Japan - Miyazawa family of 4 murdered, Setagaya, Tokyo, 30 Dec 2000 #3

[FacelessPodcast]

Although it's minor, the most odd thing to me is the train schedule still attached to the fridge (via magnet?). Everything else in the kitchen appears to have been stripped, inventoried and packed into boxes. As a parent of 2 children similar in age to the Miyazawa's, there was most definitely children's art, projects, pictures etc. on that fridge. And, I find it impossible to believe the Miyazawa's kept nothing on that fridge door other than that flimsy schedule. As we know the killer was in the fridge and freezer, at the very least, the probability exists that he came into contact with that paper. In that regard, it should've been put into evidence.

I can't imagine they would have left that paper there if it carried any trace of the killer. In fact, I think it's more likely it was simply left due to its irrelevance to the killer. He might well have looked at it, or not. But what they've left is things belonging to the children, for obvious reasons, that the killer didn't come into contact. Same goes for the piano, various other things seen in the An Irie video. We know that the TMPD are all in favour of acquiescing to the City's desire to tear the house down citing that all evidence is logged and that the house is completely recorded via 3D models.

Another schedule that TMPD seems to place importance on, is the night's TV schedule. It's one of the most prominent points from the case on the TMPD website. While I understand its relevance, I don't understand its prominence regarding the case?

Is it one of the most prominent points on the website? From memory, it's the last thing on their information appeal document, right at the bottom--the language used attempting to jog the viewer's memory. Of course, at the time it was compiled, this would have been far more useful than it is today. As you say, if I were going to trim anything from that PDF, it would be the TV listing. To put it another way, I don't think there is any prominence regarding the case.

I've often wondered if TMPD has left things for the killer as a trap. To me, the whole premise of keeping the house up has meant something.

As I understand it, they don't actually want to leave it standing at all. Perhaps initially they might've thought the killer would return. But it's been 24 years and the only reason it's still standing is because of An Irie.