Tokyo: A married couple have died after becoming trapped inside a private sauna room that caught fire in central Tokyo, with authorities investigating possible safety failures at the facility.
The incident occurred on Monday at Sauna Tiger, a private sauna located in the Akasaka area. According to Japanese media, investigators are examining whether a broken or faulty doorknob prevented the couple from escaping the room.
Police are also looking into claims that the sauna’s emergency alarm system had been switched off for an extended period.
What happened?
Emergency services were alerted at around 12:25 local time, after a fire alarm was triggered at the facility. Firefighters arriving at the scene reportedly found the sauna room’s doorknob lying on the floor.
The victims, identified by local media as Yoko Matsuda, 37, a nail artist, and her husband Masanari Matsuda, 36, who ran a beauty salon, were found collapsed near the door. Both were taken to hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
Investigators believe the fire may have started when a towel came into contact with hot sauna stones. A burnt towel was reportedly discovered inside the room.
Emergency alarm concerns
The sauna room was equipped with an emergency alert button designed to notify staff if assistance was needed. However, investigators found the alarm system had been turned off.
Officials said the alarm’s cover appeared to have been removed, suggesting the couple may have attempted to activate it during the incident. When questioned, staff reportedly told police the alarm had not been operational since around 2023.
Safety checks and response
The Minato Public Health Centre said the sauna had been operating since July 2022 and was last inspected in April 2023, when no major safety issues were identified.
In a statement, Sauna Tiger expressed condolences to the victims’ family and said it was treating the incident “with the utmost seriousness”. The business added that it was fully cooperating with authorities and would remain closed temporarily, offering refunds to customers with existing bookings.
Growing safety concerns
Private saunas have become increasingly popular across Japan, but authorities and industry experts have raised concerns over a rise in sauna-related accidents in recent years. The incident has renewed calls for stricter safety standards and more frequent inspections.
Investigations into the cause of the fire and possible safety violations are ongoing.