Married man arrested for torching hotel before bogus wedding in Yamanashi

Monday 27th October, 03:40 PM JST

YAMANASHI —

Police on Sunday arrested a 39-year-old married man for torching a hotel in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, where he had canceled his wedding to another woman the same day. Nobody was injured, police said.

Tatsuhiko Kawata was arrested for allegedly torching the hotel at 2:20 a.m. on Saturday by spreading oil on the floor in a corridor. About 150 people, who were staying at the hotel, were evacuated.

According to police, Kawada, who is married and lives with his wife, child and his parents, booked the hotel for a wedding party to another woman which was supposed to be held on Saturday afternoon. But he canceled the party on Sunday after he torched the hotel.

Kawata was quoted by police as saying, “I thought I could get out of the wedding if the hotel was burned down.” Police believe he tried to conceal the fact that he is married.

Latest 15 of 35 Total Comments Show All

gogogo at 07:47 PM JST - 27th October

Moron, where is this guys logic?
keshii at 09:55 PM JST - 27th October

BBLeo: My guess is that that the arson wanted a convenient 'out' of the wedding, but still wanted to keep the girl. I can imagine he would tell her after having to cancel the wedding - due to the hotel having burnt down - that "getting married seems like bad luck". Completely ridiculous!
ALHQQ at 10:03 PM JST - 27th October

"Police believe he tried to conceal the fact that he is married."

Ya think? Obviously if he prosed to the woman and she said yes, she probably did not know he was already married.
He should have just cut it off with the woman; why propose if their was no way he could marry her in the first place. I guess going to jail for arson and attempted murder will get him out of the marriage as well...what an idiot
WilliB at 10:20 PM JST - 27th October

I think this is the type of man who would be in the market for a million-dollar banknote...
GG2141 at 10:42 PM JST - 27th October

Sounds like en episode of Fawlty Towers.
realteacher at 11:08 PM JST - 27th October

Here's a scoop that I hope JT will pick up on. I happen to know a journalist in the Yamanashi area and they said that the dude was marrying the sister of his wife. Now that's keeping it in the family. Imagine what dinner will be like tonight....
usaexpat at 11:30 PM JST - 27th October

Wow not the sharpest tool in the shed. I hope the hotel is insured.
PuffinMuffin at 11:42 PM JST - 27th October

bwahahahaha! what if hed gotten away with it for a while
KitsuneYoukai at 12:02 AM JST - 28th October

Stupdity yes undeniable; but do want to bet that he really doesn't love his current wife???
Zuleyka at 01:24 AM JST - 28th October

this news really confused me.. why did he settle for marriage to a woman when in fact he is not divorced yet!shameful! moron!...
Kimigano2 at 02:32 AM JST - 28th October

he burned it down after the wedding was supposed to happen? Is that a bender?
ichinensei at 03:01 AM JST - 28th October

Another example of an self centered idiot. He could have burned someone to death...
temporaryVisa at 03:45 AM JST - 28th October

Wow. The lengths to which Japanese will go to avoid saying "No" will never seize to amaze me.
norinrad21 at 04:58 AM JST - 28th October

thats hilarious, i certainly don't know any 25+ year old who would pull off something like this let alone a 39 year old. Glad no one was hurt by this man's actions.
Sammi33 at 09:18 AM JST - 2nd November

He wanted to be with both women. He is a selfish scumbag who tricked both his wife and girlfriend and has no consideration for their feelings. I think his punishment should be to marry both women, and divorce them, giving each of them 50% of what he has, and if he has a kid with his wife his paychecks from then on should go to the child support, and leave him with close to nothing, because it's exactly what the idiot deserves. He can live in a park and eat instant ramen every day, alone. He should also be forbidden to date/marry ever again. But the real story is one of his girls will be the more spineless one and take him back. I've heard so many J-wives say things like "If he cheats once, it can be forgiven"