A zoo worker in northern Japan has been arrested on suspicion of disposing of his wife’s body in an incinerator used for animal carcasses. Suzuki Tatsuya, 33, an employee at Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa, was taken into custody after investigators discovered what appeared to be human remains in the facility’s incinerator.
Authorities allege the remains belong to his wife, identified only as Yui, 33, and that he burned the body around 31 March. The investigation began after a relative reported the woman missing in April. Police said the suspect had previously threatened his wife, saying he would burn her until nothing remained, according to The Japan Times. “It’s true,” he reportedly told police during interrogation.
The incident delayed the zoo’s opening for the summer season. It had been closed for maintenance on 8 April and was scheduled to reopen on 29 April, but due to the ongoing investigation, the zoo finally opened to the public on 1 May. Mayor Hirosuke Imazu called it an “unprecedented crisis,” adding, “No one could have predicted it. I am overcome with immense anxiety, and I am facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude.”
Despite the incident, local reports indicated a long queue outside the gates on Friday morning. Several visitors said they had been following updates closely and decided to proceed with their plans. One unnamed visitor told The Asahi Shimbun: “It is sad that the actions of a single person could tarnish the impression of the entire zoo. I hope it keeps doing its best just as before and welcomes animal lovers like me.”
The zoo said it received several hundred messages of support from the public. One message described the zoo as a treasure of Asahikawa, while another encouraged staff: “For the sake of the animals, I hope all of you will get through this together.” The mayor acknowledged the support, stating: “Drawing strength from the encouragement we have received, we will continue, as we always have, to firmly convey the vibrancy of the animals’ lives.”
Asahiyama Zoo, which opened in 1967, attracts over a million visitors annually and is known for its distinctive enclosures, such as glass domes and overhead cages that allow close-up views of animals. The motive for the alleged crime remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing.
