Emergency Button and Door Handle Both Failed... Tragedy Strikes Japanese Couple at Luxury Sauna

Emergency Button System Was Found to Be Powered Off
Police Launch Full Investigation Into Operator's Responsibility for Safety Management

A tragic incident occurred at a luxury members-only private sauna in Tokyo, Japan, where a couple in their 30s died in a fire. At the time of the accident, the emergency alarm system in the sauna room was turned off, and even the door handle was found to be broken. As a result, the police are investigating the operating company's responsibility for safety management. On December 17, local media outlets such as Asahi Shimbun, NHK, and Nippon TV reported that around noon on December 15, a fire broke out at a high-end private sauna room in Akasaka, Minato Ward, Tokyo, resulting in the deaths of Masaya Matsuda (36) and his wife Yoko (37).

The luxury members-only sauna in Akasaka where the accident occurred. X (X)

The couple was found collapsed near the entrance to the sauna room, with the husband reportedly lying over his wife as if trying to shield her. The circumstances at the scene suggest that he tried to protect his wife while attempting to escape until the very last moment. The deceased, Mr. Matsuda, was known as a famous influencer who ran a hair salon near Tokyo, and the couple reportedly had a young child. On the wife's social media account, there was a post alongside a photo of their young daughter that read, "I want to live until this child wears a dress," adding to the public's sorrow.

According to the police and fire authorities, the couple had reserved the sauna room for two hours from 11 a.m. on the day of the accident, and it is believed the fire started inside the sauna approximately one hour after they entered. An external smoke detector was triggered, prompting staff to call the fire department, and when firefighters arrived, the sauna room door was closed.

On-site investigation revealed that the rotary wooden handle installed on the entrance door had become detached on both sides and was found lying on the floor, making it impossible to open the door by turning it. The police believe this likely caused the couple to become trapped inside the sauna. Additionally, an emergency button was installed inside the sauna room, but the receiver in the office that manages the button was found to have its power turned off, so pressing the button would not have worked. The operating company’s representative reportedly told police, "I have never turned on the receiver's power until now." It was also revealed that there were no staff present in the office at the time of the accident.

According to the investigation authorities, there were signs inside the sauna room that the emergency button had been pressed, and evidence suggested the couple tried to break the glass on the entrance door by wrapping a sauna stone in a towel. Subcutaneous bleeding was found on the husband's hand, and there were multiple marks on the door's glass indicating repeated attempts to break it. The police are investigating the exact cause of death, considering various possibilities such as burns, exposure to high temperatures, and smoke inhalation. It is suspected that the fire started when a towel came into contact with the high-temperature sauna stones and then spread to the wooden bench and walls.

Experts have pointed out structural safety issues. In an interview with NHK, a Japanese architectural expert stated, "In a high-temperature, enclosed space, it is ideal for the door to open simply by pushing in case of emergency," adding, "Rotary handles are at high risk of breaking in hot environments and can cause delays in escape." The police plan to conduct additional investigations, including on-site reenactments, to determine whether the operator violated safety management obligations and to clarify the causal relationship with the deaths. The sauna in question is known to be a luxury facility, with usage fees ranging from 60,000 yen (about 56,800 won) up to 390,000 yen (about 3.7 million won). The operating company issued a statement apologizing to the bereaved family and announced that it would suspend operations for the time being.