Woman in 70s fatally stabbed in Tokyo suburbs, man arrested near scene

This photo taken on Sept. 30, 2025, shows police investigators in Tokyo’s Machida near the scene where a woman was fatally stabbed. (Kyodo)

TOKYO (Kyodo) — A woman in her 70s was fatally stabbed at an apartment on Tuesday in the suburbs of Tokyo, police said, with a man arrested near the scene soon afterward.

The suspect, Kota Kuwano, a 40-year-old resident of Machida, was quoted as telling investigators that he just “wanted to kill someone” because he was tired of his life.

Chizuko Akie, 76, was attacked on the apartment’s outdoor staircase in the city at around 7:10 p.m. Her family made an emergency call, which led police officers to find the assailant near the crime scene.

The woman was taken to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead. The police had earlier described her as being in her 80s. She was a resident of the apartment.

A weapon likely to have been used in the stabbing was recovered near the scene. The police have found no apparent link between the suspect and the victim.