Couple held over murder in Tokyo linked to arson murders in Yamagata
TOKYO —
Police said Saturday that a couple arrested for allegedly killing a woman in Tokyo last November have also been linked to the arson-murder of a couple in Yamagata in October 2010. It has also been learned that the deceased couple’s eldest son filed a complaint with police about them following the fire, NTV reported.
Katsumi Asayama, 46, was arrested on Friday for murder and arson following the death of 76-year-old Michiko Otsuka in Tokyo’s Koto Ward. During police questioning, Asayama reportedly told investigators that he was also responsible for the fire that caused the death of 71-year-old Takeyoshi Yamaka and his wife, NTV reported.
According to investigators, the Yamakas’ 43-year-old son lived for a time with Asayama and his wife, Sayuri, 42, at their property in Nagoya. The son left after being subjected to violence by Sayuri, who has also been arrested in connection with the Tokyo case, NTV reported.
However, Asayama went to Yamagata in September 2010 and forced the son to come back to Nagoya with him. The fatal fire occurred the next month. The son again left the Asayamas’ property and filed the complaint with the police.
Meanewhile, in the Otsuka case, police said that her son had also stayed for some time with the Asayamas at their Nagoya home, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported. According to police, the man tried to leave several times, but was repeatedly tracked down and brought back by Asayama.
Last Nov 24, Asayama—posing as a local government official—visited Otsuka to ask for information on her son’s whereabouts. Police allege that he killed her and burned the place down in retaliation for her son leaving his home, the Yomiuri reported.
Video camera footage has placed the Asayamas’ car, with its Nagoya license plate, outside Otsuka’s home, police said.
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10 Comments
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1
borscht
Sounds like Asayama was trying to start his own little cult ala Aum Shinrikyo. I hope JT keeps us abreast of further developments.
1
cechanju
Tokyo's Edo ward?? Koto ku?
Moderator
Koto ward is correct.
0
Al Stewart
WOW very complicated situation.
0
smartacus
How do you force a man in his 40s to return with you from one prefecture to another? It sounds like both of these sons were weak-willed.
0
IslandFever
More top flight journalism...here... I am so glad there was no context for this story, I mean who needs context when you can just plaster up some bizarre facts and leaved people bewildered and confused by the random evils of society....
Moderator
It's a complicated story and all the facts have not become evident yet.
0
fidaruzki
why are those two men staying with the couple, really puzzled me
0
mitoguitarman
Thank you for this comment. I couldn't get what was going on, who was who. I was afraid my Alzheimer's was acting up again.
0
Nicky Washida
yeah, I was starting to think I was losing the plot too, but after reading it through a couple of times I am starting to get the gyst of it. It sounds like this couple had some kind of weird hold over these 2 men (the sons). Maybe a cult?
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