Overview

• Kanagawa Prefectural Police released a verification report acknowledging they missed chances to protect victim Asahi Okazaki and allowed their stalking and DV response system to atrophy, with the police chief apologizing.
• Authorities sanctioned 43 people, an unusually large number that includes the prefectural police chief; penalties ranged from oral reprimands by the National Police Agency to pay cuts and warnings within the prefecture.
• The National Police Agency said it will strengthen guidance, verify implementation across prefectural forces, and hold an emergency meeting of police chiefs to act on standardized reforms and establish clear command roles.
• In Gifu, investigators plan to re-arrest two suspects on murder charges tied to an alleged August 6 killing and August 7 body disposal, according to investigative sources, though the pair deny the allegations.
• Separate developments advanced nationwide: the Nagano four-murder trial opened with the defendant remaining silent as mental competency is contested; JR East reported a Joetsu Line derailment that halted service between Numata and Minakami; and Shiga police forwarded an Otsu high-rise couple case to prosecutors with the son already deceased.