Yoshimi Arai was taken into custody by officers at the Sugamo Police Station after he allegedly used kerosene and a lighter to set fire to an umbrella and some plastic in front of a “snack” hostess club in Toshima Ward on the evening of March 2.
“I entered the club, but I did not start the fire,” Arai is quoted by police in denying the allegations.
According to the report, just before the incident, when seven customers were being entertained inside the club, the suspect had been denied entry. Once the flames became noticeable, the manager extinguished the blaze.
Police said that the suspect had previously attempted to win favor with a hostess in her 30s.
“I liked her,” the suspect is quoted in a report by Nippon News Network.
