Death of 16-year-old girl in Hyogo: A Timeline

By Barrier Free Japan

October 25 2026

KOBE – ‘Runa’ – a pseudonym, whom was 16 at the time that she died , intervened when a female service user with a severe intellectual disability attempted to bite another person during an event at a disability welfare facility in Hyogo Prefecture. A person who witnessed the incident later reported it to a local government authority as possible abuse.

The witness’s report was followed by contact with the family of the service user involved, who subsequently filed a report with Akashi Police Station.

Hyogo Prefectural Police arrested Runa on suspicion of assaulting the service user. A male staff member was also arrested in connection with the incident.

Runa denied the allegations and was detained. According to her family’s subsequent lawsuit, investigators pressured her to confess, including by raising the possibility of her being sent to a juvenile detention facility. Her lawyers later questioned the necessity of the arrest and detention, arguing that she was unlikely to flee or destroy evidence.

After vomiting twice in her police detention cell, Runa was taken to hospital by ambulance. She was subsequently returned to the detention facility.

According to her family, Runa suffered severe psychological distress while detained, including an inability to eat. Her lawyers later criticised the investigators for allegedly failing to adequately manage her health and for seeking to prohibit visits.

Runa was released after 18 days in custody. She and the male staff member were ultimately not prosecuted.

Runa was released after 18 days in custody.

Hyogo Prefectural Police accepted the complaint, according to reports.

The prefectural police declined to comment on the details of individual cases. The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office also declined to comment, citing the case-specific nature of the allegations.

In comments reported by The family said it wanted the circumstances surrounding Runa’s death to be fully investigated and the truth to be disclosed.

The first oral hearing in the damages lawsuit began at Kobe District Court. Both the national government and Hyogo Prefecture indicated they would contest the claims in full. The government argued, among other points, that the arrest, detention and interrogation had not been unlawful.

Speaking after the hearing, Runa’s mother said she wanted the court proceedings to establish why her daughter had been deprived of her liberty and whether her life and dignity had been protected during detention.

She said she was pursuing the case so that others would not have to endure similar suffering.

The lawsuit is expected to examine the circumstances of Runa’s arrest, detention and death, as well as the family’s allegation that unlawful investigative conduct contributed to her death.