Coworker Death Sparks Outrage Over Brutal Dorm Bullying

The deceased man appears to have suffered brutal violence. The cause of death was hemorrhagic shock from internal organ damage. Other signs included fractures and multiple subcutaneous bruises.

On March 10, Chiba Prefectural Police’s Investigation Division 1 arrested three suspects on suspicion of murder: Toshiki Maeda (34), president of a civil engineering company; employee Hisashi Miyazono (37); and employee Koki Konishi (23). The three are alleged to have assaulted and killed their 39-year-old male colleague on the night of August 25, 2024, between approximately 8:00 and 9:30 p.m.

“The crime scene was an apartment in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, used as an employee dormitory. The three suspects and the victim, A, were living together in one room. According to police, the three assaulted A together, delivering severe blows to his back and other areas.

When A’s condition deteriorated due to the assault, one of the suspects called 119. At the hospital, staff noticed abnormalities in A’s body, including subcutaneous bruising, and reported this to the police, leading to the discovery of the crime. The police have not disclosed the suspects’ statements regarding their involvement,” said a national newspaper social affairs reporter.

Beaten even at a gym

This is not the first time the three suspects have been arrested. In February of this year, they were already detained for separate charges.

“On August 18, 2024, Maeda and Miyazono allegedly struck A’s abdomen and face at a gym in Nagareyama City. On February 18 of this year, they were arrested on suspicion of bodily injury. On the same day, Konishi was also arrested on suspicion of coercion. It is alleged that they threatened A with statements like, ‘If you oversleep, quit the company,’ and recorded him saying, ‘I’ll quit the company.’ The police believe the three may have subjected A to habitual group assaults,” the reporter added.

Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa commented:

“If the allegations are true, this can be considered a lynching. They derived pleasure and relieved stress by bullying and assaulting a colleague. The victim lived with the suspects not only at work but also in the dormitory, leaving him with no escape and in a state of utter despair. If true, this is a reprehensible crime that mocks human dignity.

At the start of the assaults, some of the suspects may have realized it was bad. But if even one objected, they risked becoming the next target. Habitual violence gradually desensitized them, and the assaults escalated.”

The police are investigating the detailed circumstances leading to the crime, including whether there were any financial or other disputes between the three suspects and A.