Junko Furuta Case: Where Are The Killers Now? [UPDATED]

Price Ratke 13 May 2025

Can the passage of time truly erase the horrors of the past, or do certain atrocities forever stain the perpetrators and haunt the memories of a nation? The brutal torture and murder of Junko Furuta in 1988 remains a chilling testament to the darkest aspects of human nature, a case that continues to provoke outrage and a deep sense of injustice, even decades later.

The details surrounding the abduction, captivity, and murder of Junko Furuta are difficult to confront, painting a stark picture of unimaginable cruelty. The events began on November 25, 1988, when the then 17-year-old high school student, was taken to a residence in the Ayase area of Adachi Ward by a group of four teenagers. The ringleaders were Hiroshi Miyano, aged 18, and Shinji Minato, aged 16, along with Jo Ogura, 17, and Yasushi Watanabe, 17. Over the course of forty-four agonizing days, Furuta was subjected to relentless physical and sexual abuse, a prolonged ordeal that ultimately led to her tragic death on January 4, 1989. Her body was discovered encased in concrete inside a cement drum in Kt, Tokyo.

Information	Details
Perpetrator's Name	Hiroshi Miyano, Shinji Minato (formerly Minato Nobuharu), Jo Ogura, Yasushi Watanabe
Date of Kidnapping	November 25, 1988
Duration of Captivity	44 days
Date of Death	January 4, 1989
Location of Abuse & Murder	Residence in the Ayase area of Adachi Ward, Tokyo
Sentence	Miyano: 20 years, Ogura: 10 years, Minato: 5-7 years, Watanabe: 5-7 years
Release Date (Approximate)	Miyano: 2009, Ogura: Unknown, Minato: Unknown, Watanabe: Unknown
Known Re-Offenses	Miyano (attempted murder in 2018), Minato (alleged assault in 2018), Ogura (name change)
Victim's Age	17
Other Facts	All the killers were juveniles at the time of the crime.
Source Reference	Wikipedia - Murder of Junko Furuta

The crime, which has become infamously known as the "Concrete Encased Girl" case, shocked the nation and brought into sharp focus the failings of the juvenile justice system. The sentences handed down to the perpetrators, given their heinous actions, were viewed as remarkably lenient, sparking widespread public outrage. The fact that they were tried as juveniles, due to their ages at the time of the crime, significantly impacted the severity of their punishments.

In the aftermath of the trial and their eventual release from prison, the question of the killers' whereabouts and their lives post-incarceration became a persistent source of morbid curiosity and public concern. The details of their lives, once known only to a close circle of family and associates, are now often whispered in hushed tones across internet forums and true crime discussions. This article attempts to shed light on what became of them. The fact is that they have taken different paths since serving their prison sentences, and the details, where available, remain unsettling.

Hiroshi Miyano, considered the main perpetrator, was released from prison around 2009. It appears that he was later arrested again, in 2018, for attempted murder, allegedly attacking a man with a knife. This re-offense, which saw him change his name to evade public awareness, highlights the difficult question of whether those who commit such horrific acts can ever truly be rehabilitated.

Shinji Minato, also known as Nobuharu Minato, has been connected to alleged involvement in the case, including the 2018 incident of alleged assault. Information concerning his current activities remains limited, and like Miyano and Ogura, he has changed his name. Despite the passage of time, the stigma of his past, and the severity of the crimes he committed, continue to follow Minato. It appears that he was convinced that people knew he was one of the killers of Junko Furuta, and he believed this was the reason they were hostile towards him. His attorney denied his assumption.

Jo Ogura also changed his name after being released from prison. He has seemingly remained out of the public eye. Ogura's mother was reported to have vandalized Furuta's grave, which led to a renewed wave of anger. The vandalism of Junko's grave by Oguras mother underscores the enduring impact of the crime and the complex emotional landscape that surrounds it.

Yasushi Watanabe is the only one of the four perpetrators who, as far as is known, has not reoffended since his release. However, his involvement and the nature of the crime ensure that he remains a subject of public scrutiny and judgment.

The lasting impact of the Furuta case extends beyond the immediate individuals involved. The area where Furuta's body was found has since been developed into a park, named Wakasu Park. This change to the landscape, although not directly related to the case's details, shows an attempt to come to terms with the tragedy that occurred there.

The story of Junko Furuta, often referred to as "Concrete: Junko Furuta's 44 Days of Hell," remains a source of fascination and horror, and many sources of information. The 1995 Japanese movie "Concrete" is a dramatization of her tragic murder, which portrays the events and attempts to depict the path to justice. The DNA of the killers was found in her body, confirming that others were involved in the abuse she suffered. The trial results and the details of the case remain disturbing to many who have heard of them. Proper justice was never fully delivered to Junko, as the perpetrators, who were tried as juveniles, were not held accountable for the full extent of their actions. The lack of appropriate justice has haunted the public since the case was first made known.

It is important to remember that this is a story about a real person, Junko Furuta, a young woman whose life was cruelly cut short. The case is a stark reminder of the darkness that can exist within humanity and the profound impact that violence and abuse can have on individuals, families, and communities. Living through the murder of a child is said to be the worst torment a parent can experience. Furuta's parents were able to win a civil case against the parents of one of the attackers and almost $400,000 from another. Despite the immense pain, Junko's parents made attempts to report her missing, but the boys had forced her to call home and claim she was safe.

As the years pass, the memory of Junko Furuta's tragic fate remains, a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion, empathy, and the need for justice. The story of what happened to her, and the aftermath, continues to provoke strong emotions, and it is imperative to consider the significance of her tragic story. The case continues to provoke outrage, with calls for justice remaining prominent.