Photo/Illutration The Nagoya apartment room where the body of Koichi Abe was found is covered with blue sheeting on Nov. 22, 2023. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

NAGOYA--Aichi prefectural police are expected to re-arrest a woman they believe killed an acquaintance to pay off her debts to a host club.

Police were moving to re-arrest Asuka Uchida, 30, as early as Feb. 27, on suspicion of a robbery and homicide in connection with death of Koichi Abe, a resident of Nagoya’s Naka Ward, according to investigative sources.

Abe, 42, was a member of the “Otakaraya” franchise, a store that buys brand-named goods and precious metals. He was found dead at his apartment here last November.

Police determined that Abe and Uchida knew each other.

Uchida had spent more than 10 million yen ($66,500) on her visits to a Nagoya host club since July 2023, and had also chalked up debts called “urikakekin” (selling on credit), sources said.

Police believe Abe died on Sept. 29 that year, which coincided with the day the host club closed its accounts.

Police determined that Uchida visited the club the same day and suspect she did so after killing Abe to settle her bill.

It is believed that Abe set up a store in a building in a central city area. The store has been closed since around September 2023.

Abe’s relative contacted police to report he had suddenly gone off the radar. Police searched his home and found his body in a bedroom closet on Nov. 21. His wrists and other parts of his body were bound with rope and a plastic bag was placed over his head, according to investigative sources.

The front door was locked, and the doorway to the living room was sealed from the outside with adhesive tape.

On Nov. 24, police arrested Uchida for illegally disposing of Abe's body.

On Dec. 28, the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office charged Naoki Koyama, 23, a former host at the club where Uchida frequented with conspiring with Uchida and abandoning Abe’s body in the closet.

Uchida was also charged with illegally disposing of a body.

According to the sources, Uchida used to frequent the host club with the aim of making Koyama the No. 1 host, and sought his help in dumping the body.

Before visiting the host club on Sept. 29, Uchida entered Abe’s apartment building with Abe and left the apartment alone approximately two hours later, according to the investigative sources. 

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