On March 18, 1988, the gruesome murder of a pregnant woman in Nagoya shocked Japan and left a stain on law enforcement, becoming infamously referred to as the Nagoya pregnant woman dissection incident. The details of the crime are gut-wrenching: A-ko, who was 27 years old and overdue by five days, was strangled to death and then cut open during a horrific act of violence in her own home.
The crime occurred in her apartment in Nakagawa Ward, where A-ko was discovered by her husband, B-san, after he returned home at approximately 7:45 PM. The door was oddly unlocked, and as he entered the darkened apartment, he found his wife lying dead in their living room. She was not just killed; she died in a horrifyingly brutal fashion; her abdomen had been sliced open with a 38-centimeter cut, and fastened to her torso was a kotatsu cord used to strangle her.
Even more disturbing was the aftermath of the dissection; inside her abdomen, a telephone receiver with a cut cord and a Mickey Mouse-shaped key holder were found. Miraculously, A-ko's fetus survived the ordeal, albeit with serious injuries. Reports indicate that the baby displayed signs of cyanosis and sustained damage to its right ankle and left knee but was swiftly transported to a hospital where doctors managed to save its life with a blood transfusion and other necessary medical interventions. The child was discharged from the hospital on April 2, 1988.
B-san, in the wake of his wife's brutal murder, faced immense scrutiny. At the time, he expressed, "My heart was broken that my wife can't be here, but I have to raise this child as she would have wanted," a statement captured by Shukan Josei in its April 1988 issue. Ironically, despite being the bereaved husband, he found himself under suspicion. The police's initial focus was on him as they reviewed the circumstances surrounding his arrival home.
This suspicion was fueled by the unusual details of his behavior—he had changed out of his work clothes before checking on his wife, and during her memorial service, a gesture involving pouring red wine while addressing the altar seemed insincere to investigators. B-san later stated, "It took a month to clear my name, and during that time, people speculated that I was the perpetrator. I felt bullied despite being the victim," as reported in Shukan Bunshun in August 2001.
As authorities gathered evidence and conducted interviews, they initially believed the killer to be someone acquainted with A-ko, and the investigation mobilized an astonishing 40,000 officers, but despite their efforts, no one was apprehended, and the leads began to dry up. The case was eventually marked as one of Japan's worst unsolved mysteries.
The investigation brought to light a key person of interest referred to as 'Marugao', who is seen as the central figure in the case. Still, productive leads remained elusive. Over the years, every anniversary of the incident has rekindled public interest and concern over the unresolved case, with discussions questioning how such a brutal crime could go unpunished?
In the ensuing decades, the lack of closure has left a lasting scar both on B-san, who has taken on the role of a single father, and on the community as residents ponder the possibility of a violent stranger living among them. As the case entered its 37th year, it draws attention not just for its brutality but as a somber reminder of justice that eludes families of victims. The legacy of the Nagoya pregnant woman dissection incident remains a haunting specter in the annals of Japan's criminal history, prompting continued dialogue and investigation.
Looking back, the unanswered questions surrounding this case highlight the flaws within the investigative methods of the past while showcasing the resilience and pain of those left in the aftermath. It serves as a heartbreaking reminder that not all stories reach a resolution, and for B-san and their child, the pursuit of answers continues to intersect with the struggles of everyday life.
