Japan inn operator who rarely changed bathwater dies in suspected suicide

Makoto Yamada came under fire for only changing the hot spring bathwater at his ryokan-style inn twice a year, allowing bacteria to proliferate

He was was found dead by a passerby on a mountain road on Sunday. Police say a suicide note found in a nearby car read: ‘I am very sorry’

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An onsen at Daimaru Besso in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. An inspection of the ryokan in November found levels of bacteria 3,700 times over the allowable limit. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:09am, 13 Mar 2023

The former head of the operator of an inn in southwestern Japan, who came under fire for only changing hot spring bathwater twice a year, allowing legionella bacteria to proliferate beyond the allowable limit, has died in a suspected suicide, police said.

Makoto Yamada, 70, was found dead by a passerby on a mountain road in the city on Sunday morning, with a suicide note discovered in a nearby car, the police said. After admitting the misconduct in February, Yamada resigned as head of the operator of Daimaru Besso, the century-old ryokan-style inn in Chikushino, Fukuoka prefecture.

According to the police, the note read, “I am very sorry. I feel morally responsible for everything. Please take care of the rest.”

Police searched the inn on Friday, suspecting it had falsely reported to the Fukuoka prefectural government that it had properly changed the bathwater and added chlorine after an inspection in August last year found legionella at twice the allowable limit.

An additional inspection in November found the level of bacteria had skyrocketed to 3,700 times over the limit. The prefecture filed a criminal complaint Wednesday for suspected Public Bath Houses Act violations, prompting the police to investigate.