IBARAKI (TR) – Ibaraki Prefectural Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly stabbing a female acquaintance at a “snack” bar.
The incident that also left the establishment’s elderly proprietress brutally murdered, reports Nippon News Network (Oct. 7).
Kotaro Uchiyama, a company employee from Hitachi City, was taken into custody at the scene on suspicion of causing injury. During police questioning, Uchiyama denied the allegations, telling investigators, “I have no memory and do not remember.”
Altercation broke out
On the night of October 4, Uchiyama visited the local snack bar in the town of Oarai accompanied by a 41-year-old female acquaintance and another friend. According to police, the trio and the 72-year-old proprietress, Setsuko Katori, were the only four people inside the venue at the time.
A violent altercation eventually broke out, leaving the interior of the bar trashed with broken glasses and signs of a severe struggle.
The 41-year-old woman was found collapsed in front of the establishment with a stab wound to her flank, prompting Uchiyama’s emergency arrest at the scene.
Katori was discovered collapsed and bleeding heavily nearby. She was later confirmed dead. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as hemorrhagic shock resulting from multiple stab and slash wounds to her neck and back, with some thrusts deep enough to pierce her lungs.
Beloved figure
Katori was a beloved figure in the local community. Regular patrons affectionately called her “Set-chan” and described her as a cheerful “mama” with a straightforward personality and a beautiful singing voice.
While the 41-year-old woman and the third friend were visiting the snack bar for the first time, police are still working to determine if Uchiyama had any prior connection to the establishment.
While Uchiyama currently only faces charges for the attack on his 41-year-old acquaintance, investigators are treating Katori’s death as a homicide and are heavily probing his involvement in the fatal stabbing.
