Japanese Police Investigate Suspected Corpse Abandonment; Asahiyama Zoo Delays Opening
Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido has delayed its seasonal opening to May 1st after an employee allegedly confessed to abandoning his wife's body in the park's incinerator.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 16:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 17:02 (32 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 17:10 (8 min after Collected)
Japanese police continued their search today at the home of a male employee of the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, following his claims of abandoning his wife's body within the zoo premises. Impacted by this event, the Asahikawa city government has decided to postpone the zoo's opening until May 1st.
Mayor Hirosuke Imazu explained in a press conference that it was a 'difficult decision' that causes significant inconvenience to tourists who planned to visit on the 29th and 30th, and offered an apology as the facility's manager.
The zoo was originally closed from the 8th to the 28th of this month for maintenance and was scheduled to reopen on the 29th. However, after the employee confessed earlier this month to abandoning the body in the incinerator, Hokkaido police launched a search for suspected corpse abandonment.
Mayor Imazu noted that the two-day delay would affect restaurants and shops within the zoo. He stated that the city would evaluate compensation for food procurement and labor costs to protect the livelihoods of the operators and staff.
According to Hokkaido Broadcasting (HBC), police continued to collect evidence at the suspect's residence today. Investigation sources revealed that before his wife went missing, the suspect had allegedly threatened her, saying he would 'burn everything until nothing is left.'
While police have nearly finished searching the area around the incinerator, no evidence of the wife's fate has been found yet. Authorities are currently investigating whether the incinerator was actually used by the suspect.
Mayor Hirosuke Imazu explained in a press conference that it was a 'difficult decision' that causes significant inconvenience to tourists who planned to visit on the 29th and 30th, and offered an apology as the facility's manager.
The zoo was originally closed from the 8th to the 28th of this month for maintenance and was scheduled to reopen on the 29th. However, after the employee confessed earlier this month to abandoning the body in the incinerator, Hokkaido police launched a search for suspected corpse abandonment.
Mayor Imazu noted that the two-day delay would affect restaurants and shops within the zoo. He stated that the city would evaluate compensation for food procurement and labor costs to protect the livelihoods of the operators and staff.
According to Hokkaido Broadcasting (HBC), police continued to collect evidence at the suspect's residence today. Investigation sources revealed that before his wife went missing, the suspect had allegedly threatened her, saying he would 'burn everything until nothing is left.'
While police have nearly finished searching the area around the incinerator, no evidence of the wife's fate has been found yet. Authorities are currently investigating whether the incinerator was actually used by the suspect.