A man was arrested in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday on suspicion of fatally attacking a mother and daughter over noise issues in their apartment building.
Hayao Toyoshima, 67, allegedly attacked Hatsuko Nishi, 61, and her visiting younger daughter, Chiharu Adachi, 33, at around 4:45 p.m. After being rushed to a hospital, Adachi was confirmed dead and Nishi was in critical condition, the police said.
Toyoshima admitted to the attack and a bloodstained knife and hammer were found in his apartment.
Toyoshima, who lives on the first floor, reportedly told investigators he was irritated by noise from Nishi's apartment, which is directly above his.
Nishi's acquaintances told reporters she had received many complaints from Toyoshima about the noise made by her grandson's footsteps during visits there. She had taken measures like placing mats in the room to reduce the sound, they said.
Nishi's eldest daughter, who lives with her mother, told police that at the time of the attack, her sister and 3-year-old son were visiting when Nishi returned from shopping and was confronted outside by a yelling Toyoshima.
Adachi went down to see what was going on and got stabbed, her older sister said.
The police said a neighbor called them at around 4:40 p.m. Thursday, saying a man with a hammer and knife was acting violently. Responding officers found two women lying on the street in front of the building with several chest and stomach wounds.
A man who lives nearby said he saw a man yelling and furiously stabbing a woman, while neighbors said they heard a woman shout, "Don't stab my daughter!"
The apartment is about 1 km north of JR Amagasaki Station.