Hi Tia, good question: the answer is no. But, I'm not actually sure this was ever a real lead. If you look at the source printing this story, it's not exactly top-tier national news. And, as always seems to be the way in lurid true crime in this part of the world, full of convenient gaps and acronyms. Everyone is Mr. K or Mr. R, there are never any records, nothing firm. I think it's possible this was basically a lead the TMPD chased up but it led to nothing. Because if it were real, if the idea that someone had employed the killer who was working locally AND he was guilty of other crimes, it would tell us that this man was likely still in Japan. If that's true, then I would be confident in the TMPD catching him sooner or later.
@FacelessPodcast, thank you for your response (btw, Tia stands for: “thanks in advance”, my wife would be quite upset if she thought I’d changed my name to Tia..!)
The following is all just speculation, just one possible theory:
I have no idea how deep the TMPD went on the restaurant worker (I’ll call him “R” as some others have) but if they didn’t go deep on “R”, I think they perhaps should. There are few references to him, but from what I’ve read, fellow employees said “R” was very off - unstable, and threatening. Possibly mentally ill. After the crime, several co-workers immediately pegged him as a possible suspect, especially based on age and appearance.
My questions would be (to TMPD):
-do you know “R”’s name? If you don’t, imo you need to find out. I understand the restaurant is long since closed, but maybe there were/are employment records. Are sole proprietors required to keep records like they do in the US for things like WC, SS, taxes, etc?
-what nationality was “R”?
-was “R” at work the next day - or any of the next few days (I’m sure odd schedule though due to holidays)? If he was, was his right hand bandaged?
-if “R” did not work in the next few days, did he simply disappear following the discovery of the Miyazawa family murders? What’s the story? Did he ever return to work? Whether he worked or not, co-workers apparently thought he should be looked at
-I understand that TMPD does not know the name of the man at the station 3 hrs north of Tokyo the next day with the grievously wounded right hand (I believe I read it was the right hand - with a cut so severe that you could see bone). It’s amazing to me that this man could have been treated for such a severe wound w/o having to provide any information. Even if insurance was not involved (I’m not sure how the healthcare system works in Japan - is it universal, no payment required?), it seems there should be a record of his treatment that would include a name.
I cannot find a link at the moment, but I also read that this mystery man at the station who sought treatment for his hand seemed unfazed by the severe injury. As if the pain didn’t affect him. Kind of an Anton Chigur thing. Very odd.
-were witnesses at the station - and witnesses who treated this man - shown a composite / e-fit of “R”? Did any of them think the man could have been “R”?
If TMPD don’t know who the man at the station was, how can they have ruled him out?
Maybe TMPD knows who “R” is and have ruled him out, but if they don’t know who he is - and if they don’t know his nationality, and if he resembled their composite suspect, and if (IF) the injured man at the station resembled “R”, I don’t see how.
If you Google “migrant workers in Japan”, you will find numerous search results that discuss Japan’s decades-long dire need for foreign workers. Due to the shrinking population over the past several decades (and maybe even going back to the early post-war years) Japan has desperately needed foreign workers at all skill levels. From what I’ve read, the situation today is virtually at crisis level.
This presents a conundrum though, as (imo) the Japanese government and Japanese people would prefer to keep their country and workforce homogeneous. Japanese. In short (again, jmo), the Japanese need migrant workers, but they only want the best. They also however need migrant workers who will perform the lowest level of labor - jobs that the Japanese themselves don’t want to do. This is not new. Many nations with declining populations find themselves in a similar predicament being similarly nationalistic.
In these instances, in a homogeneous nationalistic nation, it would not be surprising for a kind of caste system to develop, where foreign migrant workers (especially those doing menial labor) would be looked down upon. I can see how this could result in racism and discrimination - an underclass of migrant workers who are grossly underpaid, overworked, and looked down upon by the rest of society. I could also see it leading to resentment on the part of the migrant workers.
Could “R” (or any potential perp) have been just such a migrant worker or migrant student? Perhaps working a menial job - with a growing resentment (maybe even a hatred) of the Japanese people? Could he have been in Japan on a student visa?
Filipinos are the fourth biggest group in Japan’s foreign population. From the early 1980’s through 2000, the vast majority of OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Japan had been admitted on “entertainer” visas. Many worked “hostess” jobs, dancing and working (and “other” entertainment) in restaurants and bars and nightclubs -for extremely low wages. Many were housekeepers and caregivers. Visas were also granted to students. Most were 3-5 yr. In more recent years I think Japan has sought to bring in foreign workers with higher skill sets.
I think it’s possible that the perp in the Miyakawa murders might have been an OFW (possibly working a menial job, like part-time in a restaurant) or a young man on a student visa from the Philippines. Possibly somebody who had been living west of Tokyo for 6 mos or more. Are migrant workers and foreign students required to provide DNA samples in order to obtain a visa?
This is all just a theory, and I’m sure there are many things I have not considered.
From what I’ve read online though, I think the number of Filipinos working or studying in the Tokyo area in the late 90’s was around 50-60k. Direct flights from the Philippines to Japan are 5-7 hours. Many Filipinos saw Japan as an escape from poverty and crime. Destination airports included Osaka and Tokyo. Velkova trees grow in Osaka, Tokyo, and the northern Philippine. Hip packs are made in Osaka..
Apparently the knife handle wrapping technique (using a handkerchief) that the TMPD suspects was used by the perp in the Miyakawa murders is indigenous to Eastern China, but also to the northern Philippines (fish cleaning, other).
There is also a segment of the Philippine population that could have genetics from Spain and East Asia. A study in ‘09 suggests that approx. 53% of Filipino genes are from Southeast Asia and Oceania, 36% are from East Asia, and 5% are from Europe. There are descendants in the Philippines from the Spanish / European colonial period as well as from Persian Gulf and Arab sultanates formed from14th-15th century conquests.
I think the Edwards Air Base sand is a red herring. Jmo. There was an American air base in Luzon (Clark) but it was closed in the early 90’s. Again, I think the hip pack came from Osaka.
Were the Slazenger’s available in Angeles or Manila? How hard is the water used to wash clothes in the Philippines? Certainly a student could have had a fluorescent marker at one time in their hip pack. Also some skateboard tape.
I do not think the perp was the son of an American serviceman unless that serviceman was an Asian American (obvious due to DNA). But unless an Asian American serviceman’s offspring was never really “Americanized”, I don’t see such a person grabbing 4 barley teas over the other drinks. I also don’t think many young Asian American men - again, even those who have lived in Japan for several years - choosing to eat string beans with sesame seed. Idk, maybe somebody born in Japan or Korea or China to an Asian American service member who was also not very “Americanized”. But just how many of those are/were there?
Again, all just speculation, thinking out loud. I wonder whether enough could be learned (or was learned) from analysis of the DNA to rule out a Filipino? Was “R” a Filipino?
All jmo
