A 68-year-old woman was found stabbed at her apartment in Tokyo's Toshima Ward after firefighters put out an early morning blaze, police said.

Rescuers found Kesako Fujisawa, who had been stabbed in the chest and stomach, in her apartment and rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 4 a.m., they said.

Police are investigating the case as a murder-arson.

Investigators said the victim was found lying on a futon and a knife that was believed used in the stabbing was nearby. The entrance door was unlocked, they added.

Fujisawa lived with her 61-year-old husband, who is missing, police said.