Former Japanese idol Tomita Mayu has spoken out nine years after surviving a horrific stabbing by an obsessed fan that nearly cost her her life and shattered her career. In a recent interview, he detailed the traumatic aftermath, lingering PTSD and his call for systemic change to protect future victims.
On May 21, 2016, Tomita, then in her early 20s, was ambushed outside her concert hall in Koganei, Tokyo, before performing at Solid Girls Night Vol. 11. Her attacker, 27-year-old Tomohiro Iwazaki, lunged at her with an 3-inch knife, stabbing her 61 times in the chest and neck as she shouted “You should die!“
Although she survived and avoided fatal organ damage, Tomita’s injuries were extensive. She was hospitalized in critical condition and regained consciousness two weeks later. The attack left her with permanent scars all over her body, including her face, arms and back, partial blindness in her left eye and permanent damage affecting her ability to sing, eat and even use her fingers.
Tomita had just graduated from college and was starting to focus on acting and entertainment full time. His dreams were suddenly interrupted by an attack he had tried to prevent. In the months before the incident, Iwazaki had stalked her online and sent her gifts, including books and a watch. When she returned the watch, he launched into a series of online harassment, posting 400 vitriolic messages in the space of a few weeks.
Tomita reported the stalking to the police, asking for protection. His requests were rejected, as authorities believed there was “no immediate threat.” Tragically, a few weeks later, she was brutally attacked.
During Iwazaki’s 2017 trial, he claimed that he did not intend to kill her, but only acted out of anger after she ignored his gift. He was sentenced to 14 years and 6 months in prison, a punishment that many considered too lenient.
In 2019, Tomita sued the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, his former manager, and Iwazaki, seeking 76 million yen (about $483,000) in damages for failure to protect him. The case was resolved in July 2025.
Now, Tomita is planning to publish a memoir, a process she describes as emotionally exhausting but necessary. She criticizes the Tokyo police for their indifference, revealing how during her interrogation in court, they showed her without warning a newspaper photo of her attacker triggering a traumatic flashback.
“It was as if he were standing in front of me again, knife in hand. My heart was torn“he recalled.”At that moment I understood that the police didn’t understand my pain even more, they didn’t even try to understand.“
Tomita lives a solitary life, still haunted by memories. PTSD prevents her from sleeping, taking public transportation or going out alone. The anniversary of the attack, May 21, is particularly terrifying. She battles hallucinations and the constant fear that her attacker will one day return.
“The fear of him being released never goes away. The more I try to move forward, the more reality reminds me that I still live in the world where all this happened“, he said.
Although Japan amended its anti-stalking laws in December 2016 to include cyberstalking, Tomita warns that the danger remains. He urges authorities to take stalking seriously and take action before a tragedy occurs.
“The stalking cases have continued for the last 9 years. Every time I see one on the news, I feel despair and anger“, he said. “Please don’t let the promises be empty. Remember that a single decision can change a life forever.“
Tomita’s voice today is not just that of a survivor, it is a call to protect others from the horror she had to endure and to ensure that her pain leads to real and lasting change.
Sources: TP
