bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Fran Lu

Concerns about Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking have emerged in Japan after a pregnant woman was allegedly tracked down and murdered by her ex-boyfriend using a GPS device hidden in a toy.
The death of Haruka Komatsumoto, a 31-year-old manicurist who was allegedly beaten on the head and stabbed in the neck by her ex-boyfriend in her own flat on December 31, 2025, has shocked many people.
The alleged killing has become a widely discussed topic in the country.
Komatsumoto reportedly suffered from bruises on her arms in an attempt to protect her baby. No property was stolen.
On January 21, the police in Ibaraki prefecture arrested the suspect, Komatsumoto’s 28-year-old ex-boyfriend, Takumi Ouchi.

They dated for less than a year and split in 2024.
He reportedly harassed her with phone calls and messages trying to get back together, forcing the victim to block him.
The man then tried to find out the address of her flat, where she lives together with her husband, whose child she was pregnant with.
A few days ahead of Komatsumoto’s death, a plush toy addressed to her arrived at her parents’ home.
It was sent in the name of an entertainment park, with a letter indicating that it was a lucky draw prize.
The unsuspecting victim took the toy home.

Ouchi was suspected to have tracked down the address of Komatsumoto’s flat via the GPS tracker he hid inside the toy.
He was reported to have stalked and harassed the victim continuously. She called the police anonymously asking how to deal with harassment from her ex four days before her death.
Her husband reportedly said they planned to go to the police after the new year.
The police arrested Ouchi after discovering him in surveillance footage near the victim’s home around the time she was murdered.
He reportedly denied the allegations.

The GPS tracker is widely used to prevent personal belongings from going missing.
The case sparked a heated discussion online about how to prevent it from being used for malicious purposes.
“If I were targeted by a stalker using a GPS tracker, there would be no way to escape. It is horrible. Poor victim,” said one online observer.
“I would be afraid of plush toys given by people I do not know very well,” said another.
According to Japan’s national police agency, use of GPS tracking tags in stalking has been increasing over the years, from three documented cases in 2021, to 196 in 2023, 370 in 2024 and 592 in 2025.
Japanese information technology expert Akiko Takahashi told the Fuji News Network that it is difficult to discover GPS trackers hidden in a toy, but suggested turning on the Bluetooth and tracking notifications on phones to detect location tracking devices.


Inside Seoul’s ‘closet’ homes: YouTube tour reveals reality of gosiwon living

Cultural currents: how ‘Becoming Chinese’ trend is transforming Western lifestyles

Japan couple spark child neglect concerns for letting son, 12, babysit 5 siblings while they work

Japan calls for action on GPS stalking after woman allegedly murdered by ex using hidden device in toy

Viral stories

Concerns are rising in Japan over safety measures against GPS stalking after a pregnant woman was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend who tracked her to her home. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/YouTube

The Global Positioning System device which led to the alleged killing was hidden in a teddy bear. Photo: Shutterstock

The suspect in the case, Takumi OuchiIn, above, has denied the allegations against him. Photo: X

Experts say a GPS tracking device, above, can be discovered by changing the settings on your mobile phone. Photo: Shutterstock

China public donate US$2.3 million within days to hospital for cleft lip kids after urgent appeal

Internet users have donated US$2.3 million in a matter of days to a struggling Beijing hospital part run by Li Yapeng, the ex-husband of singer Faye Wong. Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/Sohu

The Beijing Smile Angel Children Hospital, above, is in the city’s Chaoyang District. Photo: 163.com

A generous member of the public puts some money in a donation box for the hospital. Photo: 163.com

Li Yapeng pictured with his former wife, Cantopop diva, Faye Wong. Photo: SCMP 

Li speaks about the financial struggles the hospital has been going through. Photo: Weibo

Why China Li ethnic group’s 6,000-year pottery tradition passed down exclusively to women

The Li ethnic group in China boasts a 6,000-year-old pottery tradition which is passed down exclusively among women, with men historically banned from observing the process. Photo: ccmapp.cn

Women from the Li ethnic group harvest soil at the start of the pottery making process. Photo: zhihu

An elderly Li woman works with a long stick to dry the earth in a courtyard. Photo: zhihu

Two women work to crush the earth in the next part of the process. Photo: zhihu

Another woman uses skills passed down for centuries to fashion a pottery item. Photo: zhihu

The pottery items are then placed on top of open flames to fire them. Photo: zhihu

The finished product, above, after being removed from the fire to cool down. Photo: zhihu

Why China Miao ethnic group moves houses at night, dances with soot on faces upon completion

We explain China’s Miao ethnic group have a custom of “moving house at night” which stems from carrying out secretive relocations to escape landlord harassment. Photo: SCMP composite/Sohu/people.com

A woman from the Miao ethnic group is in the process of moving to a new home. Photo: Baidu

A group of Miao ethnic women take part in a ceremony wearing traditional costumes. Photo: Baidu

Women of the Long Skirt Miao tribe at the entrance of a village for the traditional ceremony of welcoming visitors with bowls of rice and wine. Photo: Shutterstock 

China miniseries production team slammed for exposing infant to heavy rain during filming

A miniseries production team in China has faced a backlash after it exposed an infant to heavy rain during filming instead of using a doll. Photo: Weibo

The offending scene, above. Actress Xing Yun, in a black dress, says the director prevented her from sheltering the baby with her umbrella. Photo: Weibo

A production crew filming in China. Miniseries have become very popular in the country. Photo: Getty Images

A baby is carried on a woman’s back. The Chinese authorities have introduced new rules to crackdown on the abuse of child actors. Photo: Shutterstock

China woman aims to look her best as bridesmaid resorts to extreme diet, suffers prediabetes

A young Chinese woman who wanted to look her best as a bridesmaid resorted to extreme dieting and lost 15kg in two months, leading to prediabetes. Photo: Shutterstock

A woman exercises in a gym. Xiaoyu developed her own “extreme” weight loss plan. Photo: Getty Images

The 26-year-old completely changed her diet, almost totally cutting out staple foods. Photo: Shutterstock

A white wedding in China. Xiaoyu was determined to look slimmer as a friend’s bridesmaid. Photo: Shutterstock 

News

People & Culture

Pregnant 31-year-old manicurist beaten and stabbed to death in own home; police arrest suspect after viewing surveillance footage


Pregnant 31-year-old manicurist beaten and stabbed to death in own home; police arrest suspect after viewing surveillance footage.


Japan

Crime

Japan calls for action on GPS stalking after woman allegedly murdered by ex using hidden device in toy

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Pregnant 31-year-old manicurist beaten and stabbed to death in own home; police arrest suspect after viewing surveillance footage

Pregnant 31-year-old manicurist beaten and stabbed to death in own home; police arrest suspect after viewing surveillance footage