Nagano father of victims in yakuza shooting calls for support
Those are the words of 60-year-old Takenori Ichikawa. Five years ago, a yakuza member broke into the house in the town of Sakaki through the window and took the lives of his daughter and son.
Last month, Ichikawa spoke to Fuji News Network (June 2) about his unhealed grief. Since the incident, the father has continued to call for the expansion of support for crime victims, saying that 'there is still a lot of room for improvement.'
On the night of May 26, 2020, gang member Sho Ozawa, aged 35 at the time, broke into and shot and killed Ichikawa's eldest daughter, 22-year-old Anna, and second son, 16-year-old Naoto, with a handgun. Ozawa then committed suicide on the spot.
Two days before the incident, police had obtained an arrest warrant for Ozawa on suspicion of assaulting Ichikawa's eldest son. Police had also taken measures to evacuate the son. However, this did not prevent the crime from being committed against the family.
'Yesterday [May 19] was Naoto's 21st birthday,' Ichikawa said. 'I spent the whole day thinking, 'What kind of 21 year old would he have been?' Anna will be 28 on her birthday, so she is at that age where she would have started a family and raised children. But a life surrounded by many grandchildren is no longer possible, and that has become the future for me and my wife.'
On the night of May 26, 2020, gang member Sho Ozawa shot and killed two people in the town of Sakaki (X) False rumors
Adding to the pain are the 'false rumors' and 'slander,' such as 'the eldest son had ties to a gang' and 'it's the father's fault for not letting him escape.'
'The loss of two children is already painful for our family, and the secondary damage adds even more to the suffering. It's been a difficult five years,' said Ichikawa.
The government is offering some support.
In 2022, the prefecture enacted the Crime Victim Support Ordinance, which includes the payment of condolence money to bereaved families and victims.
The movement for such support by municipalities accelerated following the murder of four people in Nakano City in 2023. Currently, 73 of the 77 municipalities have ordinances in place. The remaining four municipalities are expected to enact their ordinances by fiscal 2025.
Ichikawa said, 'I believe that being in a stable economic environment is absolutely necessary for the psychological damage caused by crime to heal, so this ordinance will allow for significant assistance to victims. I think it is a big step forward that [support] has become possible thanks to the enactment of the ordinance.' 'Tomoni-kai'
'Tomoni-kai' was launched last year by citizen volunteers in Chikuma City, Nagano Prefecture. In order to spread understanding about crime victim support, the group meets once a month to learn about the current state of efforts nationwide. Ichikawa also participated in the activity on May 17.
'Tomoni-kai' representative Yamazaki Kazuo said, 'In everyday life, it is difficult to understand the feelings, living conditions and hardships of those who have become victims of crime. It is very important to actively look at the crimes that occur every day in the world from the victim's perspective.'
Ichikawa said, 'It is important to let people know, and if you feel that the voices of the victims are strongly needed when talking about the reality, we would like to cooperate.'
Five years have passed since the incident. Ichikawa said he would like to continue to share his experiences and thoughts as a victim in order to expand support for crime victims.
'It is true that there are still some areas that have not been noticed and some areas that I think can be done. The bereaved families of victims of violent crimes are so confused that they do not know what to ask for, and they lose sight of themselves for a long period of time, so I think it is necessary to understand this and use your imagination to create support,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tokyo Reported
20-07-2025
- Tokyo Reported
‘I was reckless' – Woman answering Instagram ad winds up in adult video
SHIZUOKA (TR) – On August 16, 2023, Shizuoka Prefectural Police arrested 41-year-old twin brothers from Shiga Prefecture over the unlawful filming and publishing of adult video (AV) productions featuring women in their 20s. It was alleged that the pair did not provide actresses with instructions or contracts for AV titles between November 2022 to May 2023. The suspects were accused of violating the Adult Video Appearance Victim Prevention and Relief Act, which had been enacted the year before. The arrests were the first under the law in Shizuoka. All told, the unnamed suspects earned around 300 million yen by illegally recruiting more than 100 women to appear in adult video productions that were sold online. The case emerged six months before, when one of the victims, aged in her 20s and from Shizuoka, called police. She said, 'I appeared in an adult video production and my identity was revealed. I can't get the video deleted.' Police then launched an investigation, which led to the arrests. Another victim, also aged in her 20s, expresses regret about her participation in the filming to Fuji News Network (Aug. 25, 2023). In doing so, she tells the broadcaster about the recruitment process that led to her appearing in an AV production. The unnamed suspects earned around 300 million yen by illegally recruiting more than 100 women to appear in adult video productions Difficult for them to refuse One day, while browsing Instagram, she was attracted by an advertisement for a 'high-paying part-time job over a short time.' So she clicked the link and registered on chat app Line. She then received a message from the other party. This was a recurring theme in the recruitment process. According to police, the two suspects recruited women on social media sites such as Instagram and TikTok, claiming they can provide 'high-income' for 'one-day work.' Perhaps to put the minds of the recruits at ease, they also posted images of women holding bundles of cash. When the potential actresses contacted them, they would communicate via Line. All of the footage was filmed on the day they first met. They would pick up the women in their car and, without telling them where they were going, take them to a deserted parking lot, making it difficult for them to refuse. Suspects showed potential victims photos of women with handfuls of cash 'It's like this' During the recruitment, she was asked for her name and height, and asked to send a photo of her face and a full-body photo. Although she knew it was for AV, she followed the instructions because of the high salary and curiosity. She then received a reply. After an explanation of the work flow and the required time, the shooting date was arranged. The Line message she received from the other party said, 'We will discuss again on the day what we can and cannot do, and we will make a plan and proceed with the shooting to the extent that we can.' About a month later, they met at a certain railway station and she got into a big black car with the two suspects. After some filming on the roof of a building, they headed to a hotel. In the Line exchanges beforehand, she conveyed concerns she had, such as her showing her face during the shoot and the necessity for the male actor to wear contraception. She was assured that this would be discussed and decided on the day of the meeting. However, when she got into the black car, she was unilaterally told, 'It's like this' — meaning she would show her face and the male actor would not use contraception. One of the suspects said, 'Basically, it is sold on overseas sites and there are few Japanese people buying it, so there is little risk of your identity being revealed.' Regarding contraception, she was told, 'It's natural not to use contraception.' According to her, there was no opportunity to refuse. A victim in her 20s says: 'Honestly, I feel like I deserved it because I was so reckless' 'You will not be found out' Before filming, the woman was shown a contract-like document filming and signed her name when asked. She thought it was a consent form for appearing in the film. However, she was not given a proper contract as required by law. Regarding when the video would be released, she was told, 'At the earliest, two or three days later, and at the latest, a week later. The week after it is released is the best time for it to be viewed, so if your identity is not recognized by then, you can assume that you will not be found out.' She was then advised, if she was found out, 'They had originally filmed only your face, and that was used. Just explain that it was a fake video that was fabricated on your own.' After filming at the hotel, she was given a total of 110,000 yen, consisting of 100,000 yen as an appearance fee and 10,000 yen for transportation. She was then taken back to the station where they had originally met and parted ways. About a month after the shooting, investigators contacted her. 'Your name was in a case under investigation,' one investigator said. The video in which she appeared was confiscated by the police before it could be released. 'Honestly, I feel like I deserved it because I was so reckless,' she tells the network, 'but it seems like some people have actually been found out, so I feel really sorry for them. It's scary to think that it could have happened to me.' During the investigation, police seized smartphones belonging to the suspects Filmed, acted in and edited the productions The aforementioned twin suspects were also accused of displaying obscene electromagnetic content by making 53 uncensored video files available for viewing by an unspecified number of people via an online video sales site. According to police, the younger brother was the ringleader of the operation, responsible for recruiting the actresses and the signing of the contracts. He also filmed, acted in and edited the productions. Upon completion, he uploaded each video online. Meanwhile, the older brother assisted with filming and performed as an actor. The two had been posting the videos they filmed online since around 2020, selling them for between 2,000 yen and 25,000 yen each. Police estimate that sales totaled around 300 million yen. During the investigation, police seized several thousand videos, including those that have not yet been released. Based on their analysis, they believe that more than 150 people, aged between 19 and 36, appeared in the productions. The actresses were from everywhere between Hokkaido and Okinawa prefectures. Many of them were students and office workers. The appearance fees ranged between 100,000 yen and 200,000 yen. During the investigation, police seized masks and computers belonging to the suspects Filmmakers are prohibited from lying or threatening Under the Adult Video Appearance Victim Prevention and Relief Act, when a filmmaker enters into a contract to perform an act, he or she is obligated to prepare a contract to deliver to the performer and explain the contents of the contract in detail. Violation of this is punishable by imprisonment of up to six months in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen. Even if the performer agrees to be filmed, he or she can unconditionally terminate the contract at their own will up until one year after the release. As well, the performer will not be liable for damages such as monetary payments due to the termination of the contract. Further, filmmakers are prohibited from lying or threatening to prevent the termination of the contract. Violators face a maximum of three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen. In the case of corporations, the fine can reach 100 million yen. In addition, filmmakers are not allowed to film for one month after the contract is delivered. And even after filming is completed, the filmmaker is prohibited from publishing the footage for four months. This is to allow the performer 'time to reconsider.' Support group The Organization for Pornography and Sexual Exploitation Survivors (PAPS) works to prevent persons from unwanted appearances in adult video productions. Since its inception in 2009, it has received a steady stream of consultations from all over the country. Kazuna Kanajiri is a social worker. She is also the director of PAPS. According to her, the AV industry has been rife with deception. 'There are cases where people thought they were doing a high-paying part-time job or working in the food and beverage industry, but it turned out to be an adult video shoot,' she tells the network. 'There have also been cases where people went to the shooting site thinking it was a normal modeling job only to be forced to arrange an adult video. There is a relatively good system now in place to provide relief before being filmed, so we would like to convey that if you feel like you're in trouble, that's the time to seek advice.' Regarding the new law, she welcomes it. 'The legislature has acknowledged that appearing in adult videos can be a form of victimization, and it's okay to seek advice, making it easier for people to seek advice.' However, she questions the fact that there are no penalties for violators who film within one month of enacting a contract and publish an AV before four months elapses after filming. 'The filmmakers are well aware that there are no penalties,' she says, 'and they seem to be overconfident, thinking, 'If we get contacted by the victim, we can just stop selling it.''
Tokyo Reported
13-07-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Street drinking by foreigners in Shibuya rankling locals
TOKYO (TR) – Over the past year, there have been several incidents near JR Shibuya Station in which foreigners have been the source of trouble. In one case, two foreigners jumped on the back of garbage truck. About six months before, another climbed on the roof of a convenience store. Both of those cases involved persons who had been drinking — and with summer here, Fuji News Network (July 11) reports that locals are upset at regular street drinking by foreigners in the area, which is now prohibited. The focus is a Family Mart outlet on Shibuya Center-gai street in Udagawacho. On the night of July 10, the network brought a camera to the area after a torrential downpour. By around 8:00 p.m., several foreigners had gathered at the aforementioned convenience store. Bottles in hand, they were drinking wine. (The network notes that there were also Japanese people drinking in the area.) Before the network knew it, the number of people had swelled to about 20, completely blocking the entrance to the convenience store. When the network confronted one male foreigner about street drinking, he insisted, 'It's okay. This is a convenience store, not the street. I don't drink on the street. I don't drink beer.' 'It's only 300 yen and you can get drunk!' Starting from October 2024, an ordinance banned drinking in public places around JR Shibuya station between 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. daily. The goal is to reduce concerns about safety, noise and litter that comes with street-drinking. This is the first summer since the restriction was put in place — and many do not seem to be paying attention. When the network left the convenience store, there were bottles and empty cans scattered everywhere. Drinking on the street continued even after 1:00 a.m. Among those partaking were some foreign women sitting on the premises of a building. 'If you're drinking in [inside a bar], you're not getting drunk, so this is what you get,' said one woman, who had missed her last train home. 'It's good value for the money! I mean, if you drink at a bar, it would cost thousands of yen. If you drink here, it's only 300 yen and you can get this drunk!' The network noted that there have been many complaints from occupants of neighboring buildings over nuisance behavior. Much like the man quoted earlier, the woman went on to say that she was not in violation of the ban since she was technically not standing in the street. After saying she will dispose of her garbage, she continued, 'It's to stay hydrated [to beat the heat]. I'm going to live my life the way I want to. You only live once!' 'It's only 300 yen and you can get drunk!' The clean-up afterward begins each morning. Everyday, representatives from the Shibuya Center Shopping District Promotion Association collect trash in the area. The owner of a nearby restaurant told the network, 'It's because people don't follow the rules. Smoking on the street is also prohibited, but there were about 30 cigarette butts on the stairs of our building today.' Tatsuji Suzuki, the chairman of the Shibuya Center Shopping District Promotion Association, said that the perception of street drinking needs to change. 'If you come to Shibuya and see a few people drinking on the street, people may misunderstand and think it is acceptable. So I think it's important for tour companies to spread the word and make announcements.'
Tokyo Reported
05-07-2025
- Tokyo Reported
Man apprehended over fatal stabbing in Ikebukuro ‘didn't care' if victim died
TOKYO (TR) – A man in custody over the alleged fatal stabbing of male employee at a law firm inside the Sunshine 60 building in Toshima Ward earlier this week has told police that he 'didn't care if he died,' according to media reports. Just before noon on July 1, a male employee at the Adire Legal Professional Corporation, located on the 31st floor, alerted emergency services. 'A male staff member has been stabbed,' the caller said. Authorities arriving at the scene, found the victim — later identified as 36-year-old Daiki Yoshino — collapsed with stab wounds to the throat and neck. He later confirmed dead at a hospital, reports Fuji News Network (July 1). Shortly thereafter, Reito Watanabe, a 50-year-old resident of Shinjuku Ward, appeared at a police box near Ikebukuro Station's East Exit. He then confessing to stabbing the man with a kitchen knife. Police then arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder. At the time, he was in possession of bloodstained folding knife with a 9-centimeter-long blade. Two additional knives were found in his backpack. He told police, 'I don't remember stabbing him, but before I knew it I had done it.' Police sent Watanabe to prosecutors on suspicion of murder and violating of the Swords and Firearms Control Law on July 3. Reito Watanabe was arrested for murder on July 1 (X) Without saying a word According to police, Watanabe stabbed Yoshino from behind while he was seated without saying a word. The suspect then fled on foot toward the station. The East Exit of Ikebukuro Station is located about 500 meters from the scene. In early June, Watanabe told an acquaintance that he was going to stab someone and go to prison, reports the Yomiuri Shimbun (July 3). His father, who had been contacted, then consulted the police. Police officers later visited the suspect's home along with his parents, but he was not there. After confirming that there were no dangerous objects in the residence, they asked that his parents to talk to him and contact the police at a later date, reports NHK (July 2). Police believe that Watanabe had a grudge again Yoshino. According to investigators, Watanabe explained that he had purchased at least one of the knives about a month ago and had been carrying it around with him. He said, 'I felt like [Yoshino] was making fun of me, and I was growing resentful. I stabbed him, thinking that I didn't care if I died.' Reito Watanabe allegedly stabbed Daiki Yoshino with a knife on July 1 (X) Overpaid interest on loans The incident took place at the headquarters of the Adire Legal Professional Corporation, which has 235 lawyers at its 65 offices nationwide. The firm handles lawsuits connected to the return of overpaid interest on loans. In 2017, the Tokyo Bar Association suspended the firm from business operations for two months for an advertising a campaign that falsely stated that initial fees would be waived for overpayment claims. After the stabbing incident, the law firm commented, 'We sincerely pray for the repose of our deceased employee. We will fully cooperate with the investigation and promptly report the facts as they become clear.'
