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

[Cryptic]

but I couldn’t comment on whether you could sneak in or out of there undetected because I’m not very knowledgable about the security beyond that.

That level of security is probably directly proportionate to how close a fence hopper is to a flight line and a fatal interaction with an aircraft either landing or taking off. Security would also be inclined to stop and question people who obviously (key word) don't belong.

But....other than being around a flight line or obviously not belonging, once somebody is "in", they are not likely to be bothered by security so long as they blend in.

 

[fridaybaker]

As you stated, it is more than a little ironic.

I believe the source of the irony could be that the gate security is mostly designed to deter easy comings and goings by 'Merican citizens- not foreign spies. Military life can feature very long hours away from home. They pay is not great. So.... Uncle Sam makes up for it by providing as many benefits as he can.

One of the benefits is providing living conditions for servicemen and their families that are safe, stable and secure as possible. Thus, the gates deter alot of citizen riff raff inclined to disturb base tranquility in big ways and in small ways. These same people are not inclined to hop the fence, then walk (gasp) to the main part of the base.

Growing up on bases was largely like growing up in "Maybury". That does not mean that there were never problems. Some bases can have the population of a mid size city and have all associated the problems. But.... gates and active enforcement really dialed down the frequency of those problems. A good quality of life then leads to more re-enlistments- especially amongst Servicemen with families.

Thanks for that perspective, Cryptic! I do know that years ago, non-service folks could easily drive onto this base. It's only been in the last few years that there's been a bit of a crackdown on security. We can still enter, but you have to drive to a building a few blocks from the main gate, take a number and.....wait. Then you have a little "sit-down", wherein you state your business (which is checked by phone with those of the said business). Then, there's an online background check.

Next up: Main gate, where your vehicle is checked and you receive your pass. I guess I was a little nonplussed that I had to spend 45 minutes to merely access the base, in order to get a cat (yes, I got a cat there) when it seems that about 90% of the base is surrounded by chain link fence.

I'm glad you had that experience growing up. There are so many, many downsides to military life, at least having a bit of "Maybury" is a nice counterpoint. The base here (actually a "post") is also incredibly beautiful, and in the fall it's spectacular: Huge, old trees in firey autumn glory, and rows upon rows of old, red brick houses, punctuated by verdant lawn and streams. Truly a sight to behold! It almost makes me wish I were in the military, just to live in the prettiest part of town, by far.

 

[Incoherent]

That level of security is probably directly proportionate to how close a fence hopper is to a flight line and a fatal interaction with an aircraft either landing or taking off. Security would also be inclined to stop and question people who obviously (key word) don't belong.

But....other than being around a flight line or obviously not belonging, once somebody is "in", they are not likely to be bothered by security so long as they blend in.

I am quite shocked to hear how lax it is/was. For some reason I assumed security would be incredibly stringent (I was imagining spotlights and helicopters like in a movie) but I suppose we are talking of a case that even predates 9/11.

I am aiming to go to the next Yokota AFB Friendship Day in May ‘25 just out of pure curiosity to have a look around and also because I align with the theory that the base is involved somehow.
I also believe Ogikubo plays a part in all of this as previously discussed with Nic but that’s for another post once I gather links and type it up.

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

Interesting points, @Cryptic. Just to add that I've spoken to several people who lived on various USAF bases in Japan who mentioned sneaking off-base in their youth. (This includes an associate of my POI). They mentioned heading off-base both on-foot and driving off-base. So, yes. Sounds entirely possible.

I hope I am not making you a repeat a point from earlier, but I was wondering in your opinion if the perp or your POI owned or had access to a car and used it to commit the crime what do you think they did with it afterwards?

For example, if they left Japan shortly after the murders did they bring the car with them or did they give it away? If they gave it away or sold it, to whom and did the new owners keep records or pictures of it that could somehow be helpful to LE? Or did they throw it out or give it to a scrap yard or such?

One of the main reasons I ask is because sometimes cars can retain forensic evidence, like blood, hair fibers or soil from the scene trapped in the tire. After all these years likely the car and evidence has been destroyed but perhaps it’s identify could jog potential witnesses’ or nearby pedestrians memories? Or LE in Japan or abroad could review car registries, shipping orders or bills of sales to possibly also identify the killer or track his behavior following the murders? Also, my family still owns my brother’s sports car from 2000 and my cousins’s Porsche from the 80s so there may be a small, very small chance, they kept it?

 

[FacelessPodcast]

I hope I am not making you a repeat a point from earlier, but I was wondering in your opinion if the perp or your POI owned or had access to a car and used it to commit the crime what do you think they did with it afterwards?

For example, if they left Japan shortly after the murders did they bring the car with them or did they give it away? If they gave it away or sold it, to whom and did the new owners keep records or pictures of it that could somehow be helpful to LE? Or did they throw it out or give it to a scrap yard or such?

One of the main reasons I ask is because sometimes cars can retain forensic evidence, like blood, hair fibers or soil from the scene trapped in the tire. After all these years likely the car and evidence has been destroyed but perhaps it’s identify could jog potential witnesses’ or nearby pedestrians memories? Or LE in Japan or abroad could review car registries, shipping orders or bills of sales to possibly also identify the killer or track his behavior following the murders? Also, my family still owns my brother’s sports car from 2000 and my cousins’s Porsche from the 80s so there may be a small, very small chance, they kept it?

It's a good question, @AppleTreeGreen. The short answer is that; in the case of my POI, I'm not wholly sure. I think it's quite possible the car stayed behind in Japan (with his family) after he left. More broadly, I would imagine there's no need to scrap the car -- which I can only assume is complex and highly-regulated. Good luck throwing an apple core away on the streets of Tokyo, much less getting your rubbish sorted correctly in an apartment block. No idea how you'd get your car destroyed. Far more likely, I would guess, that they simply sold the car on. All the interviews I did with USAF personnel talked about the second-hand car market. In reality, these cars were fourth and fifth and sixth-hand. But the wear and tear was limited given that ownership would sometimes only be a year or two and not a lot of miles clocked up. There's also a slew of car dealerships that surround the base. Most (if not all) speak English given the proximity of the base and the American default towards car-ownership. You'll see signs outside saying stuff like: AMERICA OK! and whatnot. It's also entirely possible if you wanted to dump a vehicle, you'd just drive it across the way, sell it to Cars 2000, and then simply walk back to base. Of course, those dealerships would keep records. But 20+ years down the line...? Who knows.

But yes, in theory, there is a car still out there somewhere that was driven to Soshigaya Park and back. Given the killer kept his shoes on, despite shedding his own bloody clothes, it's entirely possible that some of the Miyazawa's forensic traces are in and around those pedals to this day, even if on an astronomically minute level. But it's the longest of shots.