Sri Lankan student stabbed to death by compatriot in Japan

An 18-year-old Sri Lankan student has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 21-year-old Sri Lankan man was fatally stabbed in Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

Japanese police said both the suspect and the victim were international students and were living at the same residence.

The incident occurred at around 10:20 AM on August 11, 2026 at the residence, where the 21-year-old was allegedly stabbed in the abdomen with a knife.

The 18-year-old suspect later called Japan’s 119 emergency number. The injured man was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police questioned the Sri Lankan student who was at the scene and arrested him after he admitted that he had stabbed the victim.

Authorities said the two men knew each other.

According to police, the suspect said the confrontation escalated after the victim allegedly used a derogatory term referring to his sexual orientation, insulted his mother and punched him. He told investigators that he became angry and stabbed the man.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing.