The Chilling Obsession of the Fukuoka Stalker Murder Case
“Although I stabbed her, I did not ambush her.”
In the first trial of the shocking murder case that rocked society, the defendant denied part of the charges in his statement.
The trial by jury was held at the Fukuoka District Court on June 17th. The defendant, Susumu Terauchi (32), a former restaurant employee, faces charges including murder and violation of the Stalker Regulation Law (prohibition order). The incident occurred in January last year, where Terauchi allegedly fatally stabbed Miki Kawano (then 38), his former girlfriend, at least 17 times in the head and chest with a knife he possessed.
“The prosecution claims that suspect Terauchi ambushed Ms. Kawano on a street in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City. On the other hand, the defense denies the ambush, stating that they encountered Ms. Kawano by chance while attending to other matters. They also argue that the knife used as the weapon was carried for self-defense purposes.”
This excerpt from a national newspaper’s judiciary reporter discusses the details surrounding a gruesome stalker murder case reported by ‘FRIDAY Digital’ on January 21st last year. Reprinting it, they aim to highlight the defendant Terauchi’s unilateral thoughts and chilling behavior.
Admiring Namie Amuro.
“Why did you call the police? I’m going to lose my job!”
The enraged man allegedly stormed his ex-girlfriend’s workplace and shouted this.
The tragic incident occurred on the evening of January 16th last year, just after 6 PM near JR Hakata Station. The defendant Terauchi brutally stabbed Ms. Kawano multiple times in the head and chest, causing more than ten stab wounds and fatal bleeding. Terauchi, Ms. Kawano’s ex-boyfriend, was arrested on suspicion of murder.
“It appears that Terauchi ambushed Ms. Kawano near her workplace. Security cameras captured footage of them walking together towards Hakata Station, with Terauchi holding an umbrella. They were seen arguing while walking, and Terauchi allegedly knocked Ms. Kawano down, straddled her, and repeatedly stabbed her relentlessly with a knife. After the crime, he returned to his apartment to change his blood-stained clothes and then went into hiding.
He was apprehended by Fukuoka Prefectural Police on January 18th, two days later. An undercover officer searching the busy streets of Nakasu, about 1.5 km from the crime scene, recognized Terauchi disguised with glasses and a mask. Although he was carrying a knife, he voluntarily accompanied the police and admitted to the crime, stating, ‘There is no mistake that I stabbed her.'”
Terauchi, originally from Osaka, dropped out of high school and worked at restaurants in Tokyo’s Roppongi and Osaka’s Minami before moving to Fukuoka about a year before the incident. He started working part-time at a bar in Nakasu from April 2022, where Ms. Kawano was a regular customer.
“Miki Kawano was originally from Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. She reportedly lived in Okinawa in her late teens and attended the ‘Actors School’ that produced figures like Namie Amuro and ‘SPEED’. She admired Namie Amuro deeply.
She moved to Fukuoka about ten years ago, reportedly before the incident. She had been married but was raising her daughter as a single mother after her divorce. She met Terauchi at a regular bar and their relationship began around spring 2022.”
However, from the beginning of their relationship, Terauchi allegedly exhibited controlling behavior.
“Terauchi seemed to be a very jealous person. He reportedly had Kawano use a smartphone app that tracked her location to monitor her movements. Their relationship deteriorated further when he allegedly confiscated her phone, and she reportedly ended things around autumn 2022, telling people around her that he was too controlling and it scared her.”
Even after their relationship ended, Terauchi persistently stalked Kawano. In October 2022, Kawano sought police advice, expressing her concerns. By November of the same year, Terauchi began appearing at Kawano’s workplace, prompting the police to issue an emergency restraining order under the Stalker Regulation Law.
“Terauchi reportedly responded to police warnings with promises not to approach Kawano again, though he apparently didn’t fully comply. He continued to contact Kawano persistently, seemingly harboring resentment after their relationship ended, which ultimately led to the crime.”
According to friends, Terauchi also mentioned he couldn’t let go because he loved Kawano too much. Following the issuance of the emergency restraining order in December, he allegedly misinterpreted emojis from a third party as messages from Kawano, claiming to police, ‘I’m abiding by the order, but she keeps contacting me. It’s unfair that I’m portrayed negatively.'”
Kawano tragically lost her life due to Terauchi’s grudge. The verdict for Terauchi is scheduled for June 28th.
