UPDATE 3 - Japan: Police suspect suicide in blasts that killed 1

* UPDDATES THROUGHOUT

TOKYO (AA) – Japanese police suspect that an apparent suicide was behind two explosions that hit a city north of Tokyo, killing a man found to be carrying a suicide note and injuring three other people.

News broadcaster NHK reported that the casualties were from a blast at a park in Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi prefecture, where the body -- believed to be that a 72-year-old former Self-Defense Forces officer named in the note -- was recovered.

The other explosion occurred in a nearby parking lot where three cars were burned -- including one belonging to the retired officer.

The blasts were reported to have occurred at around 11.30 a.m. (0230GMT) near the park during a traditional cultural event that was later canceled.

They took place around half an hour after the house of the retired officer, located around 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the park, was burned down.