The Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa is closed after an employee allegedly told police he burned his wife's body in the park's animal incinerator. The woman has been missing since late March; police were alerted when a friend filed a missing-person report last week. The suspect, reported to be in his 30s, voluntarily spoke with investigators and reportedly admitted to burning the remains for several hours. Local officials have postponed the zoo's summer opening while searches and investigations continue.
Asahiyama Zoo Closed After Worker Allegedly Burned Wife in On-Site Incinerator, Police Say
Asahiyama ZooCredit: The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
An Asahiyama Zoo employee in Asahikawa has reportedly told police he burned his wife's body in an on-site incinerator used for animal carcasses, prompting an active police investigation and the temporary closure of the popular park.
Local and international outlets — including the BBC, The Japan Times, Hokkaido Television Broadcasting and The Asahi Shimbun — report that the woman has been missing since late March. Authorities say they were alerted only after a friend filed a missing-person report last Thursday, and police later questioned the employee.
Authorities investigate the scene at the Asahiyama Zoo in JapanCredit: The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images
According to Hokkaido Television Broadcasting and other Japanese media, the employee voluntarily spoke with investigators and told police he had "disposed of the body in the zoo's incinerator and burned it for several hours." Japanese media identify the suspect as a man in his 30s. Authorities have not released the names of the suspect or the missing woman as the investigation continues.
The Asahiyama Zoo — which opened in 1967 and is one of Japan's most visited zoological parks because of its distinctive enclosures and exhibits — was due to open for the summer season this week. Instead, the facility remains closed while police search the grounds and the surrounding area for remains and evidence. The Asahi Shimbun reported the zoo will stay closed at least through May 1.
Visitors at the Asahiyama Zoo in Nov. 2020Credit: Kyodo via AP Images
"No one could have predicted it. I am overcome with immense anxiety, and I am facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude," Asahikawa Mayor Hirosuke Imazu said at a news briefing, calling the situation an "unprecedented crisis" for local authorities and the municipal government.
Local officials say investigative work and searches are ongoing and that details remain limited while police continue inquiries on site. Authorities have urged anyone with information about the disappearance to contact local police as the probe progresses.
Sources: BBC, The Japan Times, The Asahi Shimbun, Hokkaido Television Broadcasting, People.
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