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Ian Yarwood

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    Japanese tourist found dead on Koh Tao 17 years ago was not murdered: police

    in Koh Samui News

    Posted

    Tribute to 佐沢義恵
    YOSHIE SAZAWA (aka Sharlyn) in a memorial book - translated from Japanese to English. The memorial book also included some lyrics from the popular Japanese song "Nada Sosou" (Great Tears are Spilling). A link to a cover performed by singer Rimi Natsukawa 涙そうそう - 夏川りみ
    19th August 1964 : On the year of Tokyo Olympics, Sharlyn was born in Tokyo, Shinjuku, Okubo Hospital as the first daughter of Sazawa Eiichi and Kiyoko. She lived with her family between the age of 3 and 8 in Malaysia, Sarawak State and went to Saint Mary Middle School in Kuching city. After she went back to Japan, she enrolled in Komaba Elementary School in Meguro.
    March 1976: Graduated from Komaba Elementary School.
    March 1979: Graduated from Komaba Junior High School.
    August 1979: Went to United States, Kansas, a state in the Midwestern of the U.S. alone by herself. Sharlyn enrolled in Salina South High School for 3 years and never went back to Japan during that time.
    July 1982: Graduated from Salina South High School. Friends of hers started calling her 'Sharlyn' from this time.
    January 1989: The last year of The Showa Era, when medias around the world came together, Sharlyn had been hired as a translator by the broadcaster of CBS TV named "Nancy" and attended the interviews together. In the same year, NTT (joint company of Japan and America in Cincinnati) hired Sharlyn as an English translator and she worked there for four years.
    1994: Sharlyn departed from the United States to Koh Tao (Tao island in Thailand, Koh means island). She started scuba diving for the first time and earned the license as an instructor. Since then, she had been working at "Big Blue Diving Center" as a pro instructor. She taught many young Japanese and foreign divers.
    2003: Divers in Koh Tao had increased significantly and that affected the sea, coral and sea turtles so Sharlyn and her dog, Pringle, rode a bike together around the island to do volunteer jobs in order to help save the environment and animals.
    25th June 2004: She passed away in Koh Tao, the beautiful island that is full of emotions. Her funeral was held in Bangkok on June 30, in the temple of Koh Tao on July 2, right after that her family embraced her body back to Japan. On July 31, Sharlyn's family held a Christian funeral for her in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Shalyn rests peacefully near the Tokyo Dome baseball pitch. "Lots of Love" The Eternity of your dreams.
    END
    Note: It is believed that 25 June 2004 is the date that Sharlyn's body was found in the jungle. According to her friend Kawika, Sharlyn vanished on 18 June 2004 and was found on 25 June 2004. Multiple sources advise that Sharlyn was found outside in the jungle after disappearing for many days. Many also state that searches had been conducted for her. However, in November 2021 a Royal Thai Police major general issued a series of press releases stating (apparently falsely) that Sharlyn was found in her house and committed "suicide by stress" (being a Google translate term).
    When Sharlyn moved to the USA to study, she did so at the invitation of her friend, Kristen Hanson and Kristen's parents, Sharon and David. She was therefore living with an American family during those school years. It seems that Sharlyn was already fluent in English prior to attending school in Salina, Kansas.
    Lyrics from the song that appear in Japanese in the memorial book:
    "As I turn pages in this old photo album, I whispered thank you
    The one who always, always comforted me in my heart
    On both shiny days and rainy days, the smile that comes into my mind
    fades away in my memories,
    but on the day I searched for a glimpse of that smile, I cried.
    It became my new habit to wish upon the first star,
    looking up into the evening sky I looked for you with all my heart
    in the sadness or in joy, that smile that I think of,
    If you can see me from where you are,
    I'll continue to live with the faith that someday we will be able to meet again."
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    Japanese tourist found dead on Koh Tao 17 years ago was not murdered: police

    in Koh Samui News

    Posted

    I note that some readers seem confused about the creator of the videos referred to in the article and the person behind the Facebook page KOH TAO DEATH ISLAND.

     

    I advise that I am the creator of the videos and I appear in all FOUR videos that focus on YOSHIE “SHARLYN” SAZAWA.  The YouTube site is named KOH TAO MURDERS DEATH ISLAND.

     

    Ironically, I introduce myself at the beginning of all four videos including my profession (lawyer) and location in Perth, Western Australia.

     

    It seems the Royal Thai Police did not want to mention my details in their press releases.

     

    There appear to be some errors in the police statements not least of which was Sharlyn’s status on Koh Tao. She was not a mere tourist but lived on the island for 12 years.  She worked for several diving schools as an instructor and translator, most notably BIG BLUE DIVING.

     

    I have been heavily criticised by many Koh Tao apologists over those videos but surprisingly NONE ever challenged the absence of a suicide note.  That claim of the existence of a suicide note seems to have emerged for the first time on Tuesday, 16 November 2021.

     

    In addition, no one on Koh Tao previously claimed to me that Sharlyn was found inside her house. All versions were that she was found outside.

     

    I shall publish more in a video later.

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