Japan calls for action on GPS stalking after woman allegedly murdered by ex using hidden device in toy

SCMP | Feb. 2, 2026, 1 a.m. | Original

Concerns are rising in Japan over safety measures against GPS stalking after a pregnant woman was allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend who tracked her to her home. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/YouTube

Concerns about Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking have emerged in Japan after a pregnant woman was allegedly tracked down and murdered by her ex-boyfriend using a GPS device hidden in a toy.

The death of Haruka Komatsumoto, a 31-year-old manicurist who was allegedly beaten on the head and stabbed in the neck by her ex-boyfriend in her own flat on December 31, 2025, has shocked many people.

The alleged killing has become a widely discussed topic in the country.

Komatsumoto reportedly suffered from bruises on her arms in an attempt to protect her baby. No property was stolen.

On January 21, the police in Ibaraki prefecture arrested the suspect, Komatsumoto’s 28-year-old ex-boyfriend, Takumi Ouchi.

The Global Positioning System device which led to the alleged killing was hidden in a teddy bear. Photo: Shutterstock
The Global Positioning System device which led to the alleged killing was hidden in a teddy bear. Photo: Shutterstock

They dated for less than a year and split in 2024.

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