Female Japanese Tourist Robbed And Murdered In Sukhothai

[canadiangirl]

Why are they targets any more than others? Just curious...

Well my Japanese girlfriend and I think it has alot to do with how Japanese culture is percieved. The women seem to act ultra feminine and weak, submissive and less likely to resist.

Damian

Since you probably know a bit about Japanese culture from your gf Damian, maybe you can tell me what you think:

having just passed by Tokyo, I think that Japan is a very safe and trusting culture. AFAIK, there is almost no violent crime, and people carry large amounts of cash all the time, partly because it's safe, and partly because most places don't take credit card at all.

Which I think makes them perhaps more ill-prepared than most to deal with somewhere like Thailand.

Bleh, I consider myself fairly street-wise, and I ('m pretty sure) I got totally ripped off at the Viet embassy today! :-(

[Tony Clifton]

I think I'll have fun once back home, visiting travel agencies at locations where I usually shop, asking them how safe Thailand is. Just to see what they say and really know about the place.

Edited November 27, 2007 by Tony Clifton

[DamianMavis]

Ya that's pretty much it Canadiangirl, Japan is relatively safe, safer than alot of other countries... from what I read, amazingly safer than countries such as the U.K. This leads to a lot of naive attitudes about safety issues when travelling. Japanese women often react badly under attack too... a western woman will be raised in a culture to resist and show defiance when in a situation they do not like, Japanese seem to freeze up and become a ball of quivering jello..... in my experience with my own woman being a victim.

Damian

[Prakanong]

This story is getting wide coverage - here in Singapore its one of the lead items on the main evening news on the local channel together with pictures of the body being removed.

[Prakanong]

This story is getting wide coverage - here in Singapore its one of the lead items on the main evening news on the local channel together with pictures of the body being removed.

[kat]

The unfortunate victim here was slain. We don't know any more than that. It's certainly on the face of it a terrible murder. Yet, how many Japanese women come here to profer themselves in one way or another? Can we examine that as a contributing proximate cause to her murder or not? I know this is heretical to suggest, but it does happen. Do you ignore the possibility?

That was out of line man, it has nothing to do with rape and murder. To suggest so gives an excuse to rapist/murderers around the world. "But she smiled at me! So I raped her and slit her throat!". Completely ridiculous.

Ive posted several times how Japanese women are targets in this country. My own girlfriend has been vicimised many times and her friends have been raped and or robbed. One left for dead on the side of the road, guess she should be thankful her throat wasn't slashed and she could recover after a 2 month hospital stay.

Damian

Why are they targets any more than others? Just curious...

Well my Japanese girlfriend and I think it has alot to do with how Japanese culture is percieved. The women seem to act ultra feminine and weak, submissive and less likely to resist. In Japanese porn (which is readily available all over Thailand) the women seem to be crying and whining and not enjoying it (similar to rape)... this is just their sexual culture (they don't respond the way Western women do, it is seen as way to aggressive and Japanese men would be turned off in most cases) but that is a topic for another discussion. They are also extremely naive and more likely to fall into a trap (just look at all the nice things she wrote about the Thais... she really took all their smiles to mean they are wonderful kind people.... I've seen them smile at eachother just before bashing eachothers brains in, add to that the fact that she thought it was safe for a woman to travel Thailand alone, it is not. At least not if you are too innocent and naive to stay aware and keep yourself safe with basic safety practices)

Actually AGareth2, I disagree completely. Women are at risk anywhere in the world. And as such, learn to deal with it.

Comments like that are really very broad generalizations with no real basis in reality. Thousands of single women travel this country every year, and very few of them get raped or murdered.

Bad things happen anywhere. Unfortunately for this poor woman, it happened in Thailand.

Sorry SBK but I completely disagree with you here, but I think you know that already heh. Being in a relationship with a Japanese woman I hear about all the horrible things going on to Japanese women, reported or not reported. Rape and brutal beatings.. murders... sorry but they do seem to be happening ALOT to Japanese women. I won't bother repeating the many things that have happened to my own girlfiend in the 6 years she has lived here. I am positive though that like you are inclined to believe, Western women are targetted FAR less and it is alot safer for them here in Thailand. The only western woman I've ever met that complained about "constantly" being under threat by Thai men was a very small petite blonde model that lives here. Apparently she gets targetted alot too, perhaps because of her size she looks like an easy target.

Damian

Yes, I agree with all that you said above Damian, especially about perceptions of Japanese women in Asia, and Japanese porn. I lived with a Japanese roommate in the states for 4 years (she's like my sister now), and travelled through SEA with two different Japanese women, and I was told the exact same thing by all of them about Japanese porn, perceptions of Japanese women, and Japanese culture and safety. It is still a bit of a liberation or anomaly for Japanese women to travel alone, which is why at one time the Japanese tour group was the most popular way to travel.

And yes, Chinthee was way out of line, and I was stunned by his comments because he is usually reasonable. I guess once you scratch the surface here ...

Why are they targets any more than others? Just curious...

Well my Japanese girlfriend and I think it has alot to do with how Japanese culture is percieved. The women seem to act ultra feminine and weak, submissive and less likely to resist.

Damian

Since you probably know a bit about Japanese culture from your gf Damian, maybe you can tell me what you think:

having just passed by Tokyo, I think that Japan is a very safe and trusting culture. AFAIK, there is almost no violent crime, and people carry large amounts of cash all the time, partly because it's safe, and partly because most places don't take credit card at all.

Which I think makes them perhaps more ill-prepared than most to deal with somewhere like Thailand.

Bleh, I consider myself fairly street-wise, and I ('m pretty sure) I got totally ripped off at the Viet embassy today! :-(

Yes, Japan is very safe, compared to the West, and when they have fatal crime, it is usually some extremely weird fetish killer. However, a lot of perceptions about safety are changing in Japanese society now, and there is a lot of rumination and obstructive laws concerning foreigners living among them. You could learn more about this by visiting websites of foreigners who live in Japan.

*fixed quote function

Edited November 27, 2007 by kat

[Felt 35]

And, when you have the combination of cultural mores and norms, lax security and regulatory enforcements, and a judicial system based on status and nepotism, then yes, we are indeed talking about CULTURE.

Yes culture and in that the chauvinistic way male children are raised and allowed to do what fit them best is the main reason behind violence against women in Thailand.

[kat]

And, when you have the combination of cultural mores and norms, lax security and regulatory enforcements, and a judicial system based on status and nepotism, then yes, we are indeed talking about CULTURE.

Yes culture and in that the chauvinistic way male children are raised and allowed to do what fit them best is the main reason behind violence against women in Thailand.

Yes, I have to strongly agree with you here, although we will get flak. However, this is not a throwaway comment, because if you take the time to look at patterns of gender violence across cultures as I have, the shifting of all responsibility for male indiscretion onto the woman is a common denominator in societies with widespread abuse, underreporting, and impunity. It is a vicious cycle.

*However, in this case, I have to add that we don't know who the killer is yet.

Edited November 27, 2007 by kat

[meom]

Why are they targets any more than others? Just curious...

Well my Japanese girlfriend and I think it has alot to do with how Japanese culture is percieved. The women seem to act ultra feminine and weak, submissive and less likely to resist.

Damian

Since you probably know a bit about Japanese culture from your gf Damian, maybe you can tell me what you think:

having just passed by Tokyo, I think that Japan is a very safe and trusting culture. AFAIK, there is almost no violent crime, and people carry large amounts of cash all the time, partly because it's safe, and partly because most places don't take credit card at all.

Which I think makes them perhaps more ill-prepared than most to deal with somewhere like Thailand.

Bleh, I consider myself fairly street-wise, and I ('m pretty sure) I got totally ripped off at the Viet embassy today! :-(

Maybe in some cases it's just a case of get even.

There's loads of thai workers in Japan and the majority are treated as slaves basically so I can understand that some Thais do not feel to good about the Japanese.

It doesn't justify murder though.

[chinthee]

Kat, Damian and others. If you know my history on this board then you know I don't make misogynous remarks. I phrased that badly, but was meaning that when an investigator looks into the case, they would likely try to determine if the woman knew the man, whether there had been any prior exchanges between the two, and what the nature of those exchanges were.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that was the case here nor that the poor woman either solicited or deserved any of the terrible acts against her.

[kat]

Kat, Damian and others. If you know my history on this board then you know I don't make misogynous remarks. I phrased that badly, but was meaning that when an investigator looks into the case, they would likely try to determine if the woman knew the man, whether there had been any prior exchanges between the two, and what the nature of those exchanges were.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that was the case here nor that the poor woman either solicited or deserved any of the terrible acts against her.

Your comments were all the more jolting because I do know your history. Chinthee, I would suggest that your objectivity has become terribly jaded, either because of your "investigative" approach, or your attitudes toward independent female sexuality. I'm not sure of your age, but the attitudes you displayed are reminiscent of rape trials of previous decades in the West, where women's supposed virtue is the main consideration in a rape charge. Very disturbing.

But, it does seem out of character.

[seonai]

Chinthee - it seems that the woman in question was with a gruop of Thai guys the night before the murder and checked out of her guest house at 2am to sleep elsewhere... so perhaps she actually went off with one of the guys and he turned out to be a nut???

[madjbs]

Your comments were all the more jolting because I do know your history. Chinthee, I would suggest that your objectivity has become terribly jaded, either because of your "investigative" approach, or your attitudes toward independent female sexuality. I'm not sure of your age, but the attitudes you displayed are reminiscent of rape trials of previous decades in the West, where women's supposed virtue is the main consideration in a rape charge. Very disturbing.

But, it does seem out of character.

Well obviously nothing should be assumed but unfortunately if it may help the investigators catch the crazy person that has done this then it has to be done. Or are you suggesting it should be ignored at the risk of missing vital facts that could determine exactly why something like this has happened?

[sonnyJ]

Khao Sod newspaper article (in Thai) with photo of the murder scene (thankfully, not too graphically gruesome):

http://www.matichon.co.th/khaosod/view_new...HhNUzB5Tmc9PQ==

Another young life lost in Thailand. Very sad.

We are talking about very violent society here. What I don't understand is why foreigners living here cannot adapt to Thai way of thinking and face the death as it IS. (Thankfully not too graphically gruesome)? Why you want to push your western values to Thailand? Scared of having a bad dream?

I just don't get people who cannot face the world as it is and then insult people who do.

[Felt 35]

We are talking about very violent society here.

Probably high on the list yes.

What I don't understand is why foreigners living here cannot adapt to Thai way of thinking and face the death as it IS.

I hope I misunderstand you, but what you indirectly are saying is that we "foreigners" should adapt to not care more about a death human than a death rat!

[mogoso]

What a shame, the loss to her family is immeasurable. My deepest sympathy to them.

I do hope there is conclusive DNA match and the killer gets the maximum sentence. If that be death so be it.

[sriracha john]

Police target male suspect in tourist murder

Police will apply for a warrant today for the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a Japanese woman in the ancient capital of Sukhothai during the Loy Krathong festival, a Crime Suppression Division source said. Police had found traces of blood at the crime scene and now believed one of 10 men who had been under suspicion was involved in the crime, the police source said. It was expected an arrest warrant would be issued today. The body of Tomoko Kawashita, 27, from Osaka, is to be flown home tomorrow. Police said the parents, Yasuaki and Keko Kawashita, went to the Police hospital yesterday to make arrangements. They said their daughter travelled to Thailand with the intention of celebrating Loy Krathong, and Sukhothai was her choice because she learned it was the birthplace of the famous festival, he said. The victim's parents would provide police with information on phone conversations they had with their daughter while she was in Thailand. He said forensic tests showed no signs the victim had been sexually assaulted. It was believed robbery was the only motive behind the murder, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Nov2007_news05.php

* Just for clarity sake, the "he" in the foregoing "he said" statements was Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, not the parents.*

Edited November 27, 2007 by sriracha john

[JR Texas]

Police target male suspect in tourist murder

Police will apply for a warrant today for the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a Japanese woman in the ancient capital of Sukhothai during the Loy Krathong festival, a Crime Suppression Division source said. Police had found traces of blood at the crime scene and now believed one of 10 men who had been under suspicion was involved in the crime, the police source said. It was expected an arrest warrant would be issued today. The body of Tomoko Kawashita, 27, from Osaka, is to be flown home tomorrow. Police said the parents, Yasuaki and Keko Kawashita, went to the Police hospital yesterday to make arrangements. They said their daughter travelled to Thailand with the intention of celebrating Loy Krathong, and Sukhothai was her choice because she learned it was the birthplace of the famous festival, he said. The victim's parents would provide police with information on phone conversations they had with their daughter while she was in Thailand. He said forensic tests showed no signs the victim had been sexually assaulted. It was believed robbery was the only motive behind the murder, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Nov2007_news05.php

* Just for clarity sake, the "he" in the foregoing "he said" statements was Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, not the parents.*

This is so sad......she comes to Thailand to experience what is one of the most wonderful holidays on the planet.......and this happens. I have no more words........

[Nordlys]

Police said the parents, Yasuaki and Keko Kawashita, went to the Police hospital yesterday to make arrangements.

And here's Kawashita's father at the Police Hospital in Bangkok yesterday.

And now the famous but closed blog of Tomoko in which she wrote of Thailand and Thai people so fondly.

She even had nice things to say about stray (soi) dogs.

Edited November 27, 2007 by Nordlys

[sriracha john]

Khao Sod newspaper article (in Thai) with photo of the murder scene (thankfully, not too graphically gruesome):

http://www.matichon.co.th/khaosod/view_new...HhNUzB5Tmc9PQ==

Another young life lost in Thailand. Very sad.

We are talking about very violent society here. What I don't understand is why foreigners living here cannot adapt to Thai way of thinking and face the death as it IS. (Thankfully not too graphically gruesome)? Why you want to push your western values to Thailand? Scared of having a bad dream?

I just don't get people who cannot face the world as it is and then insult people who do.

I, personally, have no qualms dealing with death on a clinical level after witnessing many autopsies from murders to suicides to natural causes and from facing death innumerable times from a medical standpoint.

My statement above was made in deference to those on the forum that I know don't share my experiences and are understandably distressed by graphic photos that are common in the Thai media and so my comment was to serve as a qualifier to them before clinking on the link.

These feelings that others have are deeply-rooted in a lifetime of cultural values and to expect them to be easily changed, if ever, to something that is the polar opposite is unreasonable and short-sighted.

Edited November 27, 2007 by sriracha john

[Scott]

Like SRJ, I've seen plenty of this in real life, but like nudity, most of us are selective about who we let see us. Once someone is dead, it is only respectful to allow them to maintain their dignity. The photos often shown in the paper are often too graphic--especially when the name and identity of the person is also splashed all across the papers.

[sriracha john]

I would just like to further qualify my post above by saying I am non-judgmental of another's cultural beliefs. I would not say that the Thai value, that it is ok to portray death openly in the media, is wrong or shouldn't be done. I can respect, that on this issue, it is different from what many Westerners believe. I also don't advocate that they change it.

Like so many, many things in Thailand, it's not right or wrong, it's just different from the experiences of many on this forum, whose cultural beliefs I can also respect without being judgmental.

Edited November 28, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

At least a little bit of solace to her parents, family, and friends....

Japanese woman not molested, says police

A Japanese woman killed in Sukhothai on Sunday had not been sexually violated, police spokesman Lt General Pongsapat Pongcharoen said yesterday.

Pongsapat referred to the autopsy report by coroner Pol Colonel Somboon Tantrakool on the body of Tomoko Kawashita, which was found at 1pm on Sunday in the northern province.

Kawashita, 27, had gone to Sukhothai, 650 km north of Bangkok, to attend the Loy Kratong festival.

Pongsapat said there may have been more than one culprit in the murder, but expected a suspect or suspects would be arrested within the next few days. He quoted provincial police chief Major General Sirin Phadungchewit, who said a 20-strong police team made up of officers from the Central Investigation Bureau and Crime Suppression Division had been set up yesterday to work on the case with Sukhothai police.

The victim's parents, Yasuaki and Eko Kawashita, and her older brother claimed her body at the Police General Hospital yesterday. They later went to Sukhothai to discuss the progress of the investigation with local police.

Both said they felt sorrow over their daughter's death, but harboured no ill feelings towards Thailand and Thai people.

They said their daughter Tomoko had originally planned to travel to Thailand with her boyfriend, but eventually came here alone.

Her body will be sent back to Japan.

During yesterday's Cabinet meeting Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont extended his condolences, on behalf of the Thai people, to the Kawashita family and to the Japanese people.

- The Nation

Edited November 28, 2007 by sriracha john

[cm-happy]

This is just hearsay and secondhand info from Thai friend about this case. according to recent Thai TV news the police now possibly suspect the victim was going to rondezvous with her Japanese boy friend in suikothai. This information the police obtained from the victim's parents, so now the Japanese b/f is a suspect. It seems to make sense to me in light that her passport was missing and she was not robbed and according to the TV news and forensic evidence she was not raped.

[sbk]

I find it interesting to hear how many posters continue with the idea that Japan is safe for women. I have had several female friends live there for quite a few years and they all reported being sexually harassed and assaulted on the trains on a regular basis. It is so prevalent that they now have women only cars.

It is also pretty widely known that rape in Japan is seriously underreported.

I realize the victim was not raped but I do think it is misleading to suggest that Japanese women are unaware of these kinds of crime and the threat they hold. Perhaps expected cultural behavior is a better explanation as Damian suggested earlier.

Condolences to her family, its a terrible thing to happen to any family anywhere.

[sriracha john]

Probe Continues for Murder of Japanese Female Tourist

The police continue their investigation of the murder of a Japanese tourist who was killed in Sukothai Province. Meanwhile, the parents of the victim have arrived to receive their daughter's body.

National Police Spokesperson, Police Lieutenant General Pongsapat Pongcharoen, led the parents of 22-year-old Japanese tourist Tomoko Kawashita, who was murdered in a historical park in Sukothai Province on Sunday, to receive the victim's body at the forensic police division of the national police headquarters on Tuesday.

The parents of the deceased will bring their daughter's body back home on Thursday. The National Police Bureau will pay the expenses. The National Police Spokesperson revealed that the police team expects to bring in a murder suspect by the end of this week.

The National Police spokesperson said it is thought that the motive for the murder was to obtain the assets belonging to the victim and that the murderer is a local resident in the province.

The murder was reported early Sunday morning when the body of Kawashita was found in the forest near a pathway that leads to the Kao Tapanhin Temple at the Sukothai Historical site in Muang District in the province.

The initial investigation indicates that the victim was heading to the tourist site to join the Loy Kratong Festival. The police revealed that the murderer stabbed the victim in the neck, leaving three severe wounds and killing her at the site.

Region 6 Police Deputy Commander, Police Major General Ta-ngai Prassachaksattru confirms that the murder suspect will be brought in as soon as possible to boost confidence in security among tourists.

- Thailand Outlook

[seri thai]

The days of foreigners and farangs being the novelty guests here in Thailand are long gone I'm afraid.

The rot set in a good few years back.

It's a lot colder now and I don't mean the weather either.

Now we're seen more as an lower classed citizen and outsider. This mentality is what drives the bad folk who want our cash and will kill to get it.

I hope this asshol_e gets whats coming to him.

I was going to flame this but whats the point?

[hansnl]

The killer probably thought its a Thai woman. What I would really hate in this case would be if the police just gets some random guy again to show that they work efficient. The innocent guy gets executed and that's about it.

I think this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read ANYWHERE, not just this forum. Thai people immediately recognise a non Thai, especially Japanese that have light skin, bigger noses, dress completely differently.... Foreigners are targetted because THEY CARRY MORE MONEY than a Thai girl, Japanese women are specifically targetted and often for rape and robbery, they are seen as a prize catch by normal Thai men, to predators they are a different kind of prize. Just because you can't tell the difference between Asian races doesnt mean they can't also.

Damian

Really?

What about the Chinese living here?

And women from the Philippines?

Indonesia?

Malaysia?

When the above start to talk, yes, I agree!

The differences are starting to get less all the time for obvious reasons, so the recogising is getting more difficult.

For the rest, you are right, foreigners are targeted more and more.

Let us say the government does not really condone this, but maybe has a leading role?

As for "normal" Thai men, I have the opinion that raping and robbing and looting are not normal.

Only stupid people hurt other people.

I am so sorry for this poor girl and her family.

Sometimes I feel ashamed to be a Thai woman, ashamed for my country, ashamed for my people, ashamed for how they think about other people, how they treat other people.

Now I feel the shame, the loss of face burning me.

You, readers of ThaiVisa, please feel the shame too, and pray for this girl and her family.

Khomkhum

Wife of Hansnl

[Prakanong]

Police target male suspect in tourist murder

Police will apply for a warrant today for the arrest of a man suspected of murdering a Japanese woman in the ancient capital of Sukhothai during the Loy Krathong festival, a Crime Suppression Division source said. Police had found traces of blood at the crime scene and now believed one of 10 men who had been under suspicion was involved in the crime, the police source said. It was expected an arrest warrant would be issued today. The body of Tomoko Kawashita, 27, from Osaka, is to be flown home tomorrow. Police said the parents, Yasuaki and Keko Kawashita, went to the Police hospital yesterday to make arrangements. They said their daughter travelled to Thailand with the intention of celebrating Loy Krathong, and Sukhothai was her choice because she learned it was the birthplace of the famous festival, he said. The victim's parents would provide police with information on phone conversations they had with their daughter while she was in Thailand. He said forensic tests showed no signs the victim had been sexually assaulted. It was believed robbery was the only motive behind the murder, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Nov2007_news05.php

* Just for clarity sake, the "he" in the foregoing "he said" statements was Pol Lt-Gen Pongsapat Pongcharoen, not the parents.*

This is so sad......she comes to Thailand to experience what is one of the most wonderful holidays on the planet.......and this happens. I have no more words........

Totally agree JR - it is bloody sad

[chinthee]

Ok, everybody, I do apologize for my comments. I was pissed, and they were out of line. I'm sorry.

*well, truly sorry, please forgive me.

Edited November 28, 2007 by chinthee