Hirosuke Ichikawa was walking out of the elevator on the 12th floor when it suddenly went up with its doors open, police said. He was wedged between the floor of the elevator and the building. He was freed after about one hour but had suffered a fractured skull and died in hospital shortly after.

Residents at the Minato Ward condo, built eight years ago, said there had been complaints about the elevator. Officials from the Minato Ward public housing corporation that operates the condo said the company has received at least 18 reports of problems with the elevator since December 2003.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 10, 2006
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