Physiotherapist arrested after knife attack that left four injured in Saiki, Oita, Japan

A serious incident of violence shocked the city of Saiki, Oita Prefecture, Japan, on Tuesday, July 13, 2026. At around 9:40 am, police received a 110 emergency call reporting multiple people stabbed with a kitchen knife. The incident happened in the parking lot and on the street of the TSUTAYA Saiki store, located in Kijima-cho. In total, four individuals, aged between 16 and 84, were affected, two of which are in serious condition. Authorities at the Saiki Police Station in Oita detailed the situation of the injured. Two men, one aged 84 and the other aged 63, both residents of Saiki, were hospitalized with serious puncture wounds to the chest and other areas of the body. In addition to them, a 16-year-old high school student and a 61-year-old self-employed worker presented milder injuries, affecting the neck and other areas. After the attack, the 110 emergency service received another call, this time from a nearby medical center, warning of the presence of a person with a knife. Local police acted quickly, arresting 44-year-old Hiroshi Noshita at the scene, identified as a physiotherapist and resident of Nagashima-cho, Saiki City, Aichi Prefecture. The arrest occurred for violating the Swords and Firearms Control Law, as he was carrying a kitchen knife with an approximately 18 cm blade without proper justification. The suspect admitted having committed the crime. The Saiki Police Station considers Noshita the main suspect in the stabbing case at the TSUTAYA Saiki store and continues with the investigation to charge him with attempted murder. A TSUTAYA Saiki employee, aged around 40, reported that three of the victims ran inside the store looking for help. According to their testimony, the injured said they had been attacked “out of nowhere” and that they had no prior relationship or knowledge of the attacker. The parking area where the crime took place was the scene of great commotion and confusion shortly after the incident, with the arrival of authorities and rescue teams. The same TSUTAYA Saiki employee, who followed the events through the establishment’s internal security cameras, confirmed that the three victims sought refuge inside the location individually. She reiterated that those attacked mentioned having been “suddenly stabbed” by the individual and were unaware of his identity. Regarding the condition of the victims, she assured that, despite their injuries, they were all conscious, able to communicate and walk without assistance.