Stabbing of Mayu Tomita

Iwazaki, a fan of Tomita, had sent multiple "obsessive comments" to her blog and Twitter account.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36352495 | title=Japanese pop star in critical condition after knife attack by fan | work=BBC News | date=2016-05-22 | accessdate=2019-01-24}} He reportedly sent her some books and a watch.{{cite news | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/02/28/national/crime-legal/stalker-gets-14-year-prison-term-stabbing-pop-idol/#.XEn_heTsaUk | title=Stalker gets 14-year prison term for stabbing pop idol | work=The Japan Times | date=2017-02-28 | accessdate=2019-01-24}} The watch was sent between January and February 2016, and it was returned to the sender in April, after which he sent her around 400 hostile tweets. Tomita then blocked him on Twitter at the end of April.{{cite news | first=Yuriko | last=Izutani | url=https://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2016/05/23/kito-stalker_n_10102830.html | title=【元アイドル刺傷】ストーカー規制法はSNS対象外、「警察は対策怠った」と紀藤正樹弁護士 | language=ja | work=The Huffington Post | date=2016-05-23 | accessdate=2022-05-26}} 12 days before the attack,{{cite news | first=Walter | last=Sim | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/police-apologise-to-japanese-pop-idol-for-inaction-after-she-was-stabbed-over-20 | title=Police apologise to Japanese pop idol for inaction after she was stabbed over 20 times by stalker | work=The Straits Times | date=2017-02-28 | accessdate=2019-01-24}} Tomita had contacted the police at the station near her home in Musashino, Tokyo out of fear for her safety, but the police dismissed the case, believing his social media messages were not an immediate threat. In addition, anti-stalking laws in Japan did not include harassment on social media at the time.

On May 21, 2016, around 5:05 PM JST, Iwazaki confronted Tomita in front of a small concert venue near a train station before an event titled Solid Girls Night Vol. 11{{cite tweet | first=Mayu | last=Tomita |user=tomitamayu |number=733878507202170881 |date=2016-05-21 |title=さて、今日だよっ🙌🏼出番は、私の計算が正しければ21:00〜です…！19:00スタートのひと組30分の5番目だから、合っていると思うのだけれど…。お待ちしておりますーっ😋😋 |language=ja |link=https://twitter.com/tomitamayu/status/733878507202170881 |access-date=2019-01-24}} in Koganei, Tokyo, where she would have been performing later that evening with other singers. Iwazaki had asked her why she returned the gifts he sent her, but stated that he "lost control" when Tomita did not give him a clear explanation. When Tomita turned around, he stabbed her from behind in chest and neck area 61 times with a pocket knife containing a 8.2 cm blade.{{cite magazine | first=Rob | last=Schwartz | url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7378459/j-pop-idol-mayu-tomita-stabbed-tokyo | title=J-Pop Idol Mayu Tomita Stabbed by Fan in Tokyo | magazine=Billboard | date=2016-05-23 | accessdate=2019-01-24}}{{cite news | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/02/20/national/crime-legal/tokyo-man-pleads-guilty-stabbing-pop-singer-koganei-last-may/#.XEoqX-TsaUk | title=Tokyo man pleads guilty to stabbing pop singer in Koganei last May | work=The Japan Times | date=2017-02-20 | accessdate=2019-01-23}} Prosecutors alleged that he had yelled, "You should die, die, die!" as he stabbed her. Eyewitnesses called the police after hearing Tomita scream for help, and Iwazaki was arrested. Iwazaki told the police that he "intended to kill" Tomita and had prepared a knife beforehand.{{cite news | url=http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2016052201001189.html | title=逮捕の男「贈り物返され憤慨」 アイドル刺傷事件、事前に計画か | language=ja | work=Tokyo Shimbun | date=2016-05-23 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523103012/http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/s/article/2016052201001189.html | archive-date=2016-05-23 | access-date=2019-01-23}} When Tomita had called the police before being stabbed, the emergency dispatcher had sent the police to her home instead of tracing the location of her cell phone.{{cite news | url=https://www.sankei.com/affairs/news/160525/afr1605250004-n1.html | title=冨田真由さん本人の１１０番 警視庁とつながった「１０分間」の通話、その間に襲撃 | language=ja | work=Sankei Shimbun | date=2016-05-25 | accessdate=2019-01-24}}

Tomita was in critical condition but sustained no damage on her vital organs, and she regained consciousness on June 7, 2016.{{cite news | url=https://www.sanspo.com/geino/news/20160607/tro16060723550012-n1.html | title=冨田真由さん、意識回復 ファンの男に刺され重体 | language=ja | work=Sankei Sports | date=2016-06-07 | accessdate=2019-01-23}} Tomita suffered from 34 stab wounds on her face, neck, back, and arms.{{cite news | first=Walter | last=Sim | url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/stalker-who-stabbed-japanese-pop-idol-dozens-of-times-jailed-1412-years | title=Stalker who stabbed Japanese pop idol dozens of times jailed 14½ years | work=The Straits Times | date=2017-02-28 | accessdate=2019-01-24}} She was also partially blinded in her left eye and had problems eating and singing. In addition, Tomita could not use her fingers and it is unknown when she can continue her music career. Tomita also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. She was released from the hospital in September 2016.

On December 17, 2016, Tomita criticized the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department for dismissing her initial concerns. The police issued a formal apology to Tomita for not taking action.

{{Redirect|Mayu Tomita|the singer from AKB48|List of former members of AKB48}}{{Distinguish|Miyu Tomita}}

{{nihongo|Mayu Tomita|冨田真由|Tomita Mayu|born October 12, 1995}}{{cite web | url=http://www.horiagency.co.jp/web_data/talentfiles/tomita_1.html | title=冨田 真由 | trans-title=Mayu Tomita | language=ja | work=Hori Agency | accessdate=2021-01-20 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702172728/http://www.horiagency.co.jp/web_data/talentfiles/tomita_1.html | archivedate=2014-07-02}} is a Japanese singer and actress. In 2011, she starred in Fuji TV's web drama Secret Girls, featuring a group of middle school girls who lead a double life as members of an in-show Japanese idol girl group of the same name. Tomita was cast as Ai "Eye" Takano and performed as the character along with the rest of Secret Girls at music events.{{cite news | url=https://weekly.ascii.jp/elem/000/000/050/50455/ | title=『シークレットガールズ』の初ステージに密着！ メンバー独占インタビュー | language=ja | work=ASCII Media Works | date=2011-07-26 | accessdate=2019-01-23}} Their self-titled single, "Secret Girls", was released on March 21, 2012 and charted at #22 on Oricon's Weekly Singles Chart.{{cite web | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/558608/products/956752/1/ | title=Secret girls(初回限定盤) | language=ja | work=Oricon | accessdate=2019-01-24}} She also made minor appearances in other films and television shows, such as Kamen Rider Fourze.{{cite news | url=https://www.sankei.com/affairs/news/160522/afr1605220005-n1.html | title=ブログに「女優さんになりたい」と冨田真由さん 交流拡大で距離感見失うファン相次ぐ | language=ja | work=Sankei Shimbun | date=2016-05-22 | accessdate=2019-11-11}} At the time of the attack, Tomita was also a third-year college student at Asia University majoring in business.{{cite news | url=https://www.sankei.com/affairs/news/170318/afr1703180002-n1.html | title=大学生の冨田真由さん刺傷 被告に感じた"犯行への満足感" 被害者との関係構築に喜び？ 反省の言葉、心に全く響かず | language=ja | work=Sankei Shimbun | date=2017-03-18 | accessdate=2019-01-24}}{{cite news | url=https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2016/05/23/kiji/K20160523012640870.html | title=冨田真由さん 大学で経営専攻、学生募集のパンフレットにも登場 | language=ja | work=Sankei Shimbun | date=2016-05-23 | accessdate=2022-05-26}}

{{nihongo|Tomohiro Iwazaki|岩崎友宏|Iwazaki Tomohiro|born 1988 or 1989}} was 27 years old at the time of stabbing.{{cite news | url=https://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/1651528.html | title=アイドル刺した岩埼容疑者…柔道得意、庭師目指す | language=ja | work=Nikkan Sports | date=2016-05-22 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613230412/https://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/1651528.html | archive-date=2016-06-13 | access-date=2019-01-24}} Iwazaki's older brother described him as "unskilled in expressing his emotions" but had a "gentle, child-like nature." He also mentioned that Iwazaki did not have many known friends.

At one point in time, Iwazaki was infatuated with model Ai Hashimoto, but he lost interest in her after she publicly stated she had once regularly watched romantic pornography.{{cite news | first=Roland | last=Shichijo | url=https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/breaking/tokyo-court-hands-defendant-in-mayu-tomita-stabbing-14-5-years-in-prison | title=Tokyo court hands defendant in Mayu Tomita stabbing 14.5 years in prison | work=Tokyo Reporter | date=2017-03-02 | accessdate=2022-05-26}} This led him to declare on his blog that women who appear in pornography should "commit suicide." Iwazaki had also appeared in one of Yui Hatano's pornographic films, titled Real Amateurs on a Virgin Graduation Bus Tour. Iwazaki had been a fan of Tomita after watching her shows and had expressed a desire to marry her.

Trials began on February 20, 2017.{{cite news | url=https://www.nikkansports.com/general/nikkan/news/1785695.html | title=冨田真由さん判決聞き絶句 親族控訴の希望伝える | language=ja | work=Nikkan Sports | date=2017-03-01 | accessdate=2019-01-23}} On the first day of trial, prosecutors read a note from Tomita to the court reading, "I want the criminal to die. If you cannot do that, I want him to be locked up for the rest of his life." Iwazaki admitted attacking Tomita, but his defense team claimed that he only did so out of frustration of her ignoring him, and that he had no intent to kill. Furthermore, they claimed that Iwazaki had tried to contact the police after the attack. Tomita's mother testified on February 21.

On February 23, Tomita made her first public appearance since the stabbing and spoke from behind a partition that shielded her from the people in the courtroom. In response to her testimony, Iwazaki shouted, "Then you should kill me", and, "I wasn't actually going to kill you", which caused him to be removed from the room.

Public prosecutors sought a prison term of 17 years. On February 28, the court instead sentenced Iwazaki to 14 years and 6 months in prison.

On July 11, 2019, Tomita launched a lawsuit against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, her former agent, and Iwazaki, seeking {{JPY|76 million}} in damages for failing to provide adequate protection prior to the stabbing.{{cite news | first1=Yoko | last1=Wakatsuki | first2=Julia | last2=Hollingsworth | url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/12/asia/japan-mayu-tomita-sues-stalking-intl-hnk/index.html | title=Japanese pop star Mayu Tomita sues government for inaction over stalker who stabbed her | work=CNN | date=2019-07-12 | accessdate=2019-07-17}}{{cite news | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/07/11/national/crime-legal/ex-pop-idol-mayu-tomita-files-%C2%A576-million-lawsuit-tokyo-metropolitan-government-attacker/ | title=Ex-pop idol Mayu Tomita files ¥76 million lawsuit against Tokyo Metropolitan Government and attacker | work=The Japan Times | date=2019-07-11 | accessdate=2019-07-17}}

Tomita's stabbing has led the National Diet to revise their anti-stalking laws in December 2016 to include online harassment on social media, which led to the arrest of 32-year-old Akihiro Fukushima for sending death threats to voice actress and singer Nana Mizuki over Twitter. Along with the 2014 incident where AKB48 members were attacked by a man with a saw during their handshake meeting, Tomita's stabbing has been frequently used as an example of stalker-related assaults on Japanese idols.{{cite news | url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/entame/entertainment/1243711/ | title=【ＮＧＴ山口真帆暴行事件】アイドル防衛の実情 | language=ja | work=Tokyo Sports | date=2019-01-10 | accessdate=2019-01-24}}{{cite news| first1=Eriko | last1=Jozuka | first2=Yoko | last2=Yakatsuki|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/16/asia/japanese-pop-idol-sexual-assault-apology-bullying-intl/index.html|title=Why a pop idol's stand against her assault sparked outrage in Japan|work=CNN|date=2019-01-16|accessdate=2019-01-23}}

In 2017, animation director Yutaka Yamamoto condemned Iwazaki on his blog, but he also believed Tomita was at fault for rejecting his gifts and should have been prepared to defend herself.{{cite news| first=Lynzee | last=Loveridge |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-03-01/wake-up-girls-yutaka-yamamoto-criticizes-attacked-idol/.112830|title=Wake-Up Girls! Yutaka Yamamoto Criticizes Attacked Idol|work=Anime News Network|date=2017-03-01|accessdate=2019-05-01}} After receiving backlash for his comments, Yamamoto responded to the criticism by mentioning there was a double standard in the public, where they would care more about a "cute idol" than a "dirty middle-aged man."{{cite news| first=Jennifer | last=Sherman |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-03-06/yamakan-discusses-criticism-of-his-comments-about-idol-stabbing/.113048|title=Yamakan Discusses Criticism of His Comments About Idol Stabbing|work=Anime News Network|date=2017-03-06|accessdate=2019-05-01}}

• {{annotated link|2014 AKB48 handsaw assault}}
• {{annotated link|Assault of Maho Yamaguchi}}

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Category:2016 crimes in Japan

Category:Incidents of violence against women

Category:Stabbing attacks in 2016

Category:Knife attacks in Japan

Category:Violence against women in Japan

Category:Attacks in Asia in 2016

Category:May 2016 in Japan

Category:May 2016 crimes in Asia