A murder in Imari, Saga Prefecture, has rattled a city known for promoting multicultural coexistence. On July 26, a 40-year-old Japanese language teacher was stabbed to death in her home. Police arrested a Vietnamese technical intern the next day on suspicion of robbery and murder.
The incident has sparked grief, fear, and growing anxiety among residents, both Japanese and foreign. As investigators search for a motive, local officials and community members are working to respond without fueling prejudice toward foreign residents or deepening social divides.
Vietnamese technical intern arrested
On the evening of July 26, a robbery-murder took place in Imari, Saga Prefecture. An intruder fatally stabbed Mukumoto Maiko, a 40-year-old Japanese language teacher. The introducer also stole cash. Her mother, in her 70s, sustained neck and other injuries during the attack.
Police arrested 24-year-old Vietnamese national Dam Zui Kang the following day on suspicion of robbery and murder. He lived in a dormitory just 50 meters from the crime scene with other technical interns.
Kang worked at a local poultry processing plant in Imari, where he was responsible for dismembering chickens. According to his employer, he had no record of tardiness or absenteeism.
When questioned, Kang told police he “has nothing to say.” Authorities continue to investigate his motive.
Imari mayor calls for rejecting prejudice against foreigners
The horrible incident has shaken Imari, a city that has promoted coexistence with foreign residents. At a press conference on August 4, Imari Mayor Fukaura Hironobu expressed condolences to the victim. He urged residents not to let the incident fuel discrimination or prejudice based on nationality.
“We must not link this kind of incident to prejudice or discrimination against people based on their nationality,” he said. “I believe we need to further strengthen our efforts toward multicultural coexistence.”
Fukaura also voiced concern about division within the community following the case.
According to the city, it’s so far received five messages from residents. Some called on not only companies but also the prefectural and city governments to take measures to prevent similar incidents. Others expressed concern about the living conditions faced by foreign residents.
Given the city’s sizable foreign population, the mayor stressed the importance of responding to the situation calmly and fairly, without bias.
Murder case sparks anxiety in Imari’s foreign community
Imari, a city of just over 50,000 people in Saga Prefecture, is home to more than 900 foreign residents. About half of them are technical interns.
On August 3, at a Japanese-language class for foreigners held in the city, participants from Indonesia and Nepal voiced concerns following the recent murder case.
One attendee from Indonesia said, “It’s sad. It’s disappointing. People might start thinking there are more bad foreigners, but in reality, most of us are working hard and cooperating.”
Another participant from Nepal commented, “The incident happened about 100 meters from my apartment. I live close to the crime scene, so I still feel a bit scared.”
Nakamura Akira, who runs a Japanese-language class in Imari, said he worries the case could trigger prejudice against foreign residents.
“I don’t think people should look at all foreigners as if they might commit such crimes,” he said. “I want to know what pushed the person to the point of committing the horrible crime.”
Concern is also growing among other technical interns in the area. One intern from Vietnam, who works at a different company than the suspect, said, “I’m worried I might be discriminated against because of this incident.”
Following the incident, Imari City set up a system to coordinate with relevant departments in handling consultations and public concerns.
The fears voiced in Imari echo a broader unease that some foreign residents have expressed in Japan. The far-right party Sanseitō promotes a “Japan First” agenda and often makes statements that risk fueling prejudice against foreigners.
The rise of nationalist rhetoric from parties like Sanseitō has raised concerns about its role in shaping a broader social climate of suspicion toward foreign residents. The party and others have used incidents like this to paint foreigners in Japan as uniquely dangerous – an accusation unsupported by the data.
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Sources
「子どもたちをどう守ったら」「差別されるのでは」技能実習生が逮捕された強盗殺人事件で不安と動揺 FBS NEWS
伊万里 親子殺傷事件で深浦市長 “冷静に受け止めて” NHK
