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

[Lalalacasbah]

About the scarf. I understand the scarf was a free type item given away at game centers, arcades, or uniform stores.. along those lines. It was well used like the bag so assumed used/worn(?) by the killer for awhile. It's the only item untraceable of origin. Coincidence or clue? Maybe I'm overthinking.

I still think that Town Seven/Ogikubo and arcade area(?) might be where they maybe crossed paths. I know I said this already... but if he didn't work or live right by Town Seven he could've went to multiple places to buy "supplies".

He seemed comfortable at Town Seven and knew his way around, where to go to get exactly what he needed. I guess if he hung out at a mall a lot he would know that too but maybe just shows his laziness like his blasé attitude about the house after the killings. I truly hope TMPD looked at all restaurant, arcade and store employees at Town Seven.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

There's a US (I think) writer/gamer reviewer that lived(lives?) in Ogikubo that made a post on his gaming review site back in 2008, I don't think I can post here (PM me if you'd like the link). Maybe @FacelessPodcast or @Incoherent might know who I mean?!

It's an interesting read because he describes in a very detailed manner about an arcade he loves - seconds walking distance from the exit of the Seiyu supermarket in Ogikubo in the basement of Town Seven.

He mentions walking past the bagel shop, rice shop, international grocery and through a winding passageway into the basement of the Town Seven building as he holds his breath walking past a fish market.

I have no idea if this was the structure of stores or the same in the building as it was in 2000. Article was written in 2008. @Incoherent might know if living there in 2000.

Regardless, you get a sense of the building and atmosphere, almost like being there. I imagine and wonder if the family ever walked those same places at all. I think their children maybe to young for the arcade but on the way to arcade you pass food/grocery stores so maybe same vicinity? MOO

 

[Charlot123]

Except the bathroom window wide open and the insect screen on the floor below it?
I could imagine the killer turning off all the lights before he escapes again to not be seen, but if he hadn’t escaped yet then I’m not sure of the likelihood of him carrying around cabinet drawers and throwing things everywhere, stepping over bodies, going up and down the stairs, eating and drinking etc, in pitch darkness.
At 3am either the lights were still on, or they weren’t and the window was wide open and screen on the floor. Both are noticeable in my opinion.

Nic has also already told us several times from his conversations with the chief that there were no witness sightings at all.

To quote the chief in Faceless “Japan is very good at collecting DNA, but terrible at using it”. Collecting DNA and having large databases won’t mean anything at all if the law still prevents it from being used in a way to find the killer, and at the moment it is still against the law. Setagaya city is currently fighting for this to be overturned but it is hugely unpopular in Japan due to people not wanting their privacy to be invaded in any other way.
It will be the usage laws that will change this case.

Until then, we have the TMPD and Nic doing the lord’s work trying to find him.

As you are closer to Japanese sources, have you ever come across the version that someone intentionally imitated continuous presence of the perpetrator in the house by first leaving it, and then entering later? I saw it somewhere online and I believe, the question was about the ability of a first-time perpetrator to stay in the house with four bodies, unless the person had severest mental illness.

(Can’t comment on what the Lord wants for fear of hubris, so I leave it up to you.)

 

[Incoherent]

I have a question.
I scoured through the threads but couldn't find whether or not it was already covered.

Do we know if the killer left the house with the lights on or not?
If he did, what were the lights that were still on?
If he didn't, did he leave any traces on the light switches when turning them off?
Was there any mention of this from Yasuko's mother or the police?

I'm the first to admit that ultimately it doesn't make a whole lot of difference but surely it would further suggest his route throughout the house, and if he did switch them off it would be really weird that he would go through them all after not caring about leaving traces.

Like the entrance point, just something random that has been bothering me lately.

It could be explained as many different situations, but looking back on pictures from that morning the porch light is still on here. Does it look like the light is also on in the window above the door? You can see the Irie’s porch light is off.
Looking back at the bathroom window which was found wide open the light in there also appears to be off.

All of these smaller details might be explained in An Irie’s book which I’m looking to get my hands on soon, as after Haruko she was the next one in the house I believe along with her husband.

 

[Janitor101]

Just a random question about the Miyazawa's activity during the late afternoon on Dec. 30.

We all know by now the Miyazawa's left their home presumably for a late shopping trip on the 30th. Were the TMPD able to retrace the family's steps with any success? Did they find evidence of any receipts, etc. from restaurants or from any store purchases inside their home?

 

[Cryptic]

No Ogikubo isn’t a rough area at all.

As for gambling, in the monetary sense, it is mostly illegal in Japan with very few exceptions. Back then almost strictly illegal. You cannot win money at pachinko, you can only win tickets that can be exchanged for prizes.

Thanks for your assessment of the Ogikubo area being very unlikely to be a hub of illegal or semi legal gambling. Another possibility is eliminated.

In regards to pachinko and prizes some illegal and quasi legal gambling places in my State have the same "play to win prizes" format.

And now the "but".....

"The house" charges inordinate amounts or money to play the games (money flows in). And.... the House then buys the won prizes back for hugely inflated prices (ohh so collector trinkets with serial numbers or chips- wink, nod). Money then flows out to the winners.

The goal is to offer gambling in actuality, but not be in violation of anti gambling laws in the technical sense. Rough Pachinko parlors in rough areas of Japan might follow the same format.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Just a random question about the Miyazawa's activity during the late afternoon on Dec. 30.

We all know by now the Miyazawa's left their home presumably for a late shopping trip on the 30th. Were the TMPD able to retrace the family's steps with any success? Did they find evidence of any receipts, etc. from restaurants or from any store purchases inside their home?

I am curious what all TMPD know as well on this. I didn't search the thread for it!

I believe mentioned already on the thread somewhere and I share this thought - but was the killer going through their paperwork looking for a receipt to destroy if they frequented a business/establishment that is connected to the killer?

Call me crazy, but possibly either a connection with Town Seven and to be honest... deep down I still feel like this comes back to Yasuko (maybe her daughter as well).

Maybe there was an interaction with Yasuko (and possibly daughter) and the killer. Yasuko was a very striking, attractive woman. She was described as warm, friendly and generous. Perhaps a young man may easily get fixated/enthralled with her (arrogant stalker type who had nerve to take what he wanted from her and her family and relish in her home after).

Or maybe she inadvertently insulted him in a brief interaction (grudge, put down). I had a stalker situation before and it didn't take much! I took his order at the restaurant I worked at. Barely any interaction. Next thing he's following me home, following my roommate, hiding in the bush watching me leave work, leaving flowers secretly, etc.

I think it's possible even with ONE interaction, someone maybe zoned in on Yasuko. And if she gave any rejection or showed disinterest... And this isn't a romantic thing, an obsessive situation is about power over another. MOO JMO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I'm a West Coaster Canadian trying to sleuth Japanese areas... please forgive me if I'm totally botching anything or appear completely daft lol

I found Uokou Ogikubo Main Store was/is(?) located on the basement floor of Town Seven in front of Ogikubo Station. Close to the arcade in the basement(?)

The Uokou store noted to be famous for its fresh fish and I've read very popular for people passing through Ogikubo on their way to work to get off the train and buying fish here before heading home. Description: a fish specialty store that serves sushi as well.

From what I read - Uoko's sushi is made without rust... @Incoherent do you know "without rust" means? Without knives? Their sushi does not contain wasabi, so children can enjoy easily too.

Also noted - there is an aquarium at the back of the store, and known that sometimes parents with small children come to look at the fish, and the store staff often stop and casually talk to them.

I might be going overboard, I'm unsure if the POI would've had a job at Town Seven if a military kid. I'm still trying to be open minded in case!

Also : *I do not know if this business existed back in 2000*

 

[Incoherent]

Here are the events of the day of the 30th confirmed and written by Ann Irie in her book entitled “If only you could know the meaning of this sadness” on the murders. These are only what is written by her in her book and not pulled from sources anywhere else, nor does she say these are the only events that happened that day. They are just from her perspective.

Out of interest for the movements of the Miyazawa’s on the 30th I will also include what Monazite’s blog reports on it, but these should not be taken as fact and are just what he reports on the case as someone knowledgeable. Note: I am leaving out anything Nic has already said specifically did not happen.

First, Ann Irie’s report from her book:

Time not mentioned: the Miyazawa family are cleaning their house
Afternoon: a new year decoration is put on the Miyazawa’s front door
Around 5pm: Haruko is eating a sweet potato she got from the Miyazawa’s house
Around 5pm: Niina brings over sukiyaki to the Irie’s house
Note: sukiyaki is a winter dish eaten from a large pot of soup filled with vegetables and meat, it is a popular new year meal
6:15pm: Ann receives a call from her husband who had gone to a barbershop and went to pick him up at the front of the train station
Around 6:30pm: the Miyazawa’s car is not there
7pm: the Irie family are eating dinner together at home
7:30pm: the Irie family are watching tv and talking together
Before 8:30pm: Haruko goes to her bedroom on the second floor to watch a TV special on the late singer and actress Hibari Misora
From 9pm: the family are watching the drama “the 300 million yen incident” and Ann’s husband falls asleep while watching
Before 11:24pm (yes 24 is written): the drama “the 300 million yen incident” finishes, Ann’s son goes to his bedroom on the third floor, Ann goes to her bedroom on the second floor
Before 11:25pm: the TV special on Hibari Misora finishes, Haruko turns off the TV herself in her bedroom
Around 11:30pm: Ann hears a clattering sound, her son hears the sounds of plywood being flipped over/turned over
Note: the Japanese is ambiguous here, it could mean being flipped over, turned over, knocked over
Around 1am: Ann is unable to sleep but says it was a quiet evening

Monazite’s report:

Morning: Mikio goes to an established cake shop in Chitose Karasuyama
Around noon: Mikio is seen arguing with a young man that almost hit/bumped into Niina with a skateboard
Around 5:30pm: the Miyazawas are seen shopping around Seijo Gakuenmae
After 6pm: the Miyazawas stop by Seijo Gakuenmae station to pick up photographs and cold medicine (there was a receipt for this)
Around 7pm: the Miyazawas and Iries speak on the internal phone line
Up to 10:50pm: the password protected file on Mikio’s computer is accessed and computer is being used
11:30pm: estimated time of death of all 4 of the Miyazawas

These are the two reports.

Side note: hopefully I can be helpful and answer more questions here from people soon if I can.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Here are the events of the day of the 30th confirmed and written by Ann Irie in her book entitled “If only you could know the meaning of this sadness” on the murders. These are only what is written by her in her book and not pulled from sources anywhere else, nor does she say these are the only events that happened that day. They are just from her perspective.

Out of interest for the movements of the Miyazawa’s on the 30th I will also include what Monazite’s blog reports on it, but these should not be taken as fact and are just what he reports on the case as someone knowledgeable. Note: I am leaving out anything Nic has already said specifically did not happen.

Thank you for doing this!

First, Ann Irie’s report from her book:

Time not mentioned: the Miyazawa family are cleaning their house
Afternoon: a new year decoration is put on the Miyazawa’s front door
Around 5pm: Haruko is eating a sweet potato she got from the Miyazawa’s house
Around 5pm: Niina brings over sukiyaki to the Irie’s house
Note: sukiyaki is a winter dish eaten from a large pot of soup filled with vegetables and meat, it is a popular new year meal

Is sukiyaki a home prepared meal? So did the Miyazawa's prepare/make this themselves and bring over to the Irie's? Or was this item purchased from a shop or made elsewhere?

Before 11:25pm: the TV special on Hibari Misora finishes, Haruko turns off the TV herself in her bedroom

RSBM: This is so sad, the timing of it all. I still can't believe the killer felt so confident to strike at his time with not just Mikio awake but not even intimidated by possible neighbours walking around and/or awake.

Around 1am: Ann is unable to sleep but says it was a quiet evening

That is quite unsettling. Knowing the killer was still likely lingering in the home with the dead... and Ann unable to sleep. Awful to hear this in hindsight

 

[Incoherent]

Is sukiyaki a home prepared meal? So did the Miyazawa's prepare/make this themselves and bring over to the Irie's? Or was this item purchased from a shop or made elsewhere?

Yes home prepared, it requires a lot of chopping of many different ingredients. Likely Yasuko prepared this for her sister’s family and had Niina take it over. MOO.

That is quite unsettling. Knowing the killer was still likely lingering in the home with the dead... and Ann unable to sleep. Awful to hear this in hindsight

20 minutes after Ann reports thinking that he was on Mikio’s computer, still in the house.
Ann mentions it was a quiet evening, however the killer was throwing things around and going up and down the stairs, etc. But she hears nothing and even says it was quiet. She says both her’s and Haruko’s rooms are on the second floor, but not whose shared a wall with the Miyazawa side.
Had the killer escaped around the time she was still awake I wonder if she would have heard something more outside.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

I don't mean to sound crass or inappropriate but considering the circumstances of the killer's utter bravado with potentially awake victims AND possibly awake neighbours (we have to assume killer would not know if neighbours were awake or would he know?) and lack of noise so to speak... does anyone know if TMPD looked into Ann's 13 yr old son's friends, school mates, friends of friends, acquaintances and associations? MOO

Any of them military kids or visiting? Not the exact age demographic, but I'm thinking through association which many crimes happen from.

Gossip/word gets around kinda thing about the property sales, skate park fight, some kid on the sideline/outskirts observing things and being arrogant and having the nerve to think the Miyazawa's are a problem. Not really a motive here... only trying to think of motivation. JMO

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Yes home prepared, it requires a lot of chopping of many different ingredients. Likely Yasuko prepared this for her sister’s family and had Niina take it over. MOO.

Ok thanks!

20 minutes after Ann reports thinking that he was on Mikio’s computer, still in the house.
Ann mentions it was a quiet evening, however the killer was throwing things around and going up and down the stairs, etc. But she hears nothing and even says it was quiet. She says both her’s and Haruko’s rooms are on the second floor, but not whose shared a wall with the Miyazawa side.
Had the killer escaped around the time she was still awake I wonder if she would have heard something more outside.

Did you just finish the book? I haven't even had time to look into the book (yet!) Anything else that jumps out to you from the book that is an eye opener? Does it sway your thoughts/opinions about anything or any new thoughts about things?

 

[Incoherent]

I don't mean to sound crass or inappropriate but considering the circumstances of the killer's utter bravado with potentially awake victims AND possibly awake neighbours (we have to assume killer would not know if neighbours were awake or would he know?) and lack of noise so to speak... does anyone know if TMPD looked into Ann's 13 yr old son's friends, school mates, friends of friends, acquaintances and associations? MOO

Any of them military kids or visiting? Not the exact age demographic, but I'm thinking through association which many crimes happen from.

Going by Ann’s timing here I would find it unlikely both houses were completely dark at the point the killer enters the house.
Ann, her son, and (potentially still sleeping) husband were watching TV in the living room. Haruko was watching TV in her bedroom. Mikio was on the computer on the ground floor of his house. Looking from outside there had to be some lights on or indication that people inside were awake. The killer still went in anyway.

Re: the son, he was one of my early thoughts that kind of spiralled into other thoughts if you don’t mind me riffing.

The Iries had only returned permanently from the UK that April of 2000 which is the beginning of the school year in Japan. From the beginning of the 90’s up until 2000 they lived in the UK but came back for the holidays occasionally.
The son had essentially grown up in the UK meaning he very likely spoke good English, as well as Ann and her husband being at least daily conversational. Yasuko’s cram school also taught English, and Mikio was in the US with his company sometimes and did plane liveries internationally.
Just these small facts open up the friendships and associations they all may have kept to a somewhat international level rather than just domestic, if you know what I mean.
For example, did the son go to language exchange groups or courses? Wouldn’t Ann want him to maintain his English ability? Did Ann or her husband have any affiliation with foreign families or groups in Tokyo or Japan that they had met? Who taught the English at Yasuko’s school? Did she have any families that were interested in their kids learning Japanese and English? Who did Mikio know if he worked internationally? Had he and Yasuko met anyone because of that?

On all of this though I would likely say the TMPD have thoroughly investigated it all and it occurred to them. But just food for thought perhaps.

 

[Charlot123]

Going by Ann’s timing here I would find it unlikely both houses were completely dark at the point the killer enters the house.
Ann, her son, and (potentially still sleeping) husband were watching TV in the living room. Haruko was watching TV in her bedroom. Mikio was on the computer on the ground floor of his house. Looking from outside there had to be some lights on or indication that people inside were awake. The killer still went in anyway.

Re: the son, he was one of my early thoughts that kind of spiralled into other thoughts if you don’t mind me riffing.

The Iries had only returned permanently from the UK that April of 2000 which is the beginning of the school year in Japan. From the beginning of the 90’s up until 2000 they lived in the UK but came back for the holidays occasionally.
The son had essentially grown up in the UK meaning he very likely spoke good English, as well as Ann and her husband being at least daily conversational. Yasuko’s cram school also taught English, and Mikio was in the US with his company sometimes and did plane liveries internationally.
Just these small facts open up the friendships and associations they all may have kept to a somewhat international level rather than just domestic, if you know what I mean.
For example, did the son go to language exchange groups or courses? Wouldn’t Ann want him to maintain his English ability? Did Ann or her husband have any affiliation with foreign families or groups in Tokyo or Japan that they had met? Who taught the English at Yasuko’s school? Did she have any families that were interested in their kids learning Japanese and English? Who did Mikio know if he worked internationally? Had he and Yasuko met anyone because of that?

On all of this though I would likely say the TMPD have thoroughly investigated it all and it occurred to them. But just food for thought perhaps.

An observation from my travels. In Asia, where people are polite but private, the best chance for an English-speaking foreigner to be approached by a local is inside a train station.

The foreigners simply stand out, trying to navigate their way in the subway, staring at the map. It would be especially common for older people who had lived in the US to approach us, but potentially anyone can do it.

Thinking that this might apply to anyone else, and the shopping at Ogikubo, and clothes bought there, and it being a subway station, too, I wonder if it could be a similar situation.

Is Ogikubo a crossing station, where some people might change the lane? Or is there some school/university next to it? Would the murderer typically use it for travels?

 

[dotr]

Out of the blue question, are the M's related to the writer, Kenji Miyazawa?

Kenji Miyazawa | Writer, Additional Crew, Soundtrack

Known for: From Up on Poppy Hill, Kaze no Matasaburô, Bungô: Sasayaka na yokubô

www.imdb.com

​

 

[FacelessPodcast]

Out of the blue question, are the M's related to the writer, Kenji Miyazawa?

Kenji Miyazawa | Writer, Additional Crew, Soundtrack

Known for: From Up on Poppy Hill, Kaze no Matasaburô, Bungô: Sasayaka na yokubô

www.imdb.com

​

Mikio Miyazawa | Animation Department, Additional Crew

 

[Incoherent]

Out of the blue question, are the M's related to the writer, Kenji Miyazawa?

Kenji Miyazawa | Writer, Additional Crew, Soundtrack

Known for: From Up on Poppy Hill, Kaze no Matasaburô, Bungô: Sasayaka na yokubô

www.imdb.com

​

The only problem with that is Kenji’s surname Miyazawa is written 宮沢 whereas Mikio’s family is written 宮澤 so it’s a nice coincidence they were both involved in animation but likely not.
Even the news outlets still write their family name as 宮沢 and haven’t bothered to correct themselves after 24 years. One of my biggest pet peeves.

 

[Charlot123]

Out of the blue question, are the M's related to the writer, Kenji Miyazawa?

Kenji Miyazawa | Writer, Additional Crew, Soundtrack

Known for: From Up on Poppy Hill, Kaze no Matasaburô, Bungô: Sasayaka na yokubô

www.imdb.com

​

The idea, though, even if incorrect, is wonderful.

Kenji Miyazawa was a person whose fame hit him way after his death. His sister died before, he left no children so he left all his archive to his brother. How much would such an inheritance cost nowadays?

It might be a coincidence. And I believe that the name Miyazawa, being of a descriptive origin, may not come from one progenitor. However, I mentally left to my list of motives to annihilate the whole family one more, and a serious one: family inheritance.

Wasn’t Mikio the only child?

And now imagine the situation if he were related to that Miyazawa. And were to inherit the archive of a person who died poor and unrecognized but whose original writings today could be costly?

Mozart, Modigliani, even Tesla. Can you imagine a hypothetical situation when people die poor, but leave the rights and the will to keep their drawings, sheet music, patents within the family. How much would the lives of their heirs be worth to the distant family members?

P.S. if the Japanese sources misspell the name, then could some “inheritance hunter”, seeing two Miyazawas linked in anime, assume that they were connected? One thing we can see is that people knew nothing of DNA tests, and paper trail can be forged.

 

[Lalalacasbah]

Going by Ann’s timing here I would find it unlikely both houses were completely dark at the point the killer enters the house.
Ann, her son, and (potentially still sleeping) husband were watching TV in the living room. Haruko was watching TV in her bedroom. Mikio was on the computer on the ground floor of his house. Looking from outside there had to be some lights on or indication that people inside were awake. The killer still went in anyway.

So nervy and down right crazy that the houses were lit to some extent. How in the world could a killer feel so comfortable before (entering) and after (staying) the murders? I'm starting to think there is a reason (don't know what but It just seems so untypical for a killer which is why this story is perplexing).

Re: the son, he was one of my early thoughts that kind of spiralled into other thoughts if you don’t mind me riffing.

The Iries had only returned permanently from the UK that April of 2000 which is the beginning of the school year in Japan. From the beginning of the 90’s up until 2000 they lived in the UK but came back for the holidays occasionally.
The son had essentially grown up in the UK meaning he very likely spoke good English, as well as Ann and her husband being at least daily conversational. Yasuko’s cram school also taught English, and Mikio was in the US with his company sometimes and did plane liveries internationally.
Just these small facts open up the friendships and associations they all may have kept to a somewhat international level rather than just domestic, if you know what I mean.

Great observations, thanks for sharing as I still feel like I don't know so much about this story! Yes, there could be a web of associations, not just someone in a close knit group kinda thing.

You just never know, for example my friend in my teens got a ride home with our mutual two friends. The adult driving the car was one of the friend's mom's boyfriend and he had a male friend with him - the random friend with the driver turned out to be an ex-con (sex offender) who was seen around her house after knowing where she was dropped off! He was actually arrested not long after for another offense.

So it goes to show how a web of associations however seemingly innocent or unknown- can lead people to people
From what I've read on here and from you and Nic specifically vouching that TMPD are top bar and investigated every avenue and I truly hope they expanded their nets to those on the sidelines.

For example, did the son go to language exchange groups or courses? Wouldn’t Ann want him to maintain his English ability? Did Ann or her husband have any affiliation with foreign families or groups in Tokyo or Japan that they had met? Who taught the English at Yasuko’s school? Did she have any families that were interested in their kids learning Japanese and English? Who did Mikio know if he worked internationally? Had he and Yasuko met anyone because of that?

On all of this though I would likely say the TMPD have thoroughly investigated it all and it occurred to them. But just food for thought perhaps.

Very good questions, I too wonder these things. There has to be some connections somewhere.