NHK Special's popular series, "Unsolved Cases" (General TV, Saturdays at 10pm) will be broadcast as a regular feature. On January 24th, they will air "File 12: Why Stalker Murders Keep Repeating." Victims and their families testify about the horror of "it doesn't end until you're killed." "I remember the culprit stabbing me while saying, 'Die, die.' To me, the case is still unsolved," says a woman who survived the incident 10 years ago, speaking for the first time. Problems with the police response are emerging. This live broadcast will examine how to reduce the damage caused by stalkers.
In 1999, a 21-year-old female university student was killed in Okegawa City, Saitama Prefecture, following a sloppy response by the police in the "Okegawa Stalker Murder Case." This incident and others led to the enactment of the Stalker Control Act in 2000. Since then, measures have been strengthened, but the number of arrests has reached a record high, and tragic incidents continue to occur, such as the discovery of the body of a 20-year-old woman in Kawasaki City last year who had repeatedly consulted the police about stalking by her ex-boyfriend.
A distinctive feature of stalking crimes is that in many cases, the signs are easily detectable, with police being consulted or reported in advance. Despite this, why is it not possible to prevent it? Why are pleas for help from victims who say, "I might be killed..." not heard?
The program interviewed victims and bereaved families of stalking crimes. It also covered the front lines of the police, who are dealing with the rapidly increasing number of consultations, and medical institutions working on rehabilitation programs for "perpetrators." Experts were invited into the studio to delve deeper into the issue live on air.
"Unsolved Cases" is a popular series on NHK Special that began airing in 2011 and unravels historical cases through thorough investigative reporting. It will begin airing as a regular program in October 2025, unearthing new facts and testimonies, while also highlighting connections to the present day and lessons learned. Announcer Mayuko Wakuda will serve as Caster and main narrator.
