A 33-year-old city employee at Hokkaido's renowned Asahiyama Zoo was arrested on April 30 on suspicion of mutilating a corpse, seven days after the incident came to light. Tatsuya Suzuki, a zookeeper who once said in interviews that "his dream came true" working with animals, now faces allegations that he attempted to dispose of his wife's remains using a zoo incinerator.
According to investigators, Suzuki is accused of damaging and abandoning the body of his wife, who had been reported missing. Sources indicate he may have used industrial equipment at the zoo to destroy evidence. Neighbors and acquaintances described the couple's relationship as strained, with one friend recalling Suzuki's comment: "When I get home, I just go to sleep."
The arrest has shocked the community, as Suzuki was known publicly as a dedicated animal caretaker. Asahiyama Zoo, famous for its innovative habitats, has not yet commented on the incident.