Three men — two Chinese and one Japanese — were arrested Friday in Tokyo on suspicion of killing a housewife in Haguro, Yamagata Prefecture, in April, police said.
Police allege the three stormed the home of 52-year-old Akira Sato and his wife, Kayoko, 51, at around 3:50 p.m. on April 28. Kayoko was fatally stabbed.
The couple's 16-year-old daughter, Atsuko, was bound with adhesive tape but managed to flee to a neighbor's house. The teenager suffered minor cuts to her waist, the police said.
The Japanese suspect was identified as Kenji Ogawa, 21, an unemployed man from Tokyo's Katsushika Ward. The two Chinese were identified as An Feng, an unemployed 23-year-old residing in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward, and Liu Yang, a 21-year-old vocational school student from Toshima Ward, police said.
None of the three directly knew the Satos, they added.
The two Chinese men are being held for alleged murder and inflicting injury. Ogawa is being held on suspicion of breaking and entering. Ogawa served as a "navigator" for the crime, police said, helping the other two access the Satos' home.
While Ogawa and Liu have admitted to the allegations, An is denying his involvement in some of the acts.
Based on accounts by Atsuko, police said they believe four men were involved in the break-in, and are continuing their search for the remaining suspect.