2 Japanese tourists fatally shot in Manila as robberies surge

MANILA–Two Japanese men in a popular nightlife area were shot and killed here on Aug. 15 amid a growing wave of gun-related robberies targeting foreign nationals, the Japanese Embassy reported.

According to local investigators, the victims were tourists in their 40s and 50s, who were staying at a nearby hotel.

The shooting occurred around 10:40 p.m. as the two men exited a taxi in a bustling entertainment district known for its karaoke bars, restaurants and hotels frequented by foreign visitors.

Witnesses reported that a man approached the victims, opened fire and fled the scene on a motorcycle after stealing their belongings.

Since October, around 20 robbery cases involving Japanese victims have been reported in the greater Manila area.

In one high-profile case in December, two Japanese men were assaulted in Manila, with one of them, a man in his 60s, sustaining serious gunshot wounds during a bag-snatching attack.

In May, a Japanese restaurant in Makati was robbed at gunpoint, with Japanese customers being threatened and their valuables taken.

In response to the growing threat, the Japanese Embassy has issued a warning, advising Japanese nationals to avoid walking around at night and urging them not to resist in the event of a robbery attempt.

(This article was written by Toshiya Obu in Manila and Shin Kasahara in Bangkok.)