Woman's Body Found in Freezer

Apr 25, 2025 | News On Japan

Shiga, Apr 25, 2025 (News On Japan) - A woman’s body discovered in a freezer at a residence in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, is now believed to have been concealed there for approximately four and a half years, police announced.

Earlier this month, police found the body of Mariko Nonaka inside a freezer at the home and arrested three men on suspicion of corpse abandonment: Koichiro Iwase, 72, his son Tatsuhiko, 49, who lived at the residence, and Nonaka’s husband, Hidenori, 63.

On April 23rd, prosecutors formally charged Hidenori, while police re-arrested Koichiro and Tatsuhiko on suspicion of injuring Nonaka by beating her.

Investigations suggest Nonaka was subjected to physical assault between August and September 2020. Follow-up interviews and findings now indicate she likely died around September 7th, shortly after the alleged assault, and was placed into the freezer within days. Authorities believe her body remained hidden there for more than four years.

Police have not disclosed whether the suspects have admitted to the charges. Investigators are also examining whether the assault is directly connected to Nonaka’s death.

Source: YOMIURI

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