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.

 

[Incoherent]

Thank you!

1) did the Miyazawas have curtains or blinders on their windows? From the photo with the policeman it would appear that the one on the left (of which only half is seen) is covered from the inside?

You’re welcome!

The house had curtains, however the window you see there is the toilet and both the bathroom and toilet have slightly frosted glass for obvious reasons. You can see in this picture of the house the windows all had mosquito coverings too which obscure one half of the window.


Re: the train schedule, since it’s there from the press day I don’t think it had any relevance other than, as discussed, to perhaps jog people’s memories the same as the tv schedule on the PDFs.
About things being taken if it had any evidence, you can see in this picture the top drawer from the cabinet in the living room is still missing. I believe that might be one of the drawers found on top of Mikio (unsure here) but had the documents from it dumped in the bath, or it was rummaged through, so it was never returned to the house.


Even in 2020 the house was already falling apart, and in An Irie’s interviews she almost berates the city and police about wanting to demolish it before the case is solved. However now that the house isn’t being used for collecting evidence etc and has just been left to stand alone I wonder how long it has left before it becomes a hazard for the people that use Soshigaya park or one big earthquake makes it collapse. Here’s the state of the kid’s bedroom back in 2020 and also a picture of the entrance that I just found interesting because we rarely get to see that angle. Note the windows have been covered up to prevent being able to see inside through the curtains.

 

[fridaybaker]

A.I. is a conundrum. She doesn’t want the house to be demolished “while the case isn’t solved”, which I presume must mean that she thinks at some point it will be helpful to the investigation. Maybe for a “walk-through” by a jury during a trial or something? Meanwhile, there is likely ample DNA awaiting her consent (24 years on and counting…) to be privately tested so that we can know who the killer is. I tread lightly here, but the idea of a very thankful killer is inescapable to me.

Over the years on this case, I’ve come to the conclusion that the most likely theory regarding a suspect is Nic’s. But with any theory, how does the above fit in? Is it just a coincidental bit of life, messy as it often is, or is it an integral part of this case? An essential piece of the puzzle? Is there a connection so hidden that it would be, essentially, impossible to know for anyone but perhaps A.I. herself? Something silent. Perhaps a fear of a connection?

 

[Incoherent]

Interestingly something that isn’t mentioned much is that there was a path directly behind the house that went in front of the fence and led right to the other side to the river. It seems it was accessible to anyone.

I had seen it when I visited the house but it is now all blocked off and overgrown, but if you see these two images here it shows the path.

He would have still needed the fence as leverage to reach the bathroom window but it seems as though anyone could have walked directly behind the house. The Irie side has windows down to the ground so in theory someone could stand right by them if they wanted to.



The second image is when a man who was reported to have jumped out from that path in front of a car was being reported on by the news.

 

[Incoherent]

Correction to above post: someone can walk down that path but the fence blocks you from leaving the property area on the other side, meaning you can only come back the way you came.

 

[Charlot123]

A.I. is a conundrum. She doesn’t want the house to be demolished “while the case isn’t solved”, which I presume must mean that she thinks at some point it will be helpful to the investigation. Maybe for a “walk-through” by a jury during a trial or something? Meanwhile, there is likely ample DNA awaiting her consent (24 years on and counting…) to be privately tested so that we can know who the killer is. I tread lightly here, but the idea of a very thankful killer is inescapable to me.

Over the years on this case, I’ve come to the conclusion that the most likely theory regarding a suspect is Nic’s. But with any theory, how does the above fit in? Is it just a coincidental bit of life, messy as it often is, or is it an integral part of this case? An essential piece of the puzzle? Is there a connection so hidden that it would be, essentially, impossible to know for anyone but perhaps A.I. herself? Something silent. Perhaps a fear of a connection?

Well, this is at least something we can discuss.
- It might be the situation when A.I. is unaware but has own ideas, right or wrong, and may be afraid to know more.

- another thing I am thinking of is the house. What purpose does it serve? It could be just emotional - the last thing left of that family. We do visit gravesites, right? There is nothing there, but I guess it is the place to come back to our memories, the last connection between us and the departed. Maybe this is all the house is to An.

- However, sometimes I think, old houses might be rebuilt many times. That house looks strange, more like an agglomeration of swallows’ nests, as if it was expanded from time to time. What if there is something peculiar about its construction that is unseen from the inside or outside, but will inevitably be noticed if the house is demolished in a planned way? If it collapses, it is a pile of rubbish. If a quake destroys it, it is destroyed, period. But planned demolition might uncover something interesting.

So I don’t know what tools are used to detect, say, cavities under the house? A thermal radar or something else? I wonder if the police has examined the area under the foundation? I know they have made a 3d model, but they might have assumed that the foundation is solid, and it may be not. Or, there could be something underneath the foundation. This is what has come to my mind.

 

[dotr]

Well, this is at least something we can discuss.
- It might be the situation when A.I. is unaware but has own ideas, right or wrong, and may be afraid to know more.

- another thing I am thinking of is the house. What purpose does it serve? It could be just emotional - the last thing left of that family. We do visit gravesites, right? There is nothing there, but I guess it is the place to come back to our memories, the last connection between us and the departed. Maybe this is all the house is to An.

- However, sometimes I think, old houses might be rebuilt many times. That house looks strange, more like an agglomeration of swallows’ nests, as if it was expanded from time to time. What if there is something peculiar about its construction that is unseen from the inside or outside, but will inevitably be noticed if the house is demolished in a planned way? If it collapses, it is a pile of rubbish. If a quake destroys it, it is destroyed, period. But planned demolition might uncover something interesting.

So I don’t know what tools are used to detect, say, cavities under the house? A thermal radar or something else? I wonder if the police has examined the area under the foundation? I know they have made a 3d model, but they might have assumed that the foundation is solid, and it may be not. Or, there could be something underneath the foundation. This is what has come to my mind.

Since watching the acclaimed Korean film, Parasite, the idea of hidden passages/people, in/or around the M family house, also comes to my mind. imo.

 

[Incoherent]

Well, this is at least something we can discuss.
- It might be the situation when A.I. is unaware but has own ideas, right or wrong, and may be afraid to know more.

- another thing I am thinking of is the house. What purpose does it serve? It could be just emotional - the last thing left of that family. We do visit gravesites, right? There is nothing there, but I guess it is the place to come back to our memories, the last connection between us and the departed. Maybe this is all the house is to An.

- However, sometimes I think, old houses might be rebuilt many times. That house looks strange, more like an agglomeration of swallows’ nests, as if it was expanded from time to time. What if there is something peculiar about its construction that is unseen from the inside or outside, but will inevitably be noticed if the house is demolished in a planned way? If it collapses, it is a pile of rubbish. If a quake destroys it, it is destroyed, period. But planned demolition might uncover something interesting.

So I don’t know what tools are used to detect, say, cavities under the house? A thermal radar or something else? I wonder if the police has examined the area under the foundation? I know they have made a 3d model, but they might have assumed that the foundation is solid, and it may be not. Or, there could be something underneath the foundation. This is what has come to my mind.

It is an interesting idea, but Japan has a very strict building code due to seismic activity so the foundations of the house and what is underneath it is planned according to regulations before being built. Even a wooden house like that from the 90’s is built to withstand magnitude 7+ without taking much damage, as is apparent from the many earthquakes it has withstood over the last 24 years including the 9.1 in 2011. With zero maintenance now that is a bit of a different story as to whether it could totally withstand a massive quake or not.
So I’m not so sure there could be anything under it honestly.

 

[Incoherent]

Since watching the acclaimed Korean film, Parasite, the idea of hidden passages/people, in/or around the M family house, also comes to my mind. imo.

Off topic: fantastic film!

 

[TokyoSleuth]

For example, taking a photo to sell a dress on eBay comes to my mind. Lying on the bed, hanging on the window… it is just an example but if Mikio was selling something online, maybe airplane models, and took a photo against the window here is one’s way to see how it opens.

As pointed out by @Incoherent (great work with the photos by the way mate) that type of mechanism is standard in all Japanese homes for windows and balcony doors. So anyone who had spent more than a month in Japan would know both how to open it and that they are easy to forget to lock.

Re: the train schedule, since it’s there from the press day I don’t think it had any relevance other than, as discussed, to perhaps jog people’s memories the same as the tv schedule on the PDFs.

This is interesting for me as I had always wondered due to the house location whether they would use the Keio line to the North, or Odakyu to the South. Specifically having a schedule for Seijo Gakuen means it was the latter. Also this makes me think that it was more than just for Mikio's commute. He would know exactly which train he needed to take to work each morning and would not need a schedule. This raises the possibility that they used that line frequently at irregular times, shopping etc. Nothing to read into too much, but the Odakyu line is a fairly common one for stalking and Chikan incidents, even been a couple of stabbings in the past few years.

That house looks strange, more like an agglomeration of swallows’ nests, as if it was expanded from time to time.

There are quite a few houses near me that have similar construction styles. Seems like it was a fairly typical layout for houses built around that time period.

Since watching the acclaimed Korean film, Parasite, the idea of hidden passages/people, in/or around the M family house, also comes to my mind. imo.

Echoing @Incoherent again on two points:
1. Great film!
2. This is Japan, not Korea. Building regulations, styles, and historical factors are not the same.

 

[Incoherent]

This is interesting for me as I had always wondered due to the house location whether they would use the Keio line to the North, or Odakyu to the South. Specifically having a schedule for Seijo Gakuen means it was the latter. Also this makes me think that it was more than just for Mikio's commute. He would know exactly which train he needed to take to work each morning and would not need a schedule. This raises the possibility that they used that line frequently at irregular times, shopping etc. Nothing to read into too much, but the Odakyu line is a fairly common one for stalking and Chikan incidents, even been a couple of stabbings in the past few years.

Had wondered that too because Seijo and Chitose are both exactly the same distance away just in different directions. But the schedule could allude to using Seijo more for commuting and getting about. Using Seijo would mean a walk past the tennis courts and Soshigaya park each day, whereas Chitose would be walking away from it.

I looked into where the Interbrand office is and it’s currently in Toranomon Hills but it seems to be a fairly recent move, and before that their office was in Hiro-o. Unsure about back in 2000 if they had a different location. The commutes aren’t super great for Tokyo.

Re: the locks, yeah… that type of lock really isn’t great. It always feels a bit unsafe to me. I’ve definitely left mine unlocked by mistake a few times. The family could have done that too… or for the bathroom, perhaps it was open anyway to let the steam out after using the bath. I personally believe the killer didn’t fill the tub and it was already still full when he entered. In pictures it had the cover over it to keep the water warm. So they could have either just been done with the bath or still about to use it.

Got any thoughts about it?