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My Nine News Item44 Days In Hell: The terrible murder of Junko Furuta
Junko Furuta, a 16-year-old girl from Japan, tragically experienced extreme suffering and ultimately lost her life on November 22, 1989, after enduring 44 days of horrific abuse, including rape and torture.
Junko Furuta's case gained widespread attention across Japan and became known as the "concrete-wrapped girl" due to the unimaginable cruelty inflicted upon her before her untimely death.
Junko Furuta was a high school student in Misato, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, known for her beauty and vibrant personality. She garnered a lot of attention, which occasionally stirred feelings of jealousy among some individuals. Despite this, Junko chose to lead a lifestyle free from smoking, alcohol, and drugs, which clashed with the preferences of certain rebellious teenagers.
Among them was Hiroshi Miyano, who harbored feelings for her but never pursued a romantic relationship. Hiroshi was known as a bully within the school, and his intimidating presence prevented anyone from challenging him. However, when Hiroshi expressed his feelings to Junko, she respectfully declined his advances, firmly asserting her decision.
On November 25, 1988, Junko Furuta was abducted by a group of four teenage boys, including Hiroshi Miyano. They took her to a house owned by one of the kidnappers' parents, located in the Ayase neighborhood of Adachi, Tokyo.
In a very sad and upsetting turn of events, the kidnappers made Junko Furuta call her parents and lie to them. She was forced to say that she had run away and was staying with a friend, even though it wasn't true. It was a cruel way to further torment her during this terrible ordeal.
Overwhelmed by fear and unable to comprehend the gravity of the situation, Junko complied with their demands, unwittingly thwarting initial attempts to locate her.
Nobuharu Minato's parents owned the house where Junko Furuta was kept, and they visited their son several times. However, because Junko was being threatened with more violence, she had to pretend to be one of the boys' girlfriends. Even when it became clear that Junko was being held against her will, the parents didn't do anything because they were afraid of retaliation from Hiroshi Miyano.
During the 44 days after she was kidnapped, Junko Furuta endured unimaginable suffering.
She was humiliated by being kept naked most of the time
- She was raped every day. It is believed that more than 100 men raped her, counting 500 rapes. At one point, she was abused by 12 different men within a day.
Physical beatings included hitting with golf clubs and slapping the face on the cement floor.
- Often, to provoke her rapists, she was forced to masturbate in front of them and the "guests".
- The 16-year-old had various objects forcefully inserted into the vagina and anus, including a bottle, an iron rod, scissors, etc.
- There were confusing foods that included more water and milk.
- The kidnappers had removed her left nipple with pliers.
After being stored in the refrigerator for several hours, there were visible burn marks observed in sensitive areas, which were just a fraction of the numerous tortures she endured.
During a moment of respite for her attackers, the young victim bravely attempted to contact the police but was apprehended and subjected to punishment through the burning of her legs. As a result, she suffered severe burns and extensive muscle bruising, rendering her unable to walk for several days. Compounded by the winter season, she was further subjected to sleeping on a balcony, enduring frigid temperatures without proper shelter.
After enduring 30 days of unimaginable torment, Junko Furuta suffered severe damage to her internal organs and vulva, resulting from the forced introduction of foreign objects and burns inflicted by cigarettes and lighters.
Her hands and feet were brutally injured, making it agonizingly difficult for her to crawl downstairs to access the bathroom, which took her over an hour. Tragically, her eardrums were also harmed, and her cognitive abilities deteriorated as her brain suffered irreparable damage.
Death of Junko Furuta
During the agonizing span of 44 days, Junko Furuta was subjected to relentless torture, beatings, and sexual assaults. Desperate for an end to her suffering, she pleaded with her captors multiple times to end her life swiftly. However, on January 4, 1989, instead of granting her plea, they cruelly challenged her to a Mahjong diamond game. To their displeasure, Junko emerged victorious, provoking their rage.
They viciously beat her with iron barbells and subjected her to further burning of her already traumatized body. With her physical state severely deteriorating from the sustained abuse, dehydration, and malnutrition, Junko Furuta tragically succumbed the following day.
In a horrific attempt to dispose of the evidence, the killers callously encased the lifeless body of the young girl in a cauldron filled with concrete and callously discarded it in Koto, Tokyo.
The Japanese court kept the names of the four main captors who kidnapped, tortured, raped, and killed Junko Furuta hidden because they were underage. However, journalists from Shakan Bunshun managed to uncover and publish their names. They believed that considering what these individuals did to Junko Furuta, they didn't deserve anyone defending their human rights. Here are the names of the perpetrators along with their ages at the time of the crime:
Hiroshi Miyano: He was 18 years old at the time of the crime and later changed his name to Hiroshi Yokoyama.
- No Ogura: He was 18 years old at the time of the crime and later changed his name to Jo Kamisaku.
- Shinji Minato: He was 16 years old at the time of the crime, and some sources refer to him as Nobuharu Minato.
- Yasushi Watanabe: He was 17 years old at the time of the crime.
All four individuals involved in the crime were apprehended, tried, and treated as minors due to their age at the time. Despite the gravity of their offenses, the court opted to shield their identities. Consequently, the sentences imposed on them were comparatively lenient.
Three of the boys received less than eight years in custody, while the ringleader initially received a 17-year prison sentence. However, following an appeal, even his sentence was further reduced.
The heinous torture and murder of Junko Furuta sparked widespread international condemnation and served as the inspiration for various films and manga illustrated by Kamata Youji. One notable film is "Concrete-Encased High School Girl Murder Case" (Joshikôsei konkuriito-dume satsujin-jiken), released in 1995, which portrays the main perpetrator.
The tragic events surrounding the torture and murder of Junko Furuta have been a source of inspiration for several works. In addition to the 1995 film "Concrete-Encased High School Girl Murder Case," there is also a 2004 Japanese film titled "Concrete" that draws from the same events. Furthermore, the case has motivated multiple Japanese authors to write books based on the incident.
Sadly, there are some individuals who mistakenly believe that the story of Junko Furuta's ordeal is a fabrication. However, it is important to acknowledge that this horrific crime did occur. The truth of the matter is that Junko Furuta was subjected to unspeakable acts of torture and ultimately lost her life in a deeply tragic manner.
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