There has been a new development in the case of a Chinese couple murdered and burned in Japan. On May 3rd, Nandu reporters learned that according to investigators, the suspect Ryoken Hirayama met with Hikaru Sasaki, who instructed him to commit the crime, in the early hours of April 16th to receive payment. They met again on the morning of April 17th, after which Hirayama surrendered himself. Among those arrested are the 20-year-old former Japanese child star, Kirato Wakayama.
Previously reported by Nandu, at approximately 6:50 am local time on April 16th, the bodies of Ryutaro Takarajima, 55, and his wife Sachiko, 56, were found by a riverside path in a wooded area of Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Both bodies had bags over their heads wrapped in several layers of tape, crossed in an X-shape, and were burned beyond recognition.
The self-confessed suspect, Ryoken Hirayama, claimed he was “instructed by someone” to prepare a car and a portable gasoline can. He said he delegated the task to two acquaintances and lent them the car, although he did not go to Tochigi Prefecture himself.
It was disclosed that around 11:30 pm on April 15th, the Takarajima couple went to view a property in Shinagawa. Surveillance footage showed Hirayama’s two acquaintances entering the house shortly after the couple arrived. Police believe the couple was assaulted inside the house by these two individuals, then stuffed into a car and later dumped.
Investigators found Sachiko’s blood inside Hirayama’s car and in a garage in Tokyo, along with signs that the suspects tried to wash away blood stains in the garage using detergent. Additionally, a hammer with bloodstains was found in the car, which police suspect may have been used as a murder weapon.
Previously, suspect Hikaru Sasaki was arrested at the airport. Foreign media reported on May 3rd that investigators disclosed Hirayama met with Sasaki in a bar in the early hours of April 16th and received payment. The two met again around 6 am on April 17th on a street in Tokyo, and surveillance footage showed their meeting lasted several minutes. About half an hour after handing over his phone to Sasaki, Hirayama surrendered himself at a nearby police station.
On May 1st, two more suspects were arrested: 20-year-old Korean national Kang Gwang-gi and the 20-year-old former Japanese child star Kirato Wakayama. Wakayama, who debuted at age 9, is well-known for his roles in various popular Japanese dramas and films. Having faded from the screen in recent years, he reappeared as a suspect in this murder case.
Multiple suspects have now been arrested in connection with this case, but Hikaru Sasaki claims he was instructed to dispose of the bodies and thus enlisted Hirayama’s help. Police are currently searching for the person who directed Sasaki, and the case remains shrouded in mystery.
