A popular zoo in Japan is delaying its reopening after a shocking admission by an employee. According to police and city officials, a man who works at the Asahiyama Zoo in Asahikawa told police he threw his wife’s body into an incinerator at the zoo typically used to dispose of dead animals. His wife had disappeared about a month prior to his admission, but it took time for anyone to report her missing. The man willingly gave up the information, which is pretty shocking. His admission caused an immediate investigation of the zoo’s incinerator to see if her remains could be found.
It is unknown if the man also killed his wife.
According to The Japan Times, the man’s wife has been missing since late March 2026. Police were only made aware of her disappearance on April 23, when a friend filed a missing person’s report.
The outlet also reported that Hokkaido Television Broadcasting reported that the man, who has not been named, was voluntarily interviewed by police shortly around the time they were tipped off about her disappearance.
During the interview, he reportedly told police he “disposed of the body in the zoo’s incinerator and burned it for several hours.”
The Asahi Shimbun reported that the man is in his 30s. Police began searching his home on April 26. No information has been given about whether he has been arrested.
They started searching the zoo on April 24.
The Asahiyama Zoo, which first opened in 1967, is one of Japan’s most popular zoos, according to the BBC. It is known for having unusual features such as overhead cages and glass domes, which give visitors a more up-close interaction with the animals.
The zoo had been closed since April 8 for maintenance ahead of its busy summer season. It had planned to reopen on April 29 for the summer season but will now be closed until at least May 1.
Authorities apologized for the change in schedule and warned that the zoo could still close unexpectedly without prior notice for reasons related to the investigation once it does reopen.
Hirosuke Imazu, mayor of Asahikawa city, held a press conference on April 28 and said authorities are dealing with an “unprecedented crisis.”
“No one could have predicted it,” he said, per the BBC. “I am overcome with immense anxiety, and I am facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. We are making preparations to welcome you, so we hope that as many people as possible will come to the park.”
Zoo officials are cooperating with the police investigation.
According to the report from The Asahi Shimbun, when addressing the delay in reopening, employees cited the police investigation but also shared that they need to address how to support employees’ mental health and review zoo security systems in light of the incident.
Despite what happened at the zoo, a senior city official told the news outlet that much of the public feedback has been supportive.
The mayor acknowledged getting “a great many encouraging messages,” from both citizens and people across the nation. He said the messages provided “a great source of strength for the zoo and its staff.”
As the investigation continues, Asahiyama Zoo staff are still caring for the animals and preparing for the reopening.
“A zoo exists to be seen by visitors,” a city official said. “We made our final decision based on the voices of the public, who said, ‘We want things to return to normal as soon as possible.’”
