Key Facts
• August 15, 2025: Two Japanese men were shot and killed in Manila, Philippines.
• Victims: Akinobu Nakayama (41, from Shizuoka) and Hideaki Satori (53, from Fukuoka).
• Incident captured on CCTV: Victims exited a taxi and were shot by a man.
• Suspects arrested: Filipino brothers Abel Manabat (62) and Albert Manabat (50).
• Police suspect the crime was premeditated, not a robbery as initially thought.
• Alleged mastermind: A Japanese individual promised 9 million pesos (~23 million yen) for the murders.
• Motive: Financial disputes between the mastermind and the victims.
• Mastermind reportedly hired the arrested guide as a driver during visits to the Philippines.
• Police confirmed suspects scouted the crime scene before the victims’ arrival.
• Investigation ongoing to locate the mastermind, believed to be in Japan.
Summary
Two Japanese men were killed in Manila on August 15, 2025, in what police believe was a premeditated crime orchestrated by a Japanese mastermind. The victims, Akinobu Nakayama and Hideaki Satori, were shot shortly after arriving in the Philippines for tourism. Filipino brothers Abel and Albert Manabat, one of whom served as the victims’ guide, were arrested as suspects. Authorities revealed that the mastermind promised 9 million pesos for the murders, likely due to financial disputes. CCTV footage and pre-crime scouting by the suspects suggest careful planning. The mastermind, reportedly based in Japan, remains at large as investigations continue.
