Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is seeking an explanation from China about the fatal stabbing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.

During his visit to Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan on September 19, Kishida told reporters that the crime was extremely despicable.

He said he is deeply saddened and offered his heartfelt condolences.

S/ Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan / More than a day has passed since the crime occurred, so I have just given instructions to strongly seek an explanation as soon as possible (from China). This kind of incident should never happen again.

He said Japan will ask China to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals and prevent a similar occurrence.

The prime minister also said the Japanese government will do everything possible toward that end.

S/ Yokochi Akira, Chief minister, Japanese Embassy in China / To express condolences to the child who passed away and his family, let us observe a moment of silence.

On the same day in Beijing, the Japanese embassy held an emergency meeting with Japanese company executives and Japanese school principals.

Embassy officials told the meeting that Japanese Ambassador to China Kanasugi Kenji spoke on the phone with a senior official of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

They said Kanasugi sought an explanation on the incident and asked China to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals.

They said the Chinese side explained that the incident was a case involving someone with a criminal record.

The boy was stabbed on his way to Shenzhen Japanese School with his parent on September 18.

The fifth grade student was about 200 meters away from the school when he was attacked.

Local police have arrested a 44-year-old male suspect, but the motive of his attack was not immediately known.

The Japanese consulate general in Guangzhou said the boy sustained stab wounds to body parts including his stomach and died in the early hours of September 19.

While some Chinese online media organizations have reported about the incident, the country's state media has not.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry posts the content of its daily press conferences on its website.

But even though there were five questions and answers concerning the incident on September 18, the website showed only one question and answer on the matter.

Homma Tetsuro, head of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, also spoke at the meeting at the Japanese Embassy.

He emphasized that ensuring the safety of employees and their families is a basic aspect in proceeding with business activities in China.

He asked the Japanese Embassy to share information about the incident promptly and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China.

In response to the incident, Panasonic Holdings has decided to allow expats and their families to return to Japan temporarily and has set up a counseling office.

Toshiba, which has affiliated companies in China, notified its expats to be on alert.

Trading house Itochu, which has bases in the country, is urging its employees there to stay safe.

Toyota Motor, which has a joint venture company for research and development on electric vehicles in Shenzhen, said it will share with expats the information the company receives from the Japanese Embassy and Japanese schools.

S/ Watanabe Masayo, NNN Correspondent / At the school where the boy attended, flowers were brought here by a delivery service, likely from a sender from afar.

The Japanese school in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, is closed this week.

But people came to offer flowers and prayers outside the gate.

About 3,600 Japanese people live in Shenzhen, where many Japan-related firms are doing business.

On September 19, the school held a meeting with students' parents and guardians to discuss ways to reinforce safety measures on school routes.

S/ Tsukamoto Masao, Principal, Shenzhen Japanese School / The boy loved animals and cherished life. This is very shocking, and I am disappointed that this kind of incident happened again.

S/ Kanasugi Kenji, Japanese Ambassador to China / What we want to know is whether Japanese nationals were being targeted. We will continue to seek careful explanations from China.

The envoy visited Shenzhen to meet with the bereaved family.

The day of the attack happened to be the 93rd anniversary of the Mukden incident, which was a precursor to Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931.

Many Chinese are said to have heightened bitter sentiment against Japan on September 18.