Key Facts
• August 20, 2025, 7:20 PM: Incident occurred in an elevator of a Kobe apartment.
• Victim: Megumi Katayama, 24, an insurance company employee.
• Suspect: Masashi Tanimoto, 35, a Tokyo-based delivery company employee.
• Tanimoto claimed he did not know Katayama and partially denied intent to kill.
• Suspect followed Katayama for nearly 50 minutes after her 6:30 PM work departure.
• Katayama’s route: office → post office → train stations → shopping → home.
• Surveillance cameras captured Tanimoto tailing Katayama from her workplace.
• Tanimoto entered the apartment building as Katayama unlocked the door.
• Attack occurred in the elevator; Katayama was stabbed in the chest and abdomen.
• Katayama was found on the 6th floor and later pronounced dead from blood loss.
• Tanimoto stayed at a nearby hotel days before the incident during his work leave.
• Police are investigating Tanimoto’s motive and actions during his leave.
• August 24, 2025: Tanimoto was sent to the Kobe District Prosecutor’s Office.
Summary
On August 20, 2025, Megumi Katayama, a 24-year-old insurance company employee, was fatally stabbed in the elevator of her Kobe apartment. The suspect, Masashi Tanimoto, 35, a delivery company employee from Tokyo, claimed he did not know the victim and partially denied intent to kill. Surveillance footage revealed Tanimoto followed Katayama for nearly 50 minutes after she left work. He entered the apartment building as she unlocked the door and attacked her in the elevator. Katayama succumbed to blood loss. Tanimoto, who had stayed at a nearby hotel during his work leave, was arrested and sent to the Kobe District Prosecutor’s Office on August 24. Police are investigating his motive and actions leading up to the crime.
