Woman's body found in suitcase at Tokyo train station

A woman's body has been found in a suitcase left at Tokyo's main train station for a month.

The suitcase had been moved from a locker to the left-luggage store room after being unclaimed.

A worker at the station discovered the elderly woman's body after opening the suitcase on Sunday.

According to the Guardian, a spokesman at the baggage storage company said: "There was an abnormal odour when we opened the suitcase. Then we saw hair."

The woman is thought to have been between 70 and 90, and was 4ft 7in tall.

The bright yellow case measuring 70cm x 50cm x 25cm (28in x 20in x 10in) was left in an unlocked coin locker on 26 April.

It is reportedly normal practice to keep unclaimed luggage for a month at the station to see if anyone claims it.

Speaking to Fox News, Junichi Omoto, a spokesman for regional train company JR East, said nothing unusual had previously been observed about the suitcase.

"We were surprised and horrified," he said.

Tokyo station is one of the busiest in Japan, handling around 150 million passengers a year.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police are investigating the woman's death.