Kami Soshigaya

“A quiet, leafy neighborhood,” the real estate agent had said. Here in Kami Soshigaya, a tragic event shattered that tranquility. Kami Soshigaya is a district of Setagaya, Tokyo. It became known for a horrific unsolved crime, the Setagaya Family Murders. On December 31, 2000, the Miyazawa family was found murdered in their home. Mikio, Yasuko, their daughter Niina, and son Rei were victims of a brutal attack. The killer entered their two-story townhouse near Soshigaya Park. They climbed a tree and removed the bathroom window screen on the second floor. Inside, the killer murdered six-year-old Rei in his sleep. Mikio, hearing the commotion, confronted the intruder. A struggle ensued. The killer stabbed Mikio with a sashimi knife. The knife broke, lodged in Mikio’s skull. Yasuko and Niina were then attacked with the broken knife and a Santoku knife from the kitchen. The killer remained in the house for hours. They used the family computer, ate their food, and even napped on the sofa. The killer left behind a wealth of evidence, including fingerprints and DNA. Yet, the case remains unsolved. The police uncovered numerous details about the killer. They were likely right-handed, between 15 and 35 years old at the time, possibly of mixed race, and familiar with tactical movements. Despite the largest investigation in Japanese history, the perpetrator remains at large. Kami Soshigaya stands as a quiet reminder of this unsolved mystery. The tranquility of the neighborhood was forever altered by this tragic event.