Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Japan, postponed its scheduled summer reopening on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, after a 30-year-old employee confessed to burning his wife’s body in the facility’s incinerator. The city government pushed the reopening to Friday while investigators searched the grounds for remains.
The suspension follows a missing person’s report filed last Thursday by a friend of the victim, who had been unreachable since late March. Hokkaido prefectural police subsequently questioned the employee, who reportedly admitted to burning the body for several hours in an incinerator typically used for animal carcasses.
Police have since seized three vehicles, including a truck bearing the zoo’s logo, on suspicion they were used to transport the body. Search operations at the man’s home and the zoo’s animal hospital incinerator have yet to locate the remains of the victim, who had previously messaged friends about threats from her husband.
Asahikawa Mayor Hirosuke Imazu addressed the situation during a press conference on Tuesday, describing the event as a severe disruption during the critical Golden Week holiday period. He emphasized that the city is fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation.
“No one could have predicted it,” Imazu said. “I am overcome with immense anxiety, and I am facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude.”
The mayor noted that the facility, which attracts over one million annual visitors, requires additional time to ensure it is ready for the public following the forensic searches. He expressed regret over the sudden change in schedule for tourists planning to visit the Hokkaido landmark.
“We are making preparations to welcome you, so we hope that as many people as possible will come to the park,” Imazu stated.
The city-run zoo had been closed for routine maintenance since April 8 before the discovery of the alleged crime. Officials apologized for the shift in plans, citing the gravity of the legal proceedings currently involving their staff member.
“the situation requires additional time to prepare to welcome visitors,” Imazu explained.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect remains under investigation while forensic teams continue to sift through the incinerator site. The mayor reiterated the city’s stance on providing support to the authorities during the holiday delay.
“We sincerely apologize for the great concern and inconvenience caused,” Imazu said.
The municipality noted that the Friday reopening remains tentative. Future closures may occur without prior notice if the police require further access to the zoo grounds for the criminal inquiry.
“a painful decision,” Imazu said.
AloJapan.com