Well…recently, I have been going through many true crime cases from Japan. I have come to a conclusion… don’t let the teenagers there read books, play games, or watch movies/ shows which promote murders, robbery, or any other kind of crime. In fact, just keep them locked in a cage! (There are all jokes, of course, don’t come for me 🙂 )
I am not even allowed to be my depressed self, but these kids are going out and KILLING other kids their age (smh).
Anyways, let’s talk about this cold case.
So, first of all, welcome back to my “oh, I am so obsessed with Japan” series. Today we will be talking about another bunch of Japanese kids who were inspired by some really horrible things.
In this case, they were inspired by the Islamic State beheadings. And if you don’t know what that is, I must tell you because I don’t want this to be boring and incomplete.
Basically, the Islamic State, aka the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), beheaded many people they had captured from different countries. It’s one of the most horrible parts of the history of humanity.
Now back to the case.
THE VICTIM: Ryōta Uemura
Ryōta Uemura was an innocent 13-year-old kid. He was a really cheerful kid and was really loved by his friends. And I heard he also loved basketball, so…Uemura-san, let’s meet someday and have a friendly match!
His parents were divorced. He lived with his mother, who was a nurse, and four siblings.
THE HORRIFIC NATURE OF THE CRIME
Except for Funahashi Ryuichi, the names of the other killers involved weren’t disclosed due to them being legal minors.
Ryōta was trying to cut ties with this bunch of older kids and refused to commit crimes for them. And due to this, they had beaten him. And it wasn’t only once, but they had bullied Ryōta a lot of times in the past.
It was on February 20 in the year 2015, Ryōta’s body was discovered in the Tama River in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Apparently, Ryōta was forced to swim in the river on a freezing day. And a box cutter was used to stab him about 43 times, including the 31 stabs to his neck.
His clothes were also burned in a nearby public toilet to get rid of the evidence. However, remnants of his clothes were found by the police.
It was reported that whoever killed Ryōta tried to decapitate him.
THE “INSIPRATION” FOR THE CRIME
As I said earlier, some investigators suspected that the criminal had watched the videos about the ISIL beheadings and may have wanted to try it. On the 25th, the two minors involved were caught, and they confessed that the ringleader of this incident was inspired by Jihadi John.
The latter was engaged in beheading innocent people. On the 27th, Funahashi was caught.
JUSTICE SERVED?
The following month, on March 19, the three suspects were sent to Yokohama Family Court. During the trials, Funahashi considered the ringleader, admitted that he killed Ryōta Uemura. On May 13, the court decided to send the suspects back to the prosecutors. The Yokohama District Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that these kids may be tried again as adults.
A year later, on February 10, Funahashi Ryuchi was sentenced to nine to thirteen years in prison. Then a few months later, on March 14, another kid was sent to prison for 6 years.
For months people talked about this cruel incident and paid their condolences, but that mother’s heart who lost her son would never be satisfied with just this. No matter how much time passes away, the pain of losing her son will always be the same.
Let us know if you think justice was served in the comments down below.
Read more true crime articles from the said “oh, I am so obsessed with Japan” series here!
