Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.

A play rehearsal turned deadly in Japan when an actor was stabbed in the stomach with a samurai sword — and police Tuesday were investigating whether it was an accident or murder.

Daigo Kashino groaned after his abdomen was punctured Monday with the 28-inch weapon, witnesses said. He died several hours after he was rushed to a Toyko hospital from the studio, the Japan Times reported.

Now investigators are questioning the other actors to see if any of them saw what happened before the 33-year-old Kashino doubled-over.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of his death, Japanese media reported.