Male body found in Kotoni-Hassamu River in Sapporo.

The Kotoni-Hassamu River is a small river flowing through the Kotoni and Hassamu districts of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Historically, it was an important water source for agriculture and daily life for early settlers, and its banks are now part of a popular, verdant urban greenway for recreation.

Kotoni is a district in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan, historically known as an Ainu settlement, with its name derived from the Ainu word “Kotoni” or “Kotan-i,” meaning “village” or “place of the village.” It developed significantly in the modern era after the establishment of a freight station in the late 19th century, becoming an important transportation and logistics hub for the region. Today, it is a residential and commercial area that retains its historical name while serving as a key part of Sapporo’s urban landscape.

Nishi Ward is one of the 10 wards of Yokohama, Japan, and serves as a major administrative and commercial center for the city. Historically, much of its land was reclaimed from the sea during the Meiji era, and it is now home to prominent modern landmarks like the Yokohama Landmark Tower and the Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel.

Sapporo is the capital of Hokkaido, Japan, founded officially in 1868 during the Meiji era as a planned modern city on the island’s frontier. It is now internationally famous for the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, its beer brewing heritage (Sapporo Beer), and as the host of the 1972 Winter Olympics. The city’s distinctive grid-pattern streets and Western-style architecture reflect its deliberate development during Japan’s period of rapid modernization.

Hokkaido Police Kotoni Station is a local police station located in the Nishi Ward of Sapporo, Hokkaido. It serves the Kotoni neighborhood, an area with historical significance as a former Ainu settlement and later a key transportation hub during Hokkaido’s development. The station is part of the Hokkaido Prefectural Police and focuses on community safety and law enforcement for this residential and commercial district.