A 33-year-old man was found shot to death early Monday on a street near his apartment in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, police said.
Police identified the man as Shuichi Ota, a restaurant owner. He was shot in the chest, abdomen and other parts of his body.
According to police, Ota left home after telling his wife he was going to meet a friend.
Witnesses saw a black car drive off after the shooting, which occurred at around 2:10 a.m. near Goi Station on the JR Uchibo Line.