Brazilian F1 superfan’s death in Japan stirs nationalistic debate on foreign crime
Influencer Amanda Borges da Silva had posted about how much she loved Japan and told her mother that she felt safe in the country
Amanda Borges da Silva at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. Photo: Instagram/ammandaborges
A Brazilian influencer and Formula One fan who declared her love for Japan and told her mother she felt completely safe in the country was found dead in suspicious circumstances – just hours before she was due to fly home.
Amanda Borges da Silva, 30, died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a rented flat in Narita, near Tokyo’s main international airport, on May 1.
Her death has triggered a criminal investigation and the arrest of an unemployed Sri Lankan man who allegedly fled the scene – as well as a wave of nationalist backlash online over foreign crime in Japan.
Abaseliya Udayanga, 31, was taken into custody three days later on suspicion of setting fire to an occupied building. Japanese media reported that he left the flat without attempting to extinguish the blaze.
A number of personal items were also missing, local media have quoted police as saying, including a mobile phone, jewellery and electronic devices. Reports in Brazilian media have suggested that da Silva had been drugged and that police in Japan are investigating whether her death was deliberate.
Amanda Borges da Silva at Tokyo DisneySea. Photo: Instagram/ammandaborges
The incident has made headlines around the world – in part because da Silva was a well-known Formula One “superfan” who also had close to 13,000 followers on Instagram – but triggered angry reactions on social media about foreigners committing crimes that tarnish Japan’s reputation for safety.
“I think Japan should set higher hurdles for immigration regulations, like Singapore,” said a message on a translated version of the Brazil Daily News website. “As a Japanese person, I find it intolerable that a foreigner commits a crime in Japan, which is not their home, and another foreigner dies.
“I can’t help but worry that one day Japan will become a country where Japanese children can no longer live safely.”
Another added: “Recently, foreigners have come to Japan and praised it, saying things like ‘Japan is an easy place to live’ and ‘Japan is a safe country’ – but this is largely due to the excellent Japanese police, the discipline and education of the Japanese people, and the cultivation of a gentle, non-confrontational personality.
“Peace and safety are not something that just occurred naturally, but have been cultivated over a long history. Foreigners need to understand this and follow the rules while they are in Japan. I am truly concerned that more foreigners will come to Japan, commit more crimes, break more rules, violate manners and turn Japan into a country that is no longer safe.”
According to media reports, da Silva arrived in Japan in April to watch the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture. A resident of Sao Paulo, she spent the following weeks travelling around the country and detailing her experiences on social media, including Tokyo DisneySea and Tokyo’s Shinjuku district.
In posts, she wrote: “I love Japan” and “Thank God! For treating me well and giving me special times. I love this country!”. In another post, she said: “Japan is a very safe country. That is why I want to move here.”
On the day before her death, da Silva phoned her mother and said: “I feel safe in Japan,” the O Globo website reported.
According to police, a fire was reported in a rental flat in Narita City, close to Narita Airport, at 9am on May 1. A neighbour reported seeing a body being removed from the property on a stretcher and paramedics attempting to perform CPR. It was later confirmed that da Silva had died of smoke inhalation.
Three days later, police arrested Udayanga on suspicion of arson. He is also being questioned about whether da Silva was given drugs before the incident and why he fled the flat without attempting to extinguish the fire.
Da Silva’s family has issued a statement asking for donations to help cover the US$9,580 cost of repatriating her body to Brazil.
