Tanzanian Man, 33, Arrested Over Stabbing Co-Worker Roommate With Knife in Mie's Inabe
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Mie Prefectural Police's Inabe Station announced on August 21, 2026 that they had arrested Mwinja Rashid Combo, 33, a Tanzanian national and temp agency worker residing in Kitase-cho, Inabe City, on suspicion of attempted murder. According to Chukyo TV News and other outlets, he is accused of getting into an argument around 4 a.m. that day on a street in Kitase-cho, Inabe City, with a co-worker, also a Tanzanian national, 35, who lived in the same company dormitory, and stabbing him in the chest with a knife with intent to kill.
The victim suffered a stab wound to the front of his chest but remained conscious and is not in life-threatening condition. Under questioning, the suspect has partially denied the allegations, saying, "I did stab him, but I didn't intend to kill him."
Current status: The specific circumstances of the argument and whether the case will be referred for prosecution remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.