A Female Idol Was Stabbed By Her Fan After He "Lost Control" Over Her Actions

A J-Pop idol became a victim of a horrifying crime.

Mayu Tomita was only 20 years old when she was stabbed in the neck and chest by a “fan,” Tomohiro Iwazaki.

The 27-year-old posted numerous “obsessive” comments on her blog and Twitter almost a decade ago. In the first two months of 2016, he also sent books and a watch to her address.

She sent back the watch in April of the same year, prompting Iwazaki to leave 400 hostile posts on her Twitter account. Finally having enough of the harassment, she blocked him on the site at the end of the month. The idol contacted the local police department to ask for their help in protecting her against her stalker. They, however, dismissed her case, saying she was not under any immediate danger.

On May 21, 2016, Iwazaki cornered Tomita in front of a concert venue in Koganei, Tokyo, prior to her performance at an event entitled an event titled Solid Girls Night Vol. 11.

He demanded an explanation for why his gifts were returned. She did not have a clear answer, leading him to “lose control” and stab her in the chest and neck 61 times with a pocket knife. He shouted, “You should die, die, die!” multiple times while attacking her with the 8.2 cm blade.

Eye witnesses heard Tomita’s cry for help and called the police. By some miracle, she sustained no damage on her vital organs despite being in critical condition.

She regained consciousness two weeks later, waking up to 34 stab wounds all over her face, neck, back, and arms. She also became partially blinded on her left eye and had trouble singing, eating, and using her fingers.

A year later, Iwazaki claimed that he had no intention of killing Tomita. His defense team added that he only stabbed her out of frustration of her ignoring his gifts.

Then you should kill me…I wasn’t actually going to kill you.

— Iwazaki

Tomita spoke up for herself in court in February 2017, expressing how horrified she was at what happened to her.

I clearly remembered the incident. I can never forget this kind of tragedy. I want my former body with no injuries back!

— Mayu Tomita

In 2019, she launched a case against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, her former agent, and Iwazaki for failing to provide her protection prior to the stabbing.