A 21-year-old man was arrested in Osaka on Sunday morning on suspicion of murder. Police apprehended Ryoga Iwasaki, 21, after three teenagers were stabbed in Osaka’s popular Dotonbori district shortly before midnight on Saturday. Ryunosuke Kamada, 17, a resident of Tawaramoto, Nara Prefecture, died from stab wounds to the chest and other areas. The two other victims, also aged 17, were stabbed in the upper body and taken to hospital. One remains in critical condition and unconscious. The other was also seriously injured. Both are from Osaka Prefecture.
Teenagers Stabbed in Osaka Knew the Suspect
The suspect told the police, “I had no intent to kill. I was just going to intimidate them with a knife, but a man came at me and I stabbed him in the chest.” He reportedly knew the three teens. The four of them frequented the promenade commonly known as Gurishita near the famous Glico sign before allegedly getting into a dispute. According to investigative sources, Iwasaki had been harassing a woman at the scene prior to the incident. The teens then confronted him about it.
They were stabbed near the entrance of a commercial building located in an area with many restaurants. At the time, seven or eight people were present. An emergency call was made to the police at around 11:55 p.m. on Saturday. By the time they had arrived, Iwasaki had already fled the scene. The following morning, at approximately 10:15 a.m., the suspect was spotted by police officers walking in Osaka’s Naniwa Ward. He was in possession of the knife used in the attack.
An acquaintance of Kamada said, “He was a well-mannered boy who was well-liked by everyone. I feel very sad and shocked.”
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Updated On February 16, 2026
AloJapan.com