Overview
- Tokyo police have cordoned Sauna Tiger in Akasaka and are searching the business on possible professional negligence resulting in death.
- Employees told investigators the emergency alarm system had been switched off since around 2023, and police said the room’s alarm had no power despite a broken cover suggesting attempts to use it.
- Firefighters found the wooden doorknob detached on both sides of the door, and the couple were discovered collapsed with their heads near the exit, indicating they could not open it.
- A burnt towel and charred seating were found in the third‑floor room; police say the towel may have ignited on hot stones, while an autopsy has not determined whether burns or hyperthermia caused the deaths.
- Sauna Tiger has closed for the time being, pledged cooperation and refunds, and prior records show an April 2023 inspection noted no major equipment deficiencies.