THE head priestess of a prominent shrine in Tokyo was ambushed and killed with a samurai sword, apparently by her brother, who then took his own life, police in the Japanese capital have said.
After killing his sister, Shigenaga Tomioka killed his wife – who acted as his accomplice and attacked and injured the priestess’s driver – before taking his own life.
Nagako Tomioka, the 58-year-old head of Tomioka Hachimangu shrine, was attacked as she got out of her car on Thursday night.
Japanese media reported there had been a feud between the priestess and her brother.
His wife attacked the driver with a samurai sword and pursued him as he ran out of the temple grounds, leaving a trail of blood on the pavement.
However, his injuries were not life-threatening.
The brother is then believed to have killed his wife before turning the sword on himself and committing suicide.
At least one blood-stained sword and two survival knives were found near the scene, Japanese media said.
The nearly 400-year-old Tomioka Hachimangu shrine is known for its close ties to sumo and holding one of Tokyo’s three big Shinto festivals.
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