Key Facts
• August 20: Woman fatally stabbed in a Kobe apartment.
• August 22: Suspect Masashi Tanimoto, 35, arrested for murder.
• August 23: Police briefing confirms partial admission by suspect.
• Suspect stated: “I stabbed her abdomen once or twice with a knife.”
• No prior interaction or conversation between suspect and victim confirmed.
• Surveillance footage shows suspect following victim unnoticed.
• August 20: Suspect boarded a bullet train at Shin-Kobe Station around 8 PM.
• August 22: Suspect seen disembarking at Okutama Station via JR train.
• Blood-stained knife found on August 22, believed to be the weapon.
• Police confirm suspect acted alone; motive and weapon source under investigation.
Summary
A 35-year-old Tokyo-based company employee, Masashi Tanimoto, was arrested on August 22 for allegedly stabbing a woman to death in a Kobe apartment on August 20. During a police briefing on August 23, authorities revealed that Tanimoto partially admitted to the crime, stating he stabbed the victim’s abdomen once or twice but denied clear intent to kill. Surveillance footage showed the suspect following the victim unnoticed before the attack. The suspect’s movements were tracked, including boarding a bullet train in Kobe and later disembarking in Okutama. A blood-stained knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered. Police are investigating the motive, weapon acquisition, and other details, confirming the suspect acted alone.
