Murdered by Stalker: Measures To Strengthen Current System Are Needed

Editorial

14:58 JST, April 1, 2026

Another incident has occurred in which a woman was killed after being stalked by her ex-boyfriend. The current system has its limitations for dealing with these types of situations, and a review is urgently needed.

At the end of March, a 21-year-old woman was attacked by her ex-boyfriend while she was working at a store that sells popular character goods in a commercial facility in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. The man stabbed the woman and himself in the neck, resulting in the deaths of the two.

It is believed that the man planned the murder-suicide, dragging the woman into this plan in a crowded area. This is an utterly outrageous and unforgivable act.

The woman had previously reported being a victim of stalking. The Metropolitan Police Department arrested the man late last year on suspicion of violating the Anti-Stalking Law and, before his release, issued a restraining order prohibiting him from stalking her. The police reportedly advised the woman to go into hiding and maintained regular contact with her.

The MPD says that it “took the best possible measures.” If the current system cannot stop such incidents from occurring, new countermeasures should be considered.

The law has been repeatedly revised over the years. In addition to stalking, the law now prohibits perpetrators from persistently posting on social media and using GPS devices to track a person’s location. Penalties have also been increased to up to two years in prison or a fine of up to ¥2 million.

Despite such changes, stalking continues unabated, with police receiving about 20,000 reports each year.

Last year, a woman was murdered by her stalker in Kawasaki, and a female nail technician was killed by her stalker in Mito. Tactics are becoming more sophisticated, such as hiding tracking tags in stuffed animals or cars to pinpoint victims’ locations.

The police are urging perpetrators who have received restraining orders to receive therapy or counseling to help lessen their obsession with the victims. However, since this is voluntary, the man in the latest case refused.

Of the 3,000 restraining orders issued last year, only about 200 perpetrators actually received therapy. Making therapy mandatory should be considered. Fostering more counselors is also essential.

It is also necessary to strengthen the surveillance of perpetrators. A system will soon be introduced that will allow courts to order defendants released on bail to wear GPS devices to prevent them from fleeing overseas. Perhaps this should be expanded to include stalking cases as well.

A system that combines those measures — such as requiring perpetrators who refuse therapy to wear a GPS device — could be one option.

Though it is to varying degrees, anyone would hold such feelings as obsession and anger toward those who left them, and feel despair regarding the situation.

There are many books and movies centered on the theme of “loss.” It is urged that people read these types of books and watch these types of movies in their daily lives to cultivate the mindset of realizing that they are not alone.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1, 2026)