Dismembered human body parts were found Friday in and around a lake in Shizuoka Prefecture, prompting police to launch an investigation.
A man living near Lake Hamana in Hamamatsu found a right leg on the lakeside around 6:20 a.m. and notified the police, they said.
By noon, a head and left leg were found near the mouth of a river flowing into the lake, and a torso with both arms was found on another shore of the lake, the police said.
The body parts are believed to be those of one man and showed signs of decay, with the victim thought to have been dead for at least several days, police said.
The age of the victim is unclear, police said, adding they have so far found no other clues such as clothing or shoes to help with identification.
Police said they will conduct an autopsy on the body parts to determine the cause of death and identify the victim.