Pokémon Center staff in Japan murdered inside store by former lover turned stalker
A 21-year-old woman in Japan was stabbed to death by her former lover inside a Pokémon Center.
He had stalked her for months before the fatal attack.
According to The Japan Times, the incident occurred at around 7pm on 26 March amid a packed outlet.
A brutal attack at the Pokémon Center
The 26-year-old male attacker, identified as Taiki Hirokawa, entered the store and immediately headed towards the counter where his victim was working.
He then stabbed the victim, Moe Harukawa, multiple times in the neck and other parts of her body.
She was confirmed dead at the hospital.
After attacking her, the suspect turned the knife on himself and died later at the hospital.
Police discovered the weapon to be a knife wrapped in a towel. They suspect the attacker had done so to prevent his hands from slipping during the attack.
Source: @yuruhuwa_kdenpa on X
During the incident, the store had been open and filled with around a hundred customers.
The store, located in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo, was closed the following day.
Attack comes after months of stalking and an arrest
The brutal attack was months in the making. The victim, Harukawa, had previously been romantically involved with her murderer before they cut ties. However, Hirokawa remained obsessed with her.
Source: @yuruhuwa_kdenpa on X
The pair met in 2023 while working together. A year later, in October 2024, they began dating.
According to Asahi Shimbun, the relationship ended in July 2025.
In December that year, Harukawa filed a police report against her former lover for stalking. That same day, authorities arrested Hirokawa after catching him lurking near her ex’s home.
He was arrested again when police suspected him of secretly taking photos of her.
Hirokawa was found to be in possession of a fruit knife at that time, which violated a weapons control law.
At the time, he admitted to stalking his ex as well as suicidal thoughts. While the police recommended therapy, Hirokawa rejected the option.
On 30 Jan, he was released from detention and vowed to stop his stalking behaviour.
For her protection, police warned Harukawa to move in with relatives and install security cameras for safety.
They also recommended she switch jobs, as Hirokawa knew where she worked. However, she said it was her dream job and continued to work at the Pokémon Center.
They monitored her well-being until mid-March and said there were no signs of the man planning an attack.
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Featured image adapted from @yuruhuwa_kdenpa on X and The Japan Times.
