachioji City, Tokyo. Harukawa had multiple stab wounds around her neck and also wounds on her arm. A person who was near the scene said, “Police officers were running really fast and rushed to the scene. The shutters were closed and something like a fence had been put up.” “When I tried to go in, a store employee stopped me and said, ‘Don’t come in.’ There was some kind of partition or barrier.”
“(Q. Were there people around at the time?) Yes, there were. About 20 or 30 people. Some were shopping and looking at (merchandise, etc.), but some were kicked out.”
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the two were former lovers, and Harukawa had consulted them on December 25 last year saying that “my ex-boyfriend is stalking me.”
Hirokawa, who was arrested that same day on suspicion of violating the Stalker Regulation Law, said… “I won’t stalk her anymore. I wanted to get back together with her.”
The Metropolitan Police Department questioned Harukawa five times between December 26 and January 29. During that time, Harukawa left Tokyo and took refuge at a relative’s house for about a month. After that, the police contacted her by phone three times by the 12th of this month. Harukawa said that “it was my dream to work at a Pokémon Center.” The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the circumstances leading up to the incident in detail. (From the broadcast on March 27, 2026) [TV Asahi NEWS]
On the night of the 26th, a female store clerk was stabbed to death by a man at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. The man was the woman’s ex-boyfriend and had been arrested in December of last year for stalking. Police continued to be vigilant, issuing orders prohibiting further stalking, but were unable to prevent the crime.
A towel was used as a weapon The victim was Moe Harukawa (21), a part-time employee at the Pokemon Center, who was stabbed several times in the neck and other areas.
Someone who knew Harukawa said, “She was very polite and cheerful. Her whole family got along well. She would always run errands and help her mother carry heavy bags.” With the suspect also dead, it has become difficult to fully understand the details of the case.
The suspect who allegedly killed Harukawa is Daiki Hirokawa (26), whose occupation and address are unknown. Someone who was near the scene said, “He seemed to be causing a disturbance near the cash register.
After the shutters closed, I could hear screams from inside and the police trying to stop him.” The crime was captured on security cameras. The man entered the store alone and headed straight for the cash register. There were about four employees behind the counter, but he attacked Harukawa alone. He stabbed her multiple times in the neck and then cut his own throat, dying in the process. The knife was wrapped in a towel and tied with something like rubber.
This was the only weapon he brought to the scene. However, it has now been discovered that a bag believed to belong to the suspect was seized from a stall in the men’s restroom on the same floor as the Pokemon Center. Inside was a wallet containing a driver’s license in the name of suspect Hirokawa.
■Last December, Harukawa consulted the police about a stalker The two were former lovers. They met at a fast-food restaurant in Hachioji City. The two, who were co-workers, began dating around October two years ago. Then, around July of last year, Harukawa was able to work at the Pokemon Center, which had been her dream. However, suspect Hirokawa… Suspect Hirokawa Daiki: “This isn’t for you, quit.”
It has been learned from interviews with investigators that Harukawa decided to end their relationship after being told this. The trouble came to light around Christmas time. A letter saying “Please contact me” and a paper bag containing Pokémon cards were left at the front door of Harukawa’s home. On the morning of December 25th, Harukawa went to the police station… H
arukawa Moe said, “My ex-boyfriend is stalking me.” She said that he had followed her from the nearest train station and ambushed her in front of her home on multiple occasions. On the day the Metropolitan Police Department received the complaint, they sent a police officer with them to escort Harukawa home to ensure her safety.
There, they spotted Hirokawa, the suspect, staring intently as he walked around the area, and apprehended him. Even when urged to delete photos of Harukawa, Hirokawa stubbornly refused. He was also carrying a knife at this time. The Metropolitan Police Department arrested him on suspicion of violating the Stalker Regulation Law.
Then Hirokawa said… Suspect Hirokawa Daiki said, “I will not stalk her anymore. I regret my actions. I wanted to get back together with her.” A fruit knife was also found in the rental car Hirokawa had been using, and he reportedly said he had been contemplating suicide.
■December last year: “Stalking consultation” with the police A little over a month after his arrest, the Metropolitan Police Department issued a restraining order ordering him to stop stalking, and the prosecution summarily indicted him and released Hirokawa.
At that time, Hirokawa reportedly said, “I won’t come near her anymore.” The Metropolitan Police Department continued to keep in regular contact with Harukawa even after his release. Harukawa installed security cameras at her home at the request of the Metropolitan Police Department and took refuge at a relative’s house for about a month. The Metropolitan Police Department reportedly advised him to change jobs, but Harukawa said…
Moe Harukawa: “I don’t want to change jobs. It was my dream to work at a Pokémon Center.” Daughter of Harukawa’s classmate: “Oh really? So it was Moe-chan. My daughter also likes Pokémon.” Harukawa’s junior high school classmate: “I have a strong impression of her being Pikachu. I remember her wearing Pokémon plushies.” After her release, suspect Hirokawa was staying at her parents’ home in Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
The Metropolitan Police Department had asked the suspect’s mother to keep an eye on her. They had urged Hirokawa to seek counseling, but he refused. Regarding the handling of this case, which escalated from a stalking incident to a murder case, the Metropolitan Police Department stated that they “took the best possible measures.”
■ To identify a “violent stalker,” counseling and treatment at a medical institution are not mandatory but optional. In 2024, there were 19,567 consultations regarding stalking cases. Of these, 3,271 perpetrators received restraining orders and were encouraged to seek counseling, but only 184 perpetrators actually sought treatment, representing only 5.6% of the total. What measures can be taken to improve the situation and prevent crime? We asked Professor Takayuki Harada of the University of Tsukuba, an expert in criminal psychology.
Professor Harada: “I think the police did everything they could. Arrests and warnings don’t always work as a deterrent. About one-third of people who stalk for more than a month have the potential to escalate into ‘violent stalking’ that could lead to murder. It’s important for experts to objectively identify such cases.” How can this be identified? Professor Harada has compiled a list of the main risk factors that can lead to “violent stalking” based on various literature.・Past acts of violence or criminal record ・Abusive language and behavior during the relationship ・Clear threats ・Abusive use of alcohol, etc.
・Recognition of cognitive distortion Professor Takayuki Harada: “The law must be changed, but it is necessary to have ‘violent stalkers’ undergo forced treatment by specialists for about six months to a year. There is evidence that treatment suppresses recidivism. However, there is a shortage of specialists both within and outside the police.”
■Expert: “Equip perpetrators with GPS” Aren’t there any measures that go one or two steps further? We asked lawyer Sakura Kamiya of Sakura Mirai Law Office, who is knowledgeable about stalking victims from a legal perspective.
Lawyer Sakura Kamiya: “It is questionable that the summary indictment with a fine was made when the danger of suspect Hirokawa should have been recognized. Stalkers have a specific target, so safety can be ensured by maintaining distance. It may be time to introduce GPS. A system is needed where perpetrators are equipped with GPS, and victims can escape when the perpetrator approaches.” GPS-based surveillance of sex offenders and others was introduced in the United States in 1997. It has since been implemented in countries such as South Korea and France. Lawyer Sakura Kamitani: “Currently, laws don’t change unless an incident occurs, but we must proactively amend the law to help victims.” [TV Asahi NEWS]
