Japanese idol Mayu Tomita was just 20 years old when she became the victim of a brutal attack by a man who claimed to be her fan. In May 2016, Tomita was stabbed dozens of times by 27-year-old Tomohiro Iwazaki, an individual who had been harassing her online for months.
Iwazaki had posted obsessive comments on Tomita’s blog and social media accounts for years. In early 2016, his behavior escalated when he began sending unsolicited gifts, including books and a watch, to her address. After Tomita returned the watch in April, Iwazaki reacted with anger, flooding her Twitter account with hundreds of hostile messages. Alarmed by his increasingly aggressive behavior, Tomita blocked him and sought help from local police. Authorities reportedly dismissed her concerns, stating she was not in immediate danger.
On May 21, 2016, Iwazaki confronted Tomita outside a concert venue in Koganei, Tokyo, before her scheduled appearance at the event Solid Girls Night Vol. 11. Demanding to know why his gifts had been returned, he became enraged when she could not provide the response he wanted. He then stabbed her 61 times in the neck and chest with a pocket knife, shouting threats as he attacked.
Survival, Courtroom Testimony, and a Settlement After Years of Legal Battles
Witnesses heard Tomita’s screams and contacted emergency services. Despite suffering 34 stab wounds that caused severe blood loss and critical injuries, she miraculously survived. She regained consciousness two weeks later, facing lasting physical damage that included partial blindness in one eye and difficulties with singing, eating, and using her fingers.
During legal proceedings, Iwazaki claimed he did not intend to kill her and acted out of frustration. Tomita, however, bravely testified in court in 2017, describing the trauma she endured and her desire to regain the life she once had.
In 2019, Tomita and her mother filed a lawsuit against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, her former management agency, and Iwazaki, arguing that authorities failed to protect her despite prior warnings. In July 2025, the case against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government was settled privately for an undisclosed amount, bringing a measure of closure to a harrowing chapter in her life.
