Artemis Watch

Saitama school attacker admits to cat mutilations

The Saitama School Attack refers to an attempted murder incident at a junior high school in Toda, Saitama, on March 1, 2023.[1] The perpetrator, a 17-year-old male high school student, was thwarted by a 60-year-old male teacher, who sustained serious injuries while protecting his students.[1] An investigation revealed the student was responsible for a series of cat mutilations in Saitama City during February 2023, which he framed as a prelude to killing a person.[2]

Saitama School Attack and Cat Mutilations


Toda Shiritsu Misasa Junior High School, where the attack happened.

Key Details
Location Toda and Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Species Involved Cats
Type of Abuse Physical harm
Timeline
Date of Incident February–March 2023
Date Discovered —
Date Closed —
Status & Outcome
Case Status Perpetrator sentenced to a juvenile training school
Perpetrator 17-year-old male high school student
Aftermath —
Attempted murder suspect and cat abuser


—

Name Unnamed male high school student
Age 17 (at time of offense)
Occupation High school student
Known Identifiers Private
Status Incarcerated in a juvenile training school
Involvement Perpetrator of the February 2023 Saitama cat mutilations and the March 1, 2023, attack at Misasa Junior High School.
Punitive Measure Sent to a juvenile training school for long-term correctional education.

Precursor: Saitama cat mutilations

 
From TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN on Youtube, weeks before the school attack.

In February 2023, a series of gruesome discoveries of dismembered cat remains occurred across Saitama City, primarily in the Minami and Sakura wards.[3] The incidents prompted increased police patrols and safety alerts to local schools.[4] The perpetrator's modus operandi involved dismembering the cats with a sharp instrument and deliberately placing the remains in public areas.[3] Police noted a lack of blood at the discovery sites, indicating the animals were killed elsewhere before their parts were transported and displayed.[3]

 
From 東海テレビ NEWS ONE on Youtube, after the school attack.
Chronology of Cat Mutilation Incidents in Saitama City, February 2023
Date of Discovery Location Discovered Remains Key Forensic Notes
February 13, 2023 Arakawa Saiko Park, Minami Ward Two front paws of a white cat, placed on a park bench. Discovered by a park official.[2] The paws appeared to be intentionally and cleanly severed.[5]
February 16, 2023 Arakawa Saiko Park, Minami Ward A cat's torso, missing its jaw and hind legs. Found in a wooded area within the same park as the first discovery.[3]
February 17, 2023 Nishi-Urawa Elementary School, Minami Ward A cat's jaw, hung by a string from a horizontal bar (鉄棒) in the schoolyard. The school was closed early as a result of the discovery.[3]
February 26, 2023 (AM) Field in Kanda, Sakura Ward The lower half of a cat's body. No bloodstains were found at the scene.[3]
February 26, 2023 (PM) City road in Okubo Ryoke, Sakura Ward The upper half of a cat's body. Found approximately 300 meters from the morning's discovery; police believe it belonged to the same cat.[3]

The school attack

At around 12:20 PM on March 1, 2023, the 17-year-old suspect rode a bicycle to Toda Municipal Misasa Junior High School (戸田市立美笹中学校).[1] He entered through an unlocked main gate, deliberately choosing the noon hour when he believed students would be concentrated in their classrooms.[6]

The suspect proceeded to the third floor and attempted to force his way into a classroom where students were taking an exam.[1] The exam invigilator, a 60-year-old male teacher, intercepted the intruder, blocking his path.[6] During the ensuing struggle, the suspect stabbed the teacher repeatedly in his arms and abdomen.[1] Other staff members arrived to help subdue and disarm the attacker.[1] Police arrested the suspect at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.[6]

The teacher was hospitalized with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, and no students were physically harmed.[2] He later suffered from long-term effects, including paralysis in his left hand.[7]

The perpetrator was a 17-year-old student from Saitama City who had no connection to the school he attacked.[1] He told police his motive was a desire to "experience killing" and that he "wanted to kill someone and did not care who it was."[1]

 
The school attack suspect admitted to cat mutilations.

During questioning, the suspect confessed to the series of cat killings.[2] He stated he had "got tired of killing cats and gradually came to think only of wanting to break a person."[8]

On June 16, 2023, police referred the suspect to prosecutors for violating the Act on Welfare and Management of Animals, in addition to the attempted murder charge.[9] In September 2023, the Saitama Family Court issued a "protective disposition," sending the teenager to a juvenile training school for long-term correctional education.[7]

Aftermath

The attack prompted the Toda City government to overhaul safety measures at all 18 municipal schools.[10] The reforms included:

  • The deployment of qualified security guards.[10]
  • Installation of auto-locking gates and camera-linked intercoms.[11]
  • Upgrading perimeter fences and expanding surveillance camera coverage.[10]
  • Equipping schools with emergency alert systems and providing staff training on defensive equipment like the sasumata (さすまた).[10]

The injured teacher has advocated for improved institutional support for school staff who become victims of crime.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 (March 2, 2023). "Details emerge on teenage suspect in stabbing at Saitama school", The Japan Times. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/03/02/national/crime-legal/saitama-school-stabbing-details/
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 (March 2, 2023). "Japan high school student arrested for stabbing teacher, admits to mutilating multiple cats", The Straits Times. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-high-school-student-arrested-for-stabbing-teacher-admits-to-mutilating-multiple-cats
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 (February 27, 2023). "猫の死骸、上半身と下半身に分かれ、別々の場所で発見... 相次ぐ", Saitama Shimbun. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/16356/postDetail
  4. ↑ (March 2, 2023). "「サカキバラ事件って知ってますか?」“猫殺し”と戸田市中学校侵入", Bunshun Online. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://bunshun.jp/articles/-/61040
  5. ↑ (February 17, 2023). "「猫の一部がぶら下がっている」 小学校の鉄棒に“あご”が... 公園では“切断された前足”2本がベンチに", FNN Prime Online. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.fnn.jp/articles/-/487929
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 (March 1, 2023). "Teen arrested for allegedly stabbing teacher in school near Tokyo", Xinhua. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://english.news.cn/20230301/4600e3a43ac74dbd9f4a5010929c98c6/c.html
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 (September 1, 2023). "あの日、教室で... 生徒守り負傷の男性教諭、教壇復帰も残るまひ 同僚も心に傷/戸田・中学校刺傷(上)", Saitama Shimbun. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/36312/postDetail
  8. ↑ (March 2, 2023). "過去の少年事件とも“共通点 ...17歳高校生が教員に切りつけた殺人未遂事件 犯罪心理学の専門家の見解は", YouTube. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rnaYvk0od0
  9. ↑ (October 8, 2023). "こちら", 神戸市人と猫との共生推進協議会. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://kobeneko-happy.com/pdf/20231008shiryo.pdf
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 (March 30, 2023). "事件発生からこれまでに対応した主な取組", Toda City. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.city.toda.saitama.jp/uploaded/attachment/58887.pdf
  11. ↑ (November 14, 2023). "小中学校をオートロックに... 戸田市「最善を」刺傷事件の美笹中はすでに対応 来年度中に市立17校も完了へ", Saitama Shimbun. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/42508/postDetail
  12. ↑ (July 13, 2024). "命を賭けて生徒を守る教師にサポート体制を!! 【埼玉県南部戸田市 美笹中ナイフ事件】", 選挙ドットコム. Retrieved September 8, 2025from https://go2senkyo.com/seijika/75891/posts/843488
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