TOKYO, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo police said they found the body of a man Wednesday, the first day of Japan's new Reiwa Era, at a burial site for the imperial family in Tokyo, with his death thought to have been from suicide.
Also on Monday, a man in his fifties was sent to prosecutors after admitting he placed knives on the school desk of 12-year-old Prince Hisahito.
The separate cases coincide with a historic period for Japan as a number of ceremonies and events have been taking place in honor of Emperor Naruhito ascending the throne, following Emperor Emeritus Akihito abdicating on Tuesday.
The body was found by an official from the Imperial Household Agency at the Musashino Imperial Graveyard in Hachioji, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Wednesday morning, police officials said.
A number of imperial family members have been buried at the graveyard, including the great-grandfather and grandfather of Emperor Naruhito.
The household representative notified the police in the morning, prior to Emperor Naruhito making his first public address and as the nation was waking up to welcome the new Reiwa Era, which began at midnight when Emperor Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne.
Police investigators said they believe the man killed himself with a crossbow, as a bolt was found in his body.
They noted that the timing of the man's suicide and the ascension of the new emperor, or abdication of the Emperor Emeritus were possibly connected.
The crossbow itself was recovered from near the scene in an area that had been closed off for construction, the police said.
The incident follows another disturbing case also potentially aimed at the imperial family and involving two knives being duct taped to a 60-cm-long aluminum bar to form a pitchfork, or double-edged bayonet, and placed on the school desk of Prince Hisahito on Friday.
The two blades were painted pink, according to investigators.
Prince Hisahito was not in the classroom at the time the blades were placed on his desk, investigative sources said.
Prince Hisahito is the 12-year-old grandson of Emperor Emeritus Akihito and is currently second in line to the throne behind his father Prince Fumihito, who is the younger brother of the emperor.
He attends the Ochanomizu University Junior High School in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward, where security footage showed that a man disguised as a construction worker and wearing a helmet and mask had talked his way into the school under the pretense of being a plumber.
The suspect, Kaoru Hasegawa, 56, was sent to prosecutors Wednesday after being arrested on Monday and admitting he trespassed on the grounds of Prince Hisahito's school and left the make-shift weapon on the young prince's desk.
Local police are continuing to investigate the motives behind both cases.
