In Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, a man named Takashi Kitajima has been re-arrested by local police on suspicion of attempted arson and the mutilation of a corpse during an ongoing investigation into the murder of his partner, Akiko Ogawa. This incident, which took place in a residential apartment, has garnered significant attention due to its violent nature. The police suspect that Kitajima set fire to the apartment in an attempt to cover up evidence after he allegedly strangled Ogawa to death on January 17.

During the investigation, police reported that Kitajima is accused of starting a fire near Ogawa's bedroom which resulted in damage to the wallpaper and partially carbonized her remains. Fortunately, the fire appears to have extinguished itself without causing damage to the surrounding area. Despite the seriousness of the allegations against him, Kitajima has maintained his innocence, refusing to provide details during his interrogation, stating, "I don’t know; I will remain silent."

The case initially saw Kitajima arrested on January 31 on murder charges, where police linked him to Ogawa's death through surveillance footage and other evidence. However, on February 21, the Nagoya District Public Prosecutor's Office announced that the handling of the murder charges would be deferred, indicating the complexity of the investigation and the challenges in securing a clear conviction based on current evidence.