Man Poured Boiling Water on Acquaintance Until His Death Over 500 Million Yen Loan Twisted Relationship with Victim Revealed

A man who suffered burns over his entire body and died

“Right in front of me, my acquaintance suddenly collapsed.”

When emergency responders arrived after a 119 call, they found a man who had suffered burns over more than half of his body lying on the exterior staircase of an apartment building.

“On March 6, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s First Investigation Division re-arrested Koji Takarada (56), an unemployed resident of Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, on suspicion of robbery resulting in death. Between September 14 and 17, 2025, in a room of his apartment, he allegedly poured a hot liquid multiple times on Kenji Takahashi (58), an unemployed resident of Komae City, Tokyo, and assaulted him with punches and kicks, causing his death, and stole 19,000 yen in cash. Takarada denies the charges, claiming, ‘I only got my money back; it wasn’t robbery.’

Takarada had also been arrested and indicted in February on charges including violations of the Stimulants Control Act (use of illegal drugs),” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s society section.

On March 8, Takarada was sent to the prosecutors. When he had been sent to the prosecutors on February 22 for violations of the Stimulants Control Act, he had shown a brazen attitude, shrugging at the media. But this time, around 9 a.m., he appeared at the Setagaya Police Station’s transfer gate, covering his face with both hands and keeping his head down to prevent his face from being photographed.

Takarada and Takahashi reportedly met while serving time in prison. What exactly happened between the two? The society section reporter continues:

“Takahashi was living with Takarada at his apartment. Takarada claims, ‘I had lent Takahashi 500 million yen,’ but this has not been verified. On September 16, Takahashi withdrew cash from a convenience store ATM near the apartment, and Takarada was reportedly nearby.

Up to that point, Takarada had repeatedly confronted Takahashi and demanded money, allegedly taking at least 1 million yen from him.”

Around noon on September 17, Takahashi collapsed, prompting Takarada to call 119 himself, as mentioned at the beginning. Takahashi had suffered burns over his entire body and died about two hours later. The cause of death was thermal burns.

“At first, Takarada told the police, ‘Maybe a loan shark did this,’ denying involvement in Takahashi’s death. However, investigators found images on his smartphone suggesting he had poured hot water on Takahashi, which led the First Investigation Division to make an arrest,” said the same society section reporter.

Takarada continued to pour hot water on his victim until he died. What kind of person chooses pouring boiling water as a means of inflicting pain?

The burn area expanded day by day

Crime journalist and former Kanagawa Prefectural Police officer Taihei Ogawa explains:

“Unlike hitting or stabbing someone, pouring hot water inflicts a unique kind of pain and suffering. The perpetrator may have derived a perverse pleasure from that. He seems to have had abnormal tendencies. Continuing to pour boiling water until the victim dies shows a complete lack of limits. Normally, there would be some restraint—you’d stop before it could be fatal.

It appears he had a distorted sense of accomplishment, where overwhelming violence made his victims submit, letting him control them as he pleased.”

Security cameras near Takarada’s home reportedly captured the expanding burn areas on Takahashi’s body day by day. Ogawa points out that this reveals the dynamics of their relationship.

“These were life-threatening burns, so once examined at a hospital, the police would be alerted. It seems Takahashi was kept in a nearly confined state, unable to escape or receive treatment. Through extreme violence, a master-servant type of control may have been established.”

Despite meeting in prison and having a chance for mutual rehabilitation, Takahashi and Takarada ended up in a victim-perpetrator relationship this time.

Takarada continues to deny the charges, claiming he only got back the money he lent, but further investigation may reveal what really happened between the two.

Progress in the investigation is eagerly awaited.

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