Man Who Killed Two Volunteers Days After Release Claims He Wanted to Return to Prison

The YouTube channel “Hikage no Koe,” which independently reports the voices of people involved in incidents and accidents that tend to be buried and forgotten in daily news, released the second part of a video on May 11 covering the hit-and-run murder of two people in Miharu Town, Fukushima. The video delves into the background of the incident and features the voice of prisoner M, who caused the crime for the selfish reason of wanting to return to prison. (In the video, M is named, but the editorial team has chosen to use initials.)

The victims died because they didn’t try to avoid it

Miharu Town, located in central Fukushima Prefecture. The incident occurred on National Route 288, which runs through a peaceful area. In May 2020, volunteers cleaning the nearby Sakuragawa River placed traffic cones along the roadside and were picking up trash inside that marked area when suddenly a truck, driving at 60 to 70 km/h, crashed into them. Two volunteers, a 55-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, were hit and killed.

The man driving the truck, M, was 50 years old at the time. Upon arrest, he made a shocking statement:

“I was anxious about my life and wanted to return to prison. It didn’t matter who I ran over.”

It was not an accident but an indiscriminate murder. M had multiple prior arrests and had served time in prison. Astonishingly, he committed this crime only two days after being released at the end of his prison sentence.

The day after his release, M was introduced through an acquaintance to a demolition company. He decided to work there, was provided with a dormitory, and moved in immediately, securing both a place to live and a job. However, that night, he was overwhelmed by an inexplicable anxiety. Concerned about new relationships and his inexperience with demolition work, he began thinking about committing a crime to return to prison.

M stole a truck from the demolition company, fled the dormitory, and while driving aimlessly, found the two volunteers cleaning and stepped on the accelerator. We sent M a letter at Sendai Detention Center, asking what he thought about the incident. M’s letter contains many misspellings, omissions, and inappropriate expressions, but we will convey it as closely as possible to the original.

“I truly feel sorry for the victims and apologize for what I did. However, I never intended to kill anyone from the start. I thought I would only injure them, that they would avoid me and I could escape.

According to a woman who was walking a little ahead, she said it was dangerous when the vehicle approached, and she thought it was dangerous. I find it very strange why those who became victims couldn’t take evasive action. Although there was a guardrail, if they were ordinary adults, I think it was possible to step over it with one move, so I find it very strange.” (November 28, 2022)

In other words, M claims that he intended only to injure, and that the victims died because they didn’t avoid him. This claim is repeated despite the truck’s speed exceeding 60 km/h. The court sentenced M to death in the first trial by a lay judge. M has appealed. At this time, the letter we received was filled with complaints about his situation.

“I also have a liking for erotic books.”

“Because a staff member at Sendai Detention Center (abbreviated as Senkō) was infected with COVID-19, outdoor exercise was canceled” (November 8, 2022).

Regarding the reduction in books called “kanpon” that can be borrowed from the detention center, he complained, “Before, we could read manga and such twice a week, but since the reduction, we’ve had to endure it” (November 8, 2022).

He also expressed dissatisfaction about the time allowed for lying down, called “ōga,” and the bathing time, revealing that he has filed complaints seeking improvements. He seems to want to spend his time in detention more comfortably.

Even though he is being detained, basic human rights should be properly protected — this is a given. However, in M’s case, he took two lives for an utterly selfish reason. He does not dispute this fact himself, and at the time he was appealing the sentence on grounds of unfair punishment. Yet in his letter, he also requested some rather casual items.

“I like manga such as Kingdom and Golden Kamuy. Also, I like erotic books” / “What genre of adult content do you like?” (November 8, 2022).

Despite repeatedly committing crimes and ultimately killing two people for a selfish reason, M asks to be sent erotic books. What kind of life has he led? In response to our questions, he wrote the following in the letter.

The reason why M was lonely, revealed through hometown investigation

“I am originally from Date City in Fukushima Prefecture. I believe my family environment was somewhat poorer than an average household” (2022.11.28)

“My family home is still standing, but we have lost contact. My siblings are alive. The memorable places in Date City have all changed or disappeared” (2023.01.15)

M explains that having no one to trust or rely on drove him toward the incident. When asked why he wanted to return to prison, he answered:

“I think it was due to anxiety and loneliness. Society is cold and full of lies” (2023.01.15)

It is almost certain that M felt loneliness. The fact that he frequently sent letters even to reporters like us serves as proof. He also wrote that his only social contact was with a volunteer group for death row inmates.

However, when investigating M’s hometown of Date City, Fukushima Prefecture, the meaning of “loneliness” takes on a different nuance. M earned a living as a painter but began repeatedly committing crimes around his 30s. Each time, he denied wrongdoing, claiming wrongful accusations and showed no remorse. Including reports from weekly magazines, he was known to have been arrested five times and spent a long time in prison.

Initially, his siblings and family believed in his rehabilitation and supported him despite what neighbors thought. But eventually, they reached their limit and became estranged. Although estranged from family, M was not completely alone. Two days before the incident, acquaintances who had come to pick him up from prison and try to introduce him to a job existed.

“They were juniors from high school — one a grade younger, and another three grades younger acquaintance. But after the incident, we lost contact. Even after sending letters, there has been no reply” (2022.12.12)

M was taken into a demolition company through acquaintances who came to pick him up from prison. However, in a tragic betrayal, he stole a truck from that company and ran over two volunteers. Though M casually says contact has ended, it is understandable why those acquaintances would cut ties. M’s loneliness was likely caused partly by himself.

Victims’ families voice deep frustration over death sentence overturn

In the high court ruling, M’s claim that he did not intend to kill for sure was accepted, leading to the death sentence being overturned. Later, the Supreme Court upheld the high court’s decision, confirming a life sentence without parole. Thus, M’s wish to return to prison was granted. When the verdict was announced, sobbing was heard from the courtroom gallery.

After the initial death sentence verdict, the wife of the 55-year-old male victim issued a statement regarding the case:

“I expected to hear the truth when the trial began. But once it started, the perpetrator’s voice was so quiet that I often couldn’t hear what he was saying. Even when I could, it was full of uncertain phrases like ‘That might be so’ or ‘I think so.’ This was what he did, so why couldn’t he speak with certainty?

With such vague thinking, he selfishly fulfilled his own dream at the cost of two lives. It’s utterly outrageous. My husband will never come back no matter what happens, and we will never forgive him. We will continue to suffer.”

The two victims lost their lives while volunteering to clean the roadside. No family or related party can accept the judicial decision of life imprisonment. Since the incident, the volunteer clean-up activities have been suspended.

Five years after the incident, when revisiting the site where the victims had been cleaning, trash was scattered everywhere, with no sign of order.

YouTube channel “Hikage no Koe”