ASAHIKAWA, Hokkaido—The highly awaited Golden Week reopening of one of Japan’s most popular zoos has been delayed after an employee reportedly told police he disposed of his wife’s body in an on-site incinerator.
Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, will remain closed until at least May 1, officials announced, as prefectural police conduct a grim search of the grounds on suspicion of illegally disposing of a body.
The zoo was scheduled to begin its summer season on April 29, a national holiday.
At a news conference on April 28, Asahikawa Mayor Hirosuke Imazu called the postponement “a painful decision” and apologized for the “great inconvenience” to visitors planning to visit over the holidays.
The city-run zoo had been closed since April 8 for routine pre-season preparations such as removing winter enclosures and repainting.
The investigation began after an associate of the employee’s wife had been unable to contact her since late March and notified police.
Hokkaido prefectural police began questioning the employee, a man in his 30s, on April 23. He allegedly admitted to disposing of the body of his wife, with whom he lived in Asahikawa, in a zoo incinerator.
Police began searching the zoo grounds on April 24 and searched the employee’s home on April 26.
SUPPORT AMID SHOCK
City officials said the zoo is cooperating fully with the investigation. They attributed the two-day delay to the police search and the need to address new challenges, such as providing mental health support for staff and reviewing security systems.
Imazu said the city is considering compensating the zoo’s restaurants and shops for the cost of pre-procured food and for labor expenses.
Despite the shocking allegations, a senior city official said most public feedback has been supportive rather than critical.
However, the decision to reopen was made cautiously, weighing the risk of disturbances against the needs of the ongoing investigation.
The mayor acknowledged receiving “a great many encouraging messages” from citizens and fans nationwide, which he said has been “a great source of strength for the zoo and its staff.”
Still, concerns have been raised locally about potential long-term damage to the zoo’s image and a drop in visitor numbers that could impact the regional economy.
The mayor warned that “sudden closures or limiting access to certain areas” could be necessary as the investigation proceeds.
Amid the unease, staff are caring for the animals and prepare for the reopening, a city official said. Many fans are reportedly looking forward to the unveiling of a newly expanded Pallas’s cat enclosure.
“A zoo exists to be seen by visitors,” the official said. “We made our final decision based on the voices of the public, who said, ‘We want things to return to normal as soon as possible.’”
Asahiyama Zoo, Japan’s northernmost, opened in 1967. Known for its innovative “behavioral exhibits,” which allow zoo-goers to see the animals’ natural behaviors, it drew approximately 1.33 million visitors in fiscal 2025.
AloJapan.com