On November 25, 1988, a terrible crime began in Japan. Junko Furuta, a 16-year-old high school girl, was kidnapped by four teenage boys. Over the next 44 days, she was brutally tortured before she was killed. This is the story of her suffering, the people responsible, and the justice that followed.
Who Was Junko Furuta?
Junko Furuta was born in Misato, Saitama, Japan, in 1972. She was a bright and kind girl who did well in school. She had no bad habits like smoking or drinking, and she was well-liked by her classmates. She worked part-time and was saving money for her future. Unfortunately, she became the target of a horrific crime.
How It Started: The Kidnapping
On November 25, 1988, Junko was walking home from school when a teenage boy, Hiroshi Miyano (18), approached her. He was part of a local gang and had a reputation for being violent. He tricked her by pretending to be a friendly passerby. Suddenly, his friend Nobuharu Minato (16) attacked her from behind. They took her to a house in Adachi, Tokyo, owned by Minato’s parents.
They told Junko that if she tried to escape, they would hurt her family. Because they had connections to the Yakuza (Japanese mafia), Junko was too scared to fight back.
44 Days of Horror
For the next 44 days, Junko was trapped in the house and suffered unimaginable torture. The four boys responsible were:
- Hiroshi Miyano (18) – The leader and mastermind.
- Nobuharu Minato (16) – His house was used as the crime scene.
- Shinji Minato (16) – Nobuharu’s brother.
- Yasushi Watanabe (17) – Another friend involved in the crime.
They did not act alone. More than 100 other people, mostly gang members, came to the house and took part in abusing her.
The Torture
Junko was beaten every day. They burned her with cigarette lighters, poured hot wax on her face, and even set her legs on fire. She was tied up, forced to drink urine, and given very little food. Sometimes, they made her eat cockroaches or drink her own blood.
Weapons Used
They used various objects to hurt her, including:
- Metal rods – They inserted them into her body.
- Cigarettes & lighters – They burned her skin.
- Knives & scissors – They cut her flesh.
- Hammers – They broke her bones.
- Ropes – They tied her up for days.
She was also r#ped over 500 times by the boys and their friends. At one point, they beat her so badly that she lost control of her bladder. They made fun of her for it and refused to let her use the bathroom, forcing her to live in her own filth.
Her Death
By early January 1989, Junko’s body was in terrible condition. She was unable to move, and her face was swollen beyond recognition. The boys became bored with her and decided to kill her. On January 4, 1989, they beat her one final time with a metal dumbbell and set her on fire again.
She died later that day.
To hide their crime, they put her body in a 55-gallon drum, filled it with cement, and dumped it in Koto, Tokyo.
How the Police Found Out
A few weeks later, on January 23, 1989, Hiroshi Miyano was arrested for an unrelated crime. During questioning, he accidentally revealed information about Junko Furuta. When police investigated, they found her body.
Punishment
Despite the brutal crime, the boys received shockingly light sentences because they were under 20 years old. Their punishments were:
- Hiroshi Miyano – 20 years in prison (later released).
- Nobuharu Minato – 5-9 years in prison.
- Shinji Minato – 5-9 years in prison.
- Yasushi Watanabe – 5-7 years in prison.
Many people in Japan were outraged at how weak the punishment was. The criminals were later released and continued to commit crimes. Some were re-arrested for new offenses.
Remembering Junko Furuta
Junko’s story remains one of the most horrifying crimes in Japan’s history. Every year, people remember her and call for stricter punishments for juvenile criminals. Her grave is visited by many who wish to pay respects to the young girl who suffered so much.
Her case is a reminder that justice must be fair, and victims should never be forgotten.
Final Thoughts
Junko Furuta’s story is heartbreaking and disturbing. It is difficult to believe that such cruelty exists in the world. However, by remembering her, we can help spread awareness about violence and fight for a safer world.
If you ever feel unsafe or know someone who is in danger, please seek help. No one should suffer alone.
