A suspected shoplifter stabbed to death the manager of a convenience store at JR Tokyo Station, in Chiyoda Ward, early Sunday before fleeing, police said.

The police said Masahiko Okeda, the 33-year-old manager of the Sandynu Tokyo Center convenience store, died from stab wounds to the right side of his abdomen at a Tokyo hospital shortly after noon.

According to police, Okeda saw a man stealing buns and rice balls worth 550 yen and tried to take him to the store's office, but the man fled.

Okeda and two other store employees gave chase for about 80 meters before Okeda was stabbed with a kitchen knife by the man in a scuffle at around 6:50 a.m.

About 10 customers were inside the store at the time of the incident, but none were injured, the police said.

The man was about 170 cm tall and appeared to be aged around 30, wore glasses and had long hair, they said.

In March, a woman who had been warned by Okeda while trying to steal bread left a needle in bread in the store. The woman was later arrested after Okeda identified her.

According to a clerk at nearby store, Okeda chased another shoplifter Saturday.

Okeda's supervisor, Mamoru Nakamura, 49, said he was a diligent man and liked by other store clerks. Okeda had served as the store manager since July 2000.

A female part-time worker at the store burst into tears after learning of his death.

Inn owner's wife slain

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) The wife of a Japanese inn owner was found stabbed to death at the inn in Fukuoka's Hakata Ward on Sunday afternoon, police said.

The police identified the woman as Kazuko Abe, 50, who was found by her 52-year-old husband, Isamu, at the Ikoi inn at around 3:45 p.m.

Abe had been stabbed in the chest, police said, adding that no weapon has been found. The police said they are looking for a suspect.