On December 29, around noon, a violent incident shook Tokyo's Shinjuku district. At a residential building in Takadanobaba 4-chome, a woman in her 30s – the manager of a local beauty salon – was stabbed multiple times in the chest, arm and back while walking through a second-floor hallway. Despite being badly injured, she remained conscious and was taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed that her condition was stable and not life-threatening.
According to the victim, the attacker was a regular customer who visited the salon many times. Eyewitnesses described the suspect as a man in his 30s, about 175 cm tall, with a slim build, dressed in black from head to toe with a hat and a backpack. After the attack, he ran away from the spot with a knife.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police immediately launched an investigation, tracking the suspect through street cameras. They first took a taxi to Shinjuku Station, then boarded a train headed to Chiba. By 9:30 that evening, authorities arrested him at a restaurant in Mihama Ward, Chiba City.
The man was identified as Zhu, a 35-year-old Chinese national living in Hanamigawa Ward, Chiba. His occupation remains unclear.
Japanese media reported that Zhu had been visiting the salon since August 2025. Tension had arisen between him and the manager due to a dispute over service charges and payments.
Police arrested Zhu on suspicion of attempted murder. During questioning, he responded in Japanese, saying only that he would "remain silent."
The attack took place in a regular apartment building near Takadanobaba Station, where the salon is on the second floor. The shop offers beauty and nail services and is not a nightlife business.
On the day of the incident, the victim returned to the salon and saw Zhu waiting in the hallway. He suddenly attacked her, but despite several wounds, she managed to escape to the street below and call for help.
Takadanobaba is a busy student and business area, and violent crimes such as this are rare. Residents expressed surprise, with some saying they had seen blood near the entrance of the building before police sealed the site for investigation.
Officials believe that Zhu may have taken this step out of anger or dissatisfaction over allegations of non-payment of fees. The exact motive is still under investigation.
