“Mom Is in Trouble!” — Son’s Horrific Discovery as Ex-Nagano Politician’s Conviction Becomes Final

“Regrettable and frustrating. I cannot accept it.”

According to his defense lawyer, the defendant—whose sentence has now been finalized—has said this.

The Supreme Court on April 13 dismissed the appeal filed by former Nagano Prefectural Assembly member Daisuke Maruyama (51), who was charged with murdering his wife. The 19-year prison sentence handed down in the first and second trials has been finalized.

“The Tokyo High Court in the second trial upheld the first-instance ruling, stating that there are no errors in the fact-finding that the defendant is the perpetrator, and no unreasonable points can be found. The Supreme Court also stated that there were no constitutional violations that would justify accepting the appeal. Meanwhile, Maruyama has consistently maintained his innocence. Even after the appeal was rejected, he reportedly told his defense lawyer during meetings, ‘I am not the culprit,’” said a judicial reporter from a national newspaper.

The incident occurred in September 2021. According to the indictment, Maruyama allegedly strangled and killed his wife, A, who was 47 years old at the time. “FRIDAY Digital” previously reported the case in detail shortly after his arrest, including the background of disputes and the alibi he claimed.

Why it took more than a year to make the arrest

A sitting lawmaker was arrested for allegedly murdering his wife.

On November 28, 2022, Nagano Prefectural Police arrested then-prefectural assembly member Maruyama on suspicion of murder. He was serving his second term as chair of the Prefectural Assembly’s General Affairs, Planning, and Police Committee. He was also the head of the long-established sake brewery “Shoki Shuzo” in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, a business with origins dating back to the Meiji era.

“The incident came to light around 6:30 a.m. on September 29, 2021. A, Maruyama’s wife, was found lying on her back near a safe on the first floor of their home and office attached to the brewery. She was discovered by their son, who immediately called 110. She was soon confirmed dead. A forensic autopsy determined the cause of death was asphyxiation due to strangulation,” said a national newspaper social affairs reporter.

The prefectural police established a special investigation team at the Shiojiri police station and launched a 140-member investigation, calling for information from the public.

“Because there was little physical evidence, the investigation was difficult. Through neighborhood interviews and analysis of surveillance footage, they gradually narrowed down suspects. It took more than a year from the incident before they were finally able to arrest Maruyama. He had denied the charges from the beginning,” the source added.

“I want to know what happened.”

Just before his arrest in September 2022, Maruyama defendant addressed gathered reporters and made the following suggestive remarks:

“On the morning of the day the incident was discovered, around 7 a.m., I received a call from my son, who found the body, saying, ‘Mom is in bad shape!’ (Regarding the perpetrator) Rather than punishment, I want to know what happened. (Regarding my relationship with A) I feel that couples who have been together for decades in such a harmonious way are kind of unsettling.”

The aforementioned social affairs reporter continues:

“Regarding his alibi, he explained as follows: ‘(On the day in question) I was staying at the assembly members’ lodging in Nagano City to attend the prefectural assembly.’ It is true that Maruyama was confirmed to have been drinking with fellow assembly members on the night of September 28, the day before the incident, and remained at the assembly members’ lodging until around 11:30 p.m.

However, based on vehicle driving data and a dashcam, it is believed that Maruyama traveled over two hours to his home in Shiojiri City, about 80 km away. Police believed he then killed his wife in the early hours of the 29th and returned again to the assembly members’ lodging.”

Near the safe at the crime scene, there were traces indicating someone had entered the house wearing shoes, suggesting an attempt to stage a burglary.

“It is also true that the financial situation of ‘Shoki Shuzo,’ where Maruyama served as president, was not good. I have heard that there were frequent marital disputes, possibly due to financial strain,” said the source.

Criminal journalist Taihei Ogawa, a former Kanagawa Prefectural Police investigator, explained:

“I visited the site for reporting. If the charges are accurate, Maruyama appears to have been very methodical. For example, he seems to have avoided the N-System (automatic license plate recognition system) while traveling between the assembly members’ lodging and his home in Shiojiri, possibly to avoid revealing that he had returned home.

Also, the computer in his room at the assembly members’ lodging remained powered on before and after the incident. However, there was no evidence of documents being created during that time. The documents he was supposed to submit to the assembly had already been prepared earlier. Leaving the computer on could be interpreted as an attempt to fabricate an alibi. If my assessment is correct, it could be considered a premeditated crime.”

According to Maruyama’s defense lawyer, they are also considering filing for a retrial.