What happened to Junko Furuta? Are her killers free or still behind bars today?
What happened to Junko Furuta? The 16-year-old was brutally abused, violated, and ultimately murdered, by a group of 4 ruthless teenagers over a period of 44 days. The ''Concrete-Encased High School Girl Murder Case,'' as it is popularly referred to, remains one of Japan's most horrifying crimes to date. Unfortunately, the perpetrators received lenient sentences, sparking global outrage over Japan's justice system.
Source: Twitter
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Junko Furuta was tortured and assaulted by four assailants.
- The offenders in Junko Furuta's case were: Hiroshi Miyano (18), Jō Ogura (17), Shinji Minato (16), and Yasushi Watanabe (17).
- Junko Furuta was 17 years old when she died in January 1989.
- Junko Furuta was murdered and her body dumped at a construction site in Tokyo.
- Furuta's offenders have served their sentences but are free as of 2025.
Junko Furuta's profile summary
| Full name | Junko Furuta |
| Age | 17 (at the time of death) |
| Date of birth | January 18, 1971 |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Died | January 4, 1989 |
| Cause of death | Torture, assault |
| Place of birth | Misato, Saitama, Japan |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Height | 5 feet, 5 inches |
| School | Yashio-Minami High School |
What happened to Junko Furuta?
On the evening of November 25th, 1988, 16-year-old Junko Furuta was riding her bike home from a part-time job in a plastic factory. She was attacked by Shinji Minato, the first assailant, who pushed her off the bike before taking off.
The second assailant, Hiroshi Miyano, approached her, pretending to walk her home to safety after witnessing what had happened. Miyano led her to a warehouse where he assaulted her and called his friends to brag about it.
The next 44 days saw Furuta endure untold suffering in the hands of 4 violators, connected to the infamous Yakuza gang. Strangely, Junko Furuta's crime scene was Minato's parents' home. They claimed that they failed to intervene for fear of their son's violent behaviour and his Yakuza connections. While in the house, she was forced to pretend to be Minato's girlfriend.
Junko's parents filed a missing persons report to the authorities. According to Grim Asia, the crew made her call her parents to inform them that she was okay and would be hanging out with her friends for the next few days. Following repeated threats, she complied with their orders, enduring repeated assaults, beatings, eating live cockroaches and drinking her urine.
After weeks of untold torture and violence, Junko succumbed to injuries caused by the outlaws who set fire to her using a lighter. The perpetrators disposed of her body in an oil drum and covered it with concrete.
Furuta Junko's case
Furuta's body remained in the drum for about three months. In January 1989, Miyano and Ogura were arrested for the abduction and assault of another victim. They accidentally mentioned Furuta's name, eventually leading the police to the site after an investigation.
Junko's body was found on March 29th, 1989, at a construction site in Tokyo. Her assailants: Hiroshi Miyano (18), Jō Ogura (17), Shinji Minato (16), and Yasushi Watanabe (17), confessed to the horrific crimes.
Source: Twitter
What happened to Junko Furuta's perpetrators?
Junko's captors were arrested after pleading guilty to the atrocities. The prosecution sought life sentences for the offenders, but the defence argued that their actions were influenced by immaturity and lack of guidance. In July 1990, the court found the 4-member gang guilty of abduction for assault, confinement, murder, and the abandonment of a corpse.
Hiroshi Miyano
Miyano initially received a 17-year imprisonment, which he appealed, but in return got 20 years. Miyano's parents sold their home to pay 50 million Yen as compensation to Junko's family. After his release, he moved in with his mother and changed his last name to Yokoyama. He was arrested again in 2013 for bank fraud but was not charged.
Jo Ogura
Jo Ogura was sentenced to a 5-10 year imprisonment term but ultimately served the full sentence. He was released in 1999 and changed his last name to Kamisaku. He ventured into IT (Information Technology) briefly but returned to organized crime after his past became known. In 2004, he assaulted a friend for allegedly being involved with his girlfriend, a crime that attracted a four-year sentence before being released in 2009. Kamisaku died in July 2022.
Yasushi Watanabe
Yasushi received a 5-7 year sentence but served the maximum duration. He was released in 1996 and moved back to his mother's home. Yasushi died in May 2021 after succumbing to a neurodegenerative disease.
Shinji Minato
Shinji Minato's sentence was 5-9 years. He was released in 1998 but was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of attempted murder. He was sentenced in 2019 to one year and six months.
While these perceived light sentences caused a global uproar, the Japanese juvenile justice system prioritises rehabilitation over retribution for offenders under 20. Junko was buried on April 2nd, 1989. As of 2025, her offenders are all free.
Junko Furuta's documentary
Junko's story evoked widespread emotion, leading to the production of documentaries and books covering the horrific events. These include:
- 44 Days of Hell - I Could Murder
- They Laughed While Junko Furuta Suffered - Dark Asia with Megan
- Murder of Junko Fruta
Frequently asked questions
- When did Junko Furuta die? Junko Furuta died on January 4th, 1989.
- How old was Junko Furuta? Junko Furuta was 17 years old at the time of her death.
- What was Junko Furuta's cause of death? Junko Furuta's cause of death was torture and repeated assault.
- How was Junko Furuta abducted? Junko was abducted while riding home from a part-time job.
- What happened to Junko's assailants? Junko's assailants were prosecuted and served their sentences. However, as of 2025, they are all free.
Wrapping up
What happened to Junko Furuta? The teenager's death was a preventable tragedy that led to massive outrage, exposing the leniency of the Japanese juvenile judicial system. While her memory lives on, it serves as a continual reminder of the need for justice reform in countries worldwide.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
