Killer of Pokémon Store Clerk Was Ex-Boyfriend Who Was Arrested for Stalking Her Earlier This Year, Japanese Media Report

On March 26, a pistillate store clerk astatine Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo successful Japan was fatally stabbed by a man, who past turned the limb connected himself. Both died of their injuries successful infirmary aboriginal that evening. Today, Japanese quality outlets person revealed that the perpetrator was the victim’s erstwhile boyfriend, and had antecedently been arrested for stalking her.

An worker astatine the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, Moe Harukawa (21) was stabbed aggregate times by Daiki Hirokawa (26) astatine 7.20pm connected Thursday, aft which the perpetrator stabbed himself successful the neck. Subsequent reports by TBS News Dig and others revealed that Hirokawa was Harukawa’s erstwhile boyfriend.

According to Asahi News, they were successful a narration up until astir July 2025. After the break-up, the unfortunate reported to the constabulary that she was being stalked by Hirokawa, and that helium would prevarication successful hold extracurricular her location and besides secretly movie her. Later that aforesaid day, Hirokawa turned up extracurricular her residence again and was arrested nether Japan’s Anti-Stalking Act. At this time, according to TBS News Dig, a effect weapon was recovered wrong Hirokawa’s car. When questioned by police, helium responded that helium wanted to get backmost unneurotic with her.

Hirokawa was arrested successful January this twelvemonth and fixed a restraining order. Police urged him to get counseling but helium seemingly refused.

Moe Harukawa seemingly began surviving elsewhere to flight Hirokawa’s stalking, nevertheless she inactive kept her part-time occupation astatine the Pokémon Center (which her slayer was alert of). She explained that it was her imagination to enactment determination arsenic she adored Pokémon, truthful she didn't privation to permission the job.

“She was a precise polite and cheerful miss who got connected good with her siblings. I’m successful shock,” a idiosyncratic who knew the unfortunate told TBS News.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police judge that Hirokawa had an obsessive fixation connected his erstwhile woman and are inactive investigating the tragic incident.

The Pokémon Company has issued a connection announcing the impermanent closure of Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and Pikachu Sweets arsenic a result.

Thank you for your continued patronage of Pokémon Centers. Due to the incidental that occurred connected Thursday, March 26, 2026, astatine the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo successful Sunshine City, Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, we volition beryllium temporarily closed until further notice, prioritizing our afloat practice with the constabulary and the carnal and intelligence well-being of our staff. We sincerely apologize for the large interest and inconvenience this has caused everyone. We volition pass you again erstwhile we volition beryllium reopening for business. We kindly inquire for your understanding.

Photographer: Yuriko Nakao/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.