Sapporo arrests 58‑year‑old over teen threats and 52‑year‑old for kidnapping and sexual assault

Police in Sapporo arrested a 58‑year‑old restaurant owner after he allegedly placed threatening letters in the mailboxes of two 19‑year‑old university and vocational students living in the same apartment complex in Kita Ward. The letters, delivered between mid‑October 2025 and mid‑June 2026, warned the youths of imminent harm and urged caution. The suspect partially denied recalling the content of the notes, and investigators are examining his motive and any related incidents.

Separately, a 52‑year‑old advertising contractor was taken into custody for allegedly abducting a teenage girl in Higashi Ward, using messages sent via social media in early May 2026. He is accused of transporting the victim to a building he owned and committing indecent sexual acts. The perpetrator admitted to the accusations, and the case was reported after the victim’s relatives alerted police.

Both arrests were reported by local media outlets and are being investigated by Sapporo police.