Japanese Court Sentences Man to Death for 2023 Quadruple Murder in Rare Gun and Knife Attack

Published: 14 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A Japanese court has handed down a death sentence to Masanori Aoki, 34, for the brutal killing of four people in a combined gun and knife attack in Nakano city in 2023, dismissing the defence’s claim that he suffers from schizophrenia. The case has drawn attention due to the rarity of gun violence in Japan and the exceptional severity of the crime.

According to court reports, Aoki first stabbed two women who were taking a walk before opening fire on two police officers who had responded to an emergency call. The officers were shot with a hunting rifle, an act almost unheard of in Japan, where strict gun control laws and rigorous licensing requirements make civilian firearm possession rare. Experts note that the last incident involving multiple police officers being shot occurred more than three decades ago.

The defence had argued for a life sentence, citing Aoki’s “diminished capacity” due to schizophrenia. Prosecutors acknowledged that Aoki had delusional thoughts, but contended that he committed the murders in a deliberate fit of rage, fully aware of right and wrong at the time. The prosecution emphasized the “exceptional cruelty and cold-bloodedness” demonstrated during the attack.

Reports indicate that Aoki, wearing a camouflage uniform, hat, sunglasses, and a mask, believed the women were speaking ill of him. It remains unclear whether he personally knew the victims. Following the attack, he barricaded himself in his parents’ home for 12 hours before surrendering to authorities. His father, Masamichi Aoki, serves as the speaker of Nakano city’s assembly. Local authorities had urged residents to stay indoors while updates were provided via email, public loudspeakers, and door-to-door alerts.

In the aftermath of the attack, Japan tightened gun ownership regulations, particularly regarding “half-rifles” such as the hunting rifle used by Aoki, reflecting the country’s ongoing efforts to prevent firearm-related crimes. Japan’s stringent firearm laws and rigorous mental health screenings for prospective gun owners underscore the extraordinary nature of this attack, alongside other rare incidents, including the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The court’s ruling marks one of the few instances in modern Japanese history where a perpetrator of multiple murders involving firearms and knives has received the death penalty, highlighting the nation’s uncompromising stance on such violent crimes. The decision also underscores the ongoing debate around mental health defences in criminal cases and the responsibilities of individuals with severe psychiatric conditions.