A Japanese man opened fire on a home medical worker in Fujimino, west of Tokyo, on Thursday evening (January 27) and took another hostage, local media reported.
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Police say a 41-year-old man was found conscious with two bullet wounds outside the home.
He was taken to hospital after gunshots were heard around 9 p.m. (1200 GMT), the Jiji news agency wrote.
The other man, also in his 40s, was taken hostage by the assailant, the agency said.
Local authorities have asked residents to avoid this area as long as the hostage situation continues.
In Japan, violent crime is rare and possession of firearms is strictly controlled.
