Photo/Illutration Kaoru Wada, head of the Kanagawa prefectural police, apologizes at a news conference in Yokohama on Sept. 4. (Tetsuro Takehana)

YOKOHAMA—An investigative report released Sept. 4 by the Kanagawa prefectural police laid out a level of failure in the organization's handling of a stalking case that ended with a dead 20-year-old under the floorboards.

Despite Asahi Okazaki from Kawasaki and her family repeatedly consulting with police starting last June about her ex-partner's violent behavior and stalking, she went missing in December.

Her body was discovered in April at the man's home. Hideyuki Shirai, 28, has since been indicted for murder and violating the anti-stalking law.

The report highlighted that just before Okazaki’s disappearance, the officers in charge underestimated the level of danger and urgency—a fatal error that resulted in a missed chance to ensure her safety.

The document said police mistakenly deemed it a low-risk case based on a weak initial investigation.

Kaoru Wada, who heads the Kanagawa prefectural police, shared at a news conference held the same day as the report's release that he had received a strict verbal warning from the National Police Agency over his responsibility in overseeing the matter.

“As the top official of the prefectural police, I deeply regret that our failures led to such a tragic outcome and the loss of public trust. I sincerely apologize,” Wada said.

The force plans to discipline more than 40 officers.

The report went on to reveal the prefectural police's structural problems, one being a hollow and dysfunctional system of handling personal safety-related cases that cover stalking and domestic violence.

Coordination between local stations, the prefectural headquarters, the community safety department and the criminal investigation department was inadequate. A lack of commitment and urgency among officers was also identified as a key factor in the tragic outcome, the report said.

As part of its measures to prevent a recurrence, the organization will establish a new commander’s position at its headquarters for stalking cases, among others, as well as a new system to ensure improved interdepartmental cooperation.

Another new specialized post will also be created within its headquarters to consistently manage these cases. Additionally, stronger guidance will be given to local police stations to prevent further oversights.

The police force intends to ensure all its officers have comprehensive knowledge of the fundamentals of investigative practices. 

Ahead of the report's public release, prefectural police reported its internal investigation results to Okazaki's family on Sept. 1 at Kawasaki Rinko Police Station. 

There, Koshiro Ishizaki, station chief, and Yoshitaka Kasa, deputy head of the investigation team from the prefectural police, apologized to the family.

They admitted to delays in organizational response, failure to take the family’s concerns seriously and not considering the possibility that Okazaki was the victim of a crime.