Female Japanese Tourist Robbed And Murdered In Sukhothai

[geriatrickid]

Actually, I'm going to retract some of my statements. By all accounts, Japan's violence against women has been noted to concern relationships or weird sexual, fetish psychos, as I noted previously, but that could be quite different for FOREIGN women there (involving street incidents). It seems to be the inverse for Japanese women in Thailand. Japan produces a lot of porn that is distributed everywhere, including sick sadist porn that is a big hit there. So, safety really is relative.

Perhaps you should retract this unsubstantiated statement as well. For some odd reason, none of the studies I have seen supports that statement. What I have read is that the Japanese are not that much different than anywhere else with the majority of the violence arising from domestic, i.e. partner disputes. The reason for the introduction of the domestic violence law in 2001 was to address domestic violence not some lurking cabal of "weird sexual fetish psychos". One would have expected that public interest groups including most womens rights organizations would have raised the subject of a untamed devotees of adult entertainment engaging in such activity during the lengthy public hearings. The psychology of Japanese males (and females) that initiate domestic violence is not significantly different than those perpatrators that come from the EU, North America or Latin America. If it was, then there would not be any need for all of those international conferences discussing common approaches to dealing with the subject.

[kat]

First of all, this thread has wandered off topic to discuss Japan, and I apologize for my part in it. But I want to continue to address that which has come up:

^ No one mentioned "a cabal of weird sexual fetish psychos." What we did start to discuss and debate, and what I was addressing, were varying patterns of violence and perceived feelings of safety for women in Japan. By almost all accounts, Japan is NOT represented as everywhere else but as much safer than most industrial Western cities. I think that may be true in terms of men and by degrees for women, but it is not exactly a stress free environment for women as widely believed, and especially foreign women. Also, Japanese rape cases are underreported and minimized as a crime, and the police are notoriously bad at handling them, even when they involve foreign victims.

Previously, much of the reported rape and violence in Japanese society occurred within relationships, and not as much among stranger rape as in the West. However, it is difficult to make a real comparison, because in much of Asia the level of shame that is shifted onto the woman for sexual assault is much greater than in the West, hence the lower report rates.

In terms of weird, sexual, fetishes, foreign women are fetishized in Japanese manga porn and anime, as well as rape, child porn, and violent penetration. These depictions have become increasingly explicit and graphic since the 1990s, after much tamer nudity was previously banned in Japanese society during the 1980s in films and Western magazine porn. As a result, the Japanese fetish anime industry is huge, as is the prevalence of rape and sadistic, bondage porn, widely distributed as cartoons. Japan is widely perceived as safe, but there are also many informal reports of stalking, public masturbation, voyeurism, and incomplete attacks. Also, high profile cases of rape and murder in Japan are less frequent, but are usually of a sexual psycho nature when they do occur, especially involving foreign women, hence my comment.

I congratulate you for reading reports. Perhaps you haven't read a wide or varied sample of official reports and empirical accounts. Or, perhaps the reports of gaijan accounts are not considered important enough, the same way pursing rape as a crime isn't considered a high priority in Japan by the male-dominated bureaucracy.

*And by the way, I am sick and going to bed, and you can certainly find links to widely acknowledged and readily available information.

Edited December 10, 2007 by kat

[kinyara]

As I have been travelling this week and not online I was wondering whether there has been any update on the search for the killer of this woman. A lot longer than 3 days, 5 days, 1 week until this case is resolved seems to have passed. I for one would like to know that the killer has been brought to justice and it hasn't just been a short term shocker conveniently fprgotten about during the upcoming election campaign.

Thank you for any updates.

[kat]

None Kinyara. Has there been any reporting of it in the Japanese media lately? I have a feeling that the disappearance of this case may also have something to do with Japanese justice. It would be interesting to know what has become of it over there in the Japanese language press.

[Tony Clifton]

My feeling is that the Japanese mystery man is in no way involved or doesn't even exist. Boys in brown are totally clueless, trying to save face and tourism industry's image. Japanese authorities are facing ridiculous barricades when dealing with local authorities.

An episode as ridiculous as the Saudi jewel heist ?

Edited December 13, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[kinyara]

Amazing, as I watched Pattaya Mail Channel when I got back last night and there was a large regional event/forum at the weekend celebrating the close relationship between both countries. Surely diplomatic channels will be working on overload on this case.

I hope for the family's sake they have some peace of mind by christmas.

[kat]

Yeah, I agree Tony, there are a lot of variables. But usually with international cases it is the international press that makes it an issue.

[Nordlys]

Has there been any reporting of it in the Japanese media lately? I have a feeling that the disappearance of this case may also have something to do with Japanese justice. It would be interesting to know what has become of it over there in the Japanese language press.

Nothing at all after Tomoko's funeral in Japan as far as I can search on internet.

My feeling is that the Japanese mystery man is in no way involved or doesn't even exist. Boys in brown are totally clueless, trying to save face and tourism industry's image. Japanese authorities are facing ridiculous barricades when dealing with local authorities.

Although he's probably not yet officially named a suspect there was a webcam photo of Masao Ito from Suvanabhumi passport control in Bangkok Post two weeks ago.

My take is...

1) Thailand knows Japan won't and can't extradite its citizen to a country that doesn't have extradition treaty with Japan and they're probably not going to press Japan to pursue his extradition either out of diplomatic courtesy or fear of underminng bilateral relationship. But he can still be tried in Japan if he was named a suspect. There's not even a mention of the murder either in Japanese foreign ministry website (in travel advisory page) nor in Japanese embassy of Thailand website. The only Japanese language website that I came across that even mentions of Masao Ito is by a Japanese expat living in Thailand referring to Bangkok Post article.

2) While Japan probably doesn't have as big political presence in Thailand as U.S., Japan is still the largest donor of foreign aid to Thailand and Japanese tourists the largest number of visitors to the Kingdom (at 1.3 million a year, also the largest spender) + Japanese companies the largest investors. I'm not too certain if that has any bearing on how this case developes (or doesn't develop) but given all that, I don't have so much doubt Thailand treats this as a priority case but at the same time they can and will treat it in as much sensible manner as Japan so wishes and asks of them.

3) This year marks the 120th anniversary of treaty of amity between Thailand and Japan and there are many commemorative events organized or sponsored by ministries of foreign affairs in both countries and they probably don't want any update to the news casting shadow on celebration mood receiving too much media attention.

Edited December 14, 2007 by Nordlys

[kat]

All important and very enlightening points; thanks for that, Nordlys. It further supports my theory.

[ZukiSuzuki]

First of all, this thread has wandered off topic to discuss Japan, and I apologize for my part in it.

And so you should!

[Ieyuhrah]

Nothing for the last 20 days? Has this dropped off the news screen there? Another cold case?

[Tony Clifton]

So much silence on such a high profile case?

Botched investigation.

[wintermute]

So much silence on such a high profile case?

Botched investigation.

Is this any surprise? Look at all the high profile murders that have happened in the past 5 years how many have been solved conclusively. The cops here couldn't investigate their way out of a plastic 7 eleven bag. This is what happens when a certain uneducated corrupt segment of your population enters into law enforcement as their only career option to make ends meet.

[brahmburgers]

So much silence on such a high profile case?

Botched investigation.

Is this any surprise? Look at all the high profile murders that have happened in the past 5 years how many have been solved conclusively. The cops here couldn't investigate their way out of a plastic 7 eleven bag. This is what happens when a certain uneducated corrupt segment of your population enters into law enforcement as their only career option to make ends meet.

I agree, and have been saying so for years - in newspaper 'Letter to Editor' columns and to whomever might listen:

Thai law enforcement in general and their investigation/detective workers in particular really need to do a better job. There needs to be improvement, not just regarding training - but also the professional 'mindset' of doing such work. Thailand needs more thinkers like Ms Porntip - who are not afraid to buck authority in order to do a thorough and professional job. A big dose of perserverence wouldn't hurt either.

A movie that all Thai law enforcement - especially investigators and detectives should watch: ZODIAC - which follows the sleuthing work of a tenacious reporter cum detective.

[gburns57au]

In every country in the world, there are murders that are still unsolved after many years...for the Oz guys....the Claremont serial murders and the recent Registrar of the Supreme Court murder.....you would think that the cops here would want Corryn Raineys murder solved real quick....Sometimes the cops can only do so much with the evidence they have...

Even the best detectives would be pushed on this one.....I suppose they could bring in Inspector Rex to satisfy some of you....

[Tony Clifton]

I'm afraid there's a much higher failure rate here Mr. Burns

Incompetence.

Face and tourism.

Hordes of wanna be heroes, rescuers, pseudo-journalists contaminating crime scenes in exchange for an admission fee often asked by men in uniform. Often the crime scene is a joke the way it's protected in the first place.

Hordes of top brass at the crime scene doing nothing but parading for the cameras.

Evidence tampered with.

The list goes on.

Amateurs.

[Tony Clifton]

Just watching the local news now with it's usual daily parade of rescues, accidents scenes with photo shoots of victims in pain ready to go ("one last pic! wait, wait!" ), and dead body recoveries.

What do you call 45 people within 3 meters of a dead body found in a field? Surely not a crime scene anymore.

Too many rescuers (about 15), too many police officers (about 15) and rubber neckers.

That's how they proceed and see nothing wrong with it, that's where the problem often lies with crime scenes and unsolved murders.

[Nordlys]

Just what is the status with Masao Ito investigation I wonder. Did the Japanese police discount the Thai authority's claim of him being the person of interest as baseless or is he on run? If he's on run and can't be located I found it hard to believe it doesn't attract media attention in Japan.

[Tony Clifton]

Just what is the status with Masao Ito investigation I wonder. Did the Japanese police discount the Thai authority's claim of him being the person of interest as baseless or is he on run? If he's on run and can't be located I found it hard to believe it doesn't attract media attention in Japan.

I guarantee you Japanese authorities are awestruck at the stupidity and incompetence encountered when trying to get cooperation from officials over here, hence the silence. The best local authorities could do so far, apart from false suspects, was to provide a lot of good looking Thai officials throwing their best wais, walking around the victim's parents and taking small steps while hunching over as they usually do around people of importance . All show, no content. My best bet is the Japanese authorities offered their sincerest apologies with some form of compensation and explained to the family that trying to get any new and valid information regarding their daughters murder would equal to finding a walking and talking panda teaching quantum physics in Chicago.

I just did searches for Masao Ito in different search engines, English language newpapers in Japan.

Nothing, except for a 68 year old Masao Ito into brain research, surely not connected to this,

and a now 60 year old Japanese wrestler, Masao Ito

It wouldn't even surprise me that a local official remembered the wrestler's name and simply threw that up in the air, instantly creating an evasive mystery murderer.

Maybe Damian Mavis could ask his Japanese girlfriend to do a quick check in her native language?

Edited December 30, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[Nordlys]

Here's Masao Ito's webcam photo from Suvarnabhumi passport control.

Maybe Damian Mavis could ask his Japanese girlfriend to do a quick check in her native language?

That won't turn up anything more than what you already came up with. While both Masao and Ito are fairly common names in Japan, and AFAIK Ito can be written in only one way, Masao can be written in millard of combination of characters, and since Masao Ito has never been mentioned in any Japanese language media in relation to this murder case except in a website belonging to a Japanese expat living in Thailand referring to Bangkok Post article (thus his name appearing in alphabet), no Japanese person can do an effective search not knowing how his first name is written in Japanese character (Kanji).

Edited December 30, 2007 by Nordlys

[LaoPo]

Here's Masao Ito's webcam photo from Suvarnabhumi passport control.

Maybe Damian Mavis could ask his Japanese girlfriend to do a quick check in her native language?

That won't turn up anything more than what you already came up with. While both Masao and Ito are fairly common names in Japan, and AFAIK Ito can be written in only one way, Masao can be written in millard of combination of characters, and since Masao Ito has never been mentioned in any Japanese language media in relation to this murder case except in a website belonging to a Japanese expat living in Thailand referring to Bangkok Post article (thus his name appearing in alphabet), no Japanese person can do an effective search not knowing how his first name is written in Japanese character (Kanji).

Q: If Thai Immigration keeps images from incoming travelers do they keep copies of the passports as well ? And, if they do, maybe the Japanese characters are written in the copy of the same passport page ?.....

But, if there wouldn't be Japanese characters there's certainly a passport number, leading to the holder, right ?

I mean: what use would it be to keep the images if they don't keep the matching passport copies...?

LaoPo

[Tolley]

In every country in the world, there are murders that are still unsolved after many years...for the Oz guys....the Claremont serial murders and the recent Registrar of the Supreme Court murder.....you would think that the cops here would want Corryn Raineys murder solved real quick....Sometimes the cops can only do so much with the evidence they have...

Even the best detectives would be pushed on this one.....I suppose they could bring in Inspector Rex to satisfy some of you....

I was watching the news in Oz a few weeks back and the number of stories of police cover ups, set ups, incompetence and corruption was astounding really.

I have been staying in Perth for the last 6 months and WA has a terrible track record with police incompetence and corruption.

Of course Thailand is probably worse but still what is happening in Oz is no laughing mattter either.

[Nordlys]

Q: If Thai Immigration keeps images from incoming travelers do they keep copies of the passports as well ? And, if they do, maybe the Japanese characters are written in the copy of the same passport page ?.....

But, if there wouldn't be Japanese characters there's certainly a passport number, leading to the holder, right ?

I've never seen immigration officials anywhere in the world making photocopies of passport at the port of entry and I bet Thailand is no exception. And Japanese passport doesn't show the passport holder's name in his native language unless the passport holder signed it in Japanese. Anyway as long as the authority can positively match the passport to be that of the person travelling with it, all they need is a passport number so they can track down his full identity from the family registry and residence certificate against which the passport was issued.

I mean: what use would it be to keep the images if they don't keep the matching passport copies...?

I guess it's partly because they don't keep the passport copies that they keep the webcam photo instead which can be used in international manhunt like this (if there really is a manhunt). It can also be used to identify if the person travelling with the passport is the actual bearer of the passport.

And now I hear a report of 67 yrs old Japanese man who's on visit to Thailand since Dec. 14th missing in Pattaya and a body turning up in the forest of Chonburi on 26th (not positively identified yet if it's his). He was reported to be carrying more than a million Baht's worth of Yen in cash.

Edited December 31, 2007 by Nordlys

[LaoPo]

And now I hear a report of 67 yrs old Japanese man who's on visit to Thailand since Dec. 14th missing in Pattaya and a body turning up in the forest of Chonburi on 26th (not positively identified yet if it's his). He was reported to be carrying more than a million Baht's worth of Yen in cash.

Yes, I read the report in the Pattaya thread; he was carrying/robbed 3.3 million Yen and was probably killed by his Japanese partner in business.

Link:

http://www.pattayadailynews.com/shownews.p...NEWS=0000004706

But, sorry that it is off topic with this one, but Japanese/murder related.

LaoPo

Edited December 31, 2007 by LaoPo

[Tony Clifton]

Think I saw this on local cable tv, about 15 rescuers and 15 policemen plus onlookers stomping around the dead body lying in a watery rut, another fine example of a tainted crime scene.

[kat]

It seems that Japan doesn't have such a great track record in apprehending criminals either. They either coerce suspects to admit to the crime very fast, and they are also known to not solve murders that involve well-connected suspects. I posted links a while back on the thread about the murder of foreign women in Japan. One suspect was the son of doctors, ran away from police barefoot without a passport, and was never found.

It is possible that this crime disappeared out of sight because of behind the scenes negotiations with Japan, especially if it involves a Japanese suspect.

[Nordlys]

I'm not so sure if there's any "behind the scenes negotiations" and I find it hard to believe Masao Ito is not being questioned or being tracked down if Thai police has provided them with sufficient material evidence to name him a suspect, especially if it involved a Japanese victim (They performed postmortem autopsy on Tomoko's body immediately after her return to Japan before being handed over to the family for funeral, even though it was already conducted in Thailand at the police hospital). But like you said, until he has confessed or being named a suspect he's just a "person of interest" and they can't coerce someone into confession when/if they can't even detain him. Lindsay Hawker case you mentioned is a big blunder on the part of the Chiba prefectural police (I have a friend working there as a Thai interpreter btw), but at least the manhunt is underway and a million yen reward is being offered to the information leading to his arrest. There was a special TV program dedicated to her case awhile ago and her parents were invited from UK to appear in this program. His wanted poster in PDF can also be downloaded from Chiba prefectural police website. I didn't know the suspect was a son of a doctor but that won't spare him from harsh sentence if he'll be convicted. In contrast, there's nothing about Masao Ito I can find in Japanese language site. And like I said before, if he won't stand trial in Thailand he will in Japan.

It seems like a completely different story altogether when it comes to Lucie Blackman case. Everything pointed to Joji Obara being a suspect including trace of blood matching Lucie's type and cement presumably mixed in the bathtub to cover her body in the cave found in his bathroom drain pipe, security camera footage at nearby hardware store where he bought a saw believed to have been used to dismember her body and video footage of his camcorder showing Lucie herself before or after being drugged and raped (among hundreds if not thousands of video tapes showing other women he's believed to have raped). All that, they said is not enough to convict him of murder and he was acquitted of Lucie Blackman case citing prosecutors could not produce a "forensic evidence linking the accused to the death of Lucie Blackman including the cause of death due to the decomposed state of her body". Joji Obara knew it all too well so he never made confession because he himself was a lawyer. And the Japanese press is such they suddenly went quiet over the case as if there was a gag order when it became public he is a naturalized Japanese citizen of Korean descent, apparently fearing backlash to the Korean community in Japan who has long been subjected to discrimination. And I lived in Japan at the time of the murder and I remember how huge media attention and daily coverage on tabloid TV shows as well as news programs the case has received. Joji Obara was found guilty and convicted of drugging death of another farang model/hostess but the case is still pending as both the prosecution and defense appealed.

Edited January 2, 2008 by Nordlys

[ChiangMaiAmerican]

Joji Obara was found guilty and convicted of drugging death of another farang model/hostess but the case is still pending as both the prosecution and defense appealed.

That one was picked up by the US media. I am not certain but if I recall correctly the victim was American. One of the US major networks included an in depth 20 minute prime time investigative news article on the murder. If he walks again watch for another primetime segment and US citizen protests.

Update,

The second case was an Austalian not an American. CBS television's 60 Minutes was the news program aired the story of Joji Obara.

Edited January 2, 2008 by ChiangMaiAmerican

[Nordlys]

I recall it was for the death of Australian model/hostess, CMA.

[LaoPo]

I'm not so sure if there's any "behind the scenes negotiations" and I find it hard to believe Masao Ito is not being questioned or being tracked down if Thai police has provided them with sufficient material evidence to name him a suspect, especially if it involved a Japanese victim (They performed postmortem autopsy on Tomoko's body immediately after her return to Japan before being handed over to the family for funeral, even though it was already conducted in Thailand at the police hospital). But like you said, until he has confessed or being named a suspect he's just a "person of interest" and they can't coerce someone into confession when/if they can't even detain him. Lindsay Hawker case you mentioned is a big blunder on the part of the Chiba prefectural police (I have a friend working there as a Thai interpreter btw), but at least the manhunt is underway and a million yen reward is being offered to the information leading to his arrest. There was a special TV program dedicated to her case awhile ago and her parents were invited from UK to appear in this program. His wanted poster in PDF can also be downloaded from Chiba prefectural police website. I didn't know the suspect was a son of a doctor but that won't spare him from harsh sentence if he'll be convicted. In contrast, there's nothing about Masao Ito I can find in Japanese language site. And like I said before, if he won't stand trial in Thailand he will in Japan.

It seems like a completely different story altogether when it comes to Lucie Blackman case. Everything pointed to Joji Obara being a suspect including trace of blood matching Lucie's type and cement presumably mixed in the bathtub to cover her body in the cave found in his bathroom drain pipe, security camera footage at nearby hardware store where he bought a saw believed to have been used to dismember her body and video footage of his camcorder showing Lucie herself before or after being drugged and raped (among hundreds if not thousands of video tapes showing other women he's believed to have raped). All that, they said is not enough to convict him of murder and he was acquitted of Lucie Blackman case citing prosecutors could not produce a "forensic evidence linking the accused to the death of Lucie Blackman including the cause of death due to the decomposed state of her body". Joji Obara knew it all too well so he never made confession because he himself was a lawyer. And the Japanese press is such they suddenly went quiet over the case as if there was a gag order when it became public he is a naturalized Japanese citizen of Korean descent, apparently fearing backlash to the Korean community in Japan who has long been subjected to discrimination. And I lived in Japan at the time of the murder and I remember how huge media attention and daily coverage on tabloid TV shows as well as news programs the case has received. Joji Obara was found guilty and convicted of drugging death of another farang model/hostess but the case is still pending as both the prosecution and defense appealed.

That is unbelievable....

LaoPo