A 17-year-old boy was fatally stabbed in Dotonbori, Osaka, with investigations focusing on a 21-year-old suspect who allegedly used a folding knife in the attack.
In a tragic incident in Dotonbori, Osaka, three 17-year-old boys were stabbed late at night, leading to one fatality and another in critical condition. The Osaka Prefectural Police announced on the 17th that the cause of death for the victim, identified as Ryunosuke Kamata from Tawaramoto, Nara, was due to a deep stab wound to the chest that penetrated his heart. Additionally, the autopsy revealed multiple knife wounds on his neck, pointing to a violent altercation.
The police have arrested a 21-year-old unemployed man named Ryoga Iwasaki under suspicion of murder. Investigators believe that Iwasaki used a folding knife to inflict the wounds during the confrontation, which occurred in a crowded area of Osaka’s Minami district. Iwasaki was sent to the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office on the 17th but reportedly refused to leave his detention cell when approached for questioning. This push from the authorities signals the seriousness with which they are treating the case.
Iwasaki’s initial statements to police claim that he did not intend to kill, asserting his intention was merely to intimidate using the knife before inadvertently stabbing the victim. This case highlights the severe issue of youth violence and weapon-related incidents in urban Japanese areas, raising concerns among the public and necessitating closer examination of social conditions contributing to such events.
