A window of suspect Jun Saito’s apartment in Saitama’s Omiya Ward is seen on June 17, 2025. (Mainichi/Toshiya Itahana)
SAITAMA — A 31-year-old man accused of killing a then 21-year-old woman in 2018 has reportedly told police, “I practiced random street assaults,” and, “I gave up on street attacks due to the high risk of getting caught and decided to target people with suicidal wishes instead,” according to sources close to the investigation.
Jun Saito from Saitama’s Omiya Ward, who had earlier been arrested on suspicion of theft, was served a fresh arrest warrant June 16 for allegedly killing a woman who had gone missing seven years ago. Saitama Prefectural Police sent him to the Saitama District Public Prosecutors Office June 18.
According to the sources, Saito stated, “Attacking and killing people is difficult. If the victim has suicidal wishes, the police investigation is less likely to reach me. It was convenient for someone like me with a desire to kill.” Regarding his arrest for theft after allegedly repeatedly pickpocketing pedestrians, he explained it was “practice for street attacks.”
Saito reportedly met the woman via social media in early November 2017 and invited her to his home on Jan. 4, 2018.
The prefectural police first arrested Saito in May for allegedly stealing a pedestrian’s smartphone. During a search of his apartment, police found a skull and human bones, which DNA analysis identified as belonging to Kaho Miyamoto from Ibaraki Prefecture.
A photo of a missing person poster for Miyamoto, which had been put up in Ibaraki Prefecture, was also found in the suspect’s room. He reportedly stated, “I found the poster on a bulletin board and took a picture,” and admitted to discarding Miyamoto’s smartphone and clothing after the crime.
(Japanese original by Takuro Tahara, Saitama Bureau)
AloJapan.com