Matsudo, Chiba: Former Detective Points Out “Great Discomfort” in Death of First-Grade Girl

Saya, since you disappeared, many people have searched for you with us for many days and sleepless nights. Two weeks had passed since the day you went missing. When we heard that you had made it back to the mouth of the river, near the ocean, two weeks after the day you went missing, everyone in our family thought it was a miracle. We were prepared for the fact that once you were out at sea, we might never see you again!

The family of Saya Minami, a first grader from Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, who had been missing since September 23, commented on October 7.

At noon on the twelfth day after Asame went missing, the situation took a sudden turn for the worse. The girl’s body was found near the junction of the Edo River and the old Edo River, about 18 km downstream from the riverbed where Asame’s shoes and other items were found, and about 6 km before Tokyo Bay. Two days later, on October 6, a police investigation revealed that the body was Asame-chan.

The police report The man who was the first to find the body was a cyclist. The man who first discovered the body was a cyclist, and he was looking upstream of the old Edo River from the sluice gate area where he had a good view of the river. When she was first discovered, her clothes had turned black. After the report was made, police officers and the media were involved gradually from around 12:00 noon. After the report was made, the number of police officers and media personnel gradually increased from around 12:00 pm, and the normally quiet riverbank was filled with a very physical atmosphere” ( A reporter from a national newspaper)

Asame’s body was brought to the Matsudo Police Station around 2:30 p.m., and a judicial autopsy was performed on the following day. It was announced that there were no broken bones or other notable injuries, and that there was a strong possibility that Asame had drowned after drinking a large amount of water.

Some believe that Asame’s “disappearance” may have been an accident. However, Asame’s death remains a mystery.

Seizo Sasaki, a former detective with the Saitama Prefectural Police’s Investigation Division, looks into the case.

He said, “I think there are some puzzling points when you compare the family’s story and Asame’s past lifestyle, such as the way she took off her shoes, which were discovered. However, it was initially reported that Asame would not go alone to a park about 1km away from her home, but in fact, she was seen heading to the park on a kickboard without hesitation. I don’t think it is possible to predict that she would not have done so based on her behavior that day.

Meanwhile, former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa also pointed out that there are some puzzling aspects to the current turmoil.

He said, “I just can’t figure out why Asame-chan took off her shoes. The shoes were found 25 meters from the river. The family told us that she was a child who was scared of the water. I heard from her family that she was a child who was afraid of water and that she usually did not take off her shoes unless there was someone to wipe her feet, which is a very strange point. It also doesn’t add up that when we searched the same place the night she disappeared, we couldn’t find her shoes, but the next day they were there.”

Mr. Ogawa continued.

Asame’s body was reportedly found with no significant injuries, but if, for example, she had been pushed from behind, it would not be surprising if there were no injuries at all. Ogawa continues, “Asame’s body has been reported to have suffered no noticeable injuries.)

The truth of Asame’s death remains a mystery. The Chiba Prefectural Police continues to investigate both the accident and the incident, but for now, all we can do is pray for the truth and for the bereaved family’s peace of mind.