High school staffer arrested in Japan over killing of dozens of hamsters at love hotels

Tokyo, Japan A 36-year-old high school staffer has been arrested after Japanese police said he killed about 30 hamsters at a hotel in the northern Iwate region, weeks after being detained over a separate incident in which he and another woman were accused of killing about 20 hamsters.

Allegations at so‑called “love hotels”

Police told AFP the incidents took place at love hotels, short-stay lodgings meant for couples. The man is accused of carrying out the killings in late March in collusion with a 20-year-old woman; both were arrested, a senior police official, Hiroyuki Nasu of Miyako city, Iwate, told AFP.

Evidence recovered

Officers confiscated the man’s smartphone, which police say contained videos of the killings and text messages between him and the 20-year-old that showed them planning the act. Nasu quoted one message as asking:

“Where are we going to kill the hamsters and have fun?”

Earlier detention and ongoing probe

The man was first detained in July over a separate episode dating to February, in which police say he and a 19-year-old woman killed about 20 hamsters. Nasu told AFP that police will continue investigating to determine whether the man committed other similar acts.

Legal context

Police said the killings violated animal protection laws. The investigation and any potential charges follow standard criminal procedures as described by the authorities to AFP.

What police disclosed

• The suspect is a 36-year-old high school staffer from Iwate.
• Police allege about 30 hamsters were killed in late March with a 20-year-old woman.
• The suspect had previously been detained in July over a February incident involving about 20 hamsters and a 19-year-old woman.
• Investigators recovered videos and text messages on the suspect’s smartphone.
• Authorities said they will continue examining whether there are further similar acts.