Japanese Restaurant Owner Murdered in Tijuana, Baja California

“MX” for Borderland Beat; TY to “Anonymous”

Taro Yoshida, 43, the owner of “Yoshi Ramen”, an iconic restaurant on Avenida Revolución in Tijuana, Baja California, was murdered last week.

Police officers received an emergency call last Thursday at 11 a.m. that a man was shot on the second floor of another Yoshi Ramen branch in Playas de Tijuana. Upon entering the premises, they found Yoshida’s body.

The man, of Japanese origin, was sitting in a reclining chair, with his feet on a table. He was wearing a jersey of the Japan national football team. The victim was hit by a firearm projectile in the chest and head.

According to investigators, the restaurant did not have video surveillance cameras. No one was arrested for the crime.

Citing a security guard of the restaurant, the reports also said Yoshida had left with two men early Thursday morning and the three later returned together, but nothing about the interaction aroused suspicion.

Taro Yoshida opened his first “Yoshi Ramen” establishment on Avenida Revolucion, between Third and Fourth streets. After much success in that branch, he chose to open a second one in Playas in Tijuana, where he was executed.

“He was always a hard-working and happy person. Strict but he just wanted to give good customer service. Even when the restaurant was full, he always gave us cookies and always let me play with his dog Midori,” recalled Alexis Ochoa, one of his clients.

Tristán Rivera, another of his regular diners, described him as a helpful man, fond of Tijuana.

“I often went to eat at Yoshi Ramen with my daughter. I got along well with Yoshida because he always treated us kindly, with special attention. He gave us dessert and things for my daughter. Yoshida said he was a Tijuana native”, she said.

Motive

Investigators do not discard the possibility that Yoshida knew his assassin given the circumstances of the crime. His final position made it clear that he felt comfortable enough in front of his assassin to remain in a relaxed and carefree posture (i.e. sitting on a reclining chair with his legs up on the table).

He was shot in the back, which may also indicate that Yoshida was unaware of his assassin and did not feel danger.

A robbery has not been discarded. In addition to the murder, the assassin stole MXN$30,000 from a safe. Reports do not mention if the safe had a passcode.

Sources: El Imparcial (1); (2); Japan Today; Diez10