Court Reveals Woman’s Chilling Scheme to Kidnap and Confine Victim in Ibaraki Body Disposal Case

“I want to have sex using drugs.”

The trial of Ayuka Tadano (24 at the time of her arrest), who is charged with kidnapping for profit and unlawful confinement, was held at the Tokyo District Court on June 19.

The case began after the body of a man (hereafter referred to as “Mr. A”) was found in a vacant lot in Sakai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, in October last year. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police subsequently arrested six men, including associates of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime syndicate. Tadano was later arrested on suspicion of unlawful confinement.

“The case originated in the summer of last year, when two of the men were first arrested and indicted for allegedly abducting and confining another man over a financial dispute. As investigators examined communications on the smartphones of those two men and the other four suspects, they discovered the group had also been involved in a dispute with Mr. A. They learned that he had been abducted on June 11 last year and that his body had later been buried.

Police identified the burial site and launched a large-scale search involving about 50 officers and heavy machinery. On October 14, they uncovered Mr. A’s body buried about two meters underground, almost completely naked. An autopsy was unable to determine the exact cause of death. The six men were arrested on October 24 on suspicion of abandoning a corpse. Tadano was arrested the same day on suspicion of unlawful confinement.

Mr. A was restrained inside a vehicle, with adhesive tape wrapped around his face and his hands and feet bound. He was then taken to the parking lot of a bowling alley, where he was subjected to brutal abuse, including being punched and kicked, having his pants forcibly removed, and having lit cigarettes pressed against his genitals. Tadano appears to have left the scene, but Mr. A ultimately died,” an investigative source said.

According to the indictment, Tadano approached Mr. A at the request of the men, telling him:

“I want to have sex using drugs.” (From the indictment)

After arranging to meet him, she entered Mr. A’s home, confirmed that drugs were present, unlocked the door, and let the men inside, allegedly playing a key role in carrying out the crime.

Why, then, did Tadano assist the six men?

During the June 19 hearing, Tadano was questioned by the court, shedding light on her relationship with the group.

At her first trial on June 11, Tadano partially denied the charges, stating:

“I wasn’t told in advance that he would be confined, but it’s true that I did what I did at the scene.”

When she was arrested, Tadano had striking blonde hair and wore a fluorescent yellow hoodie. At the latest hearing, however, she appeared in a navy blue tracksuit with a fluorescent pink zipper. Her blonde hair had noticeably grown out, with dark roots now extending much farther, reflecting the length of her detention. Despite her flashy appearance, she wore a frightened expression throughout the proceedings.

Why did she help the men?

When questioned by her defense attorney about her relationship with the men, Tadano replied in a barely audible voice, speaking so quickly that she was difficult to understand:

“I met them through a senior female acquaintance.”

She continued answering rapidly throughout the examination, prompting the judge to repeatedly tell her, “Could you please speak a little louder and more slowly?”

Asked why she did not refuse when the men asked her to lure Mr. A out, she explained:

“I didn’t know what they would do to me if I refused. I was too afraid to say no.”

When asked why she thought the incident had happened, she expressed regret, saying:

“I think I got involved with the wrong people. They were organized crime affiliates. If I had refused, I don’t think this would have happened.”

Regarding her relationship with the men, she testified:

“They helped me when I was being confined by a man I had been dating for money.”

She said she felt indebted to them afterward and began spending time with them.

According to her testimony, she had previously purchased drugs from Mr. A and therefore had his contact information. She said the men asked her to contact him, telling her:

“We’re having trouble with him right now. He hasn’t paid what he owes for drug-related protection. We want you to call him out.”

On the day of the crime, Tadano entered Mr. A’s home, confirmed that drugs were present, unlocked the door, and let the men inside. She vividly described how, once inside, the men threatened Mr. A by shouting things like:

“How are you going to make amends for this?!”

They then forced him into a vehicle and unlawfully confined him.

The prosecution argued that Tadano played an extremely important role and ultimately contributed to the victim’s death, seeking a sentence of six years’ imprisonment.

The defense, meanwhile, requested a suspended sentence.

The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on July 17.