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BackJapan rethinks its stalking laws after Pokemon store murder
Japan rethinks its stalking laws after Pokemon store murder
BREAKING
SCMP Economy12 minutes agoCrime1 min readChina

Japan rethinks its stalking laws after Pokemon store murder

stalkingdomestic violencerestraining order

Quick Look

A 21-year-old shop assistant was stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend at a Pokemon store in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district before he killed himself; both died in hospital despite a prior court restraining order.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The victim had reported her ex-boyfriend to police and a court had ordered him to stay away from her before the attack.

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Long before Moe Harukawa was killed, she lived in fear. The 21-year-old shop assistant had reported her ex-boyfriend to police and a court had ordered him to stay away from her.

Yet weeks later, Taiki Hirokawa, 26, walked into Harukawa’s workplace – a packed Pokemon store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district – and stabbed her repeatedly in the neck and torso before turning the knife he was carrying on himself. Both later died in hospital.

Open Questions

  • What were the specific terms of the court restraining order?
  • Why did the attacker enter the store despite the order?
  • Were there any witnesses or store employees who intervened?

Related Topics

stalking
PeopleMoe HarukawaTaiki Hirokawa
PlacesTokyoIkebukuro district
Topicsdomestic violencerestraining orderPokemon storeTokyoIkebukuro
This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.

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