Human bones found in Osaka apartment closet; police investigate corpse abandonment

Police in Ibaraki, Osaka, are investigating the discovery of human skeletal remains found inside a closet in a two-story apartment. The remains were found by a cleaner on Tuesday morning who had been hired to clean the residence. The cleaner alerted authorities after opening the closet and finding the bones.

Officers dispatched to the scene confirmed the presence of a skeleton, with the skull already bleached white. The victim's age and gender are currently unknown. Initial examination revealed no apparent external injuries, and the clothing found on the remains had deteriorated significantly. The body was discovered in a first-floor room, and the main entrance to the apartment was locked.

Authorities are treating the case as a potential abandonment of a corpse and are working to identify the deceased. The registered tenant of the room where the remains were found had previously passed away, leading police to believe the skeletal remains belong to another individual. The apartment is located in a residential area approximately 400 meters north of JR Ibaraki Station.