A violent incident occurred Thursday evening at the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Ikebukuro, resulting in the deaths of a female employee and an unidentified male assailant. The event took place within the Sunshine City Mall, one of the most frequented shopping destinations in Japan's capital.
At approximately 7:15 p.m. local time, a man in his 20s entered the retail location armed with knives in both hands. Witnesses reported the man bypassed the public area to go behind the service counter, where he attacked a female employee, also in her 20s, inflicting a fatal wound to her neck.
Immediately following the assault, the man turned the weapon on himself and sustained a self-inflicted neck wound. Emergency responders arrived on the scene as staff worked to evacuate dozens of customers, including many families and children, from the flagship store.
Both the victim and the attacker were transported to a nearby hospital in an unconscious state. Medical officials pronounced both individuals dead within an hour of their arrival at the facility.
Initial reports from law enforcement indicate that the female victim had previously contacted police to report concerns regarding stalking. Investigators are currently working to determine if the assailant was the individual mentioned in those prior reports or if there was a known connection between the two parties.
The Pokémon Company issued a statement confirming that both the Mega Tokyo store and the adjacent Pikachu Sweets café will remain closed until further notice. The company stated it will provide full cooperation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department while offering mental health support to its employees.
Sunshine City Mall remained under heavy police presence throughout the evening as forensic teams collected evidence from the cordoned-off scene. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate the motive behind the attack. Public reaction in the Ikebukuro district has been characterized by shock and mourning as the community processes the event.