MIYAGI - A 36-year-old Tokyo bar owner was arrested on October 5 on suspicion of abandoning the body of his 25-year-old girlfriend in a mountainous area of Miyagi Prefecture, with police also investigating whether he was involved in her death.
The suspect, Takuya Miura, lives in Tokyo's Nerima Ward and operates a bar. He is suspected of disposing of the body of Maho Muroga, 25, in the mountains of Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, on September 28.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, Miura and Muroga were in a relationship and had been living together at an apartment in Nerima Ward.
The case came to light after Muroga's mother contacted police, saying she had been unable to reach her daughter since September 27.
Muroga's body was found on October 4 in a mountainous area of Kurihara, about 350 kilometers from the couple's home in Nerima Ward. A plastic bag had been placed around the area of her head, although police said there were no obvious external injuries.
Investigative sources said Miura is believed to have used his own vehicle to transport and dispose of Muroga's body.
Customers at Miura's bar expressed surprise at his arrest. One customer said, "I only had the impression that he was a kind person. Frankly, I can't believe it." Asked whether Miura had ever appeared emotional in his everyday behavior, the customer said, "I didn't think he was the type of person who would become emotional."
However, a nearby resident said she had previously heard what sounded like an argument involving a young woman.
"Two or three months ago, a young woman was speaking very loudly on her phone and sounded angry with the person she was talking to," the resident said. "I had wondered about it until today. Now I wonder whether it was connected to this case."
Miura has denied the allegation during questioning by the Metropolitan Police Department, telling investigators, "I don't remember."
Police are investigating what happened between the couple and suspect Miura may also have been involved in Muroga's death.
