32-year-old arrested for knife murder of Japanese chef in Vancouver

Canadian police said Wednesday they had arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal knife attack on Japanese chef Wataru Kakiuchi in Vancouver a week earlier.

Police do not believe Kakiuchi and the suspect arrested Monday afternoon, Timothy Isborn, knew each other, Vancouver police said in a press release.

The department launched an investigation after Kakiuchi was found injured near Chinatown at around 3:30 a.m. local time on June 5. He was stabbed and died before he could be taken to the hospital, police said.

According to media reports, Kakiuchi began working in a Japanese izakaya restaurant in Vancouver around 2015 and had expressed his desire to stay in Canada long-term.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim expressed his condolences to Kakiuchi’s family and colleagues, describing the victim as “more than a talented chef” who was “a positive presence and a valued friend to many.”

According to his social media account, Kakiuchi is from Iruma, Saitama Prefecture.

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