Follow-up: Tokyo Police state Pokémon Center stabber was victim’s ex-boyfriend, had been arrested multiple times for stalking

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) has released a slew of new information concerning yesterday’s fatal stabbing of an employee at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, inside the Sunshine City complex in Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo. The victim and perpetrator, who died by suicide, have both been identified, as well as their previous relationship and the perpetrator’s previous arrests.

Moe Harukawa, the 21-year-old Pokémon Center employee who was killed, resided in Western Tokyo with her family. Taiki Hirokawa, 26, stabbed her while working her part-time job at Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo on the evening of March 26th, then also stabbed himself. Both died within an hour of the incident at a nearby hospital.

TMPD is offering a brief history of Hirokawa’s stalking behavior, starting with his and Harukawa’s relationship. The department’s Personal Safety Measures Division reports the two were together from about October of 2024 until July of 2025, which is the same month Harukawa began working at the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. Some reports state that the break-up occurred when Harukawa left a job in a restaurant where she worked with Hirokawa to work at the Pokémon Center, and he discouraged her from doing so. This particular detail has not been confirmed by TMPD.

In December 2025, Harukawa filed her first statement with police regarding being stalked. TMPD arrested Hirokawa the same day for violating Japan’s Anti-stalking Act, specifically for watching the victim’s home. He was also charged at this time for violating Japan’s Firearm and Sword Possession Control Law, for being in possession of a knife with a blade 10 cm (about 4 inches) long. Hirokawa was also arrested on similar Anti-stalking Act charges in January of 2026 for covertly taking pictures of Harukawa with a smartphone in August of the previous year.

These three charges landed Hirokawa in police custody until January 30th, with a restraining order protecting Harukawa from him issued on January 29th. At TMPD’s direction, Harukawa stayed with a relative outside of Tokyo for about a month around this time. As police mentioned at the time of the attack, the Hachioji Police followed up with the victim by phone on January 30th, February 25th, and March 12th. She apparently reported no unusual behavior at these interviews.

Chief of TMPD’s Personal Safety Measures Division said:
We believe we took the best possible measures available.

The attack began at about 7:15 PM, when Hirokawa entered Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo alone. Reports currently differ as to whether the perpetrator held one knife or two, but TMPD states security footage shows him circling the store before the attack. Both the victim and perpetrator suffered multiple knife wounds to the neck. No other injuries are reported.

Stalking cases handled by police in Japan hit an all-time high in 2025, and related crimes, like illegal entry into a home, also saw spikes. Police received over 22,000 requests for consultation regarding stalking the same year, and more than 3,000 restraining orders were issued, another all-time high. According to TELL Japan, the country’s leading English-language mental health non-profit, the most common relationship between victims and stalkers is girlfriend/boyfriend, including exes, and 82.1% of perpetrators are men. The service encourages victims of stalking to plan for their safety and notify police, among other strategies.

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and its adjoining Pikachu Sweets café continue to be closed until further notice.

 

My condolences to the victim's family, friends, and coworkers.

 

My thoughts go out to Moe Harukawa's loved ones. Taiki Hirokawa will burn in hell for eternity.

 

This still breaks my heart. But i am glad that terrible person was arrested.

 

This still breaks my heart. But i am glad that terrible person was arrested.

"arrested"? I mean, I guess he didn't escape, but like... he died in the hospital. Can't exactly run in that state.

Anyway, seeing the male/female difference in perpetrators of stalking is... not surprising, but sobering. What a terrible world we live in.

 

My deepest condolences to the victim, her family, and her loved ones. As for the perpetrator, he can go fuck himself.

 

Stalking cases are rising globally. No excuse to take one's life because you can't control her anymore, let alone at her job in front of dozens of people.