The popular "NHK Special" series, "Unsolved Cases" (NHK General, Saturdays at 10 PM), will air "File.13 Shinjuku Kabukicho Building Fire" on February 28th.
"Please come quickly. I'm scared." "There are about 10 or 20 people inside. We can't get away." These were the cries for help that victims made to the fire department that day. On September 1, 2001, a fire broke out in a multi-tenant building in Shinjuku Kabukicho, Tokyo, resulting in a major tragedy that claimed the lives of 44 people, including customers and employees. The fire started near a staircase that was supposed to be an escape route. Garbage and other items left there caught fire, trapping the victims. Police suspected arson and launched an investigation with a team of about 200 people, but the perpetrator has not yet been identified.
The program obtained footage of the building's interior after the fire. It will examine from multiple angles what happened, based on the testimonies of firefighters who were on the front lines of the rescue and fire scientists who investigated the case. The program will also interview the investigators who pursued the arsonist at the time. Why has the cause of this catastrophic fire remained unsolved? As the program pursues this mystery, it will reveal the unique realities of Kabukicho, a district that hinders the uncovering of the truth.
Further investigation revealed that there were survivors for at least 10 minutes after the fire broke out, desperately calling for help. There were also eyewitness accounts of a mysterious figure who escaped the burning building and walked away... We also unearthed the untold story of the investigators who tackled the investigation into the building's "responsibility for safety management." By highlighting the "attitude of the building owners who disregarded safety measures," we will also consider the issues the fire has raised for society.
The program also examines "another wound" left by this fire. Because the scene was in Kabukicho, a bustling entertainment district, the victims were subjected to heartless comments. Even 25 years after the incident, the bereaved families continue to suffer. One mother, who lost both of her daughters at the same time, said, "I had no one to rely on." Another family member clutched their son's shirt, which was blackened by the smoke, and asked, "If there is a culprit, I want them to see this. What will they think when they see this?" These bereaved families, who were hesitant to speak out and whose grief has deepened as years have passed without the truth being revealed, now reveal their innermost feelings.
"Unsolved Cases" is a popular NHK Special series that began in 2011, unraveling historical cases through thorough investigative reporting. Starting in October 2025, it will begin as a regular program, unearthing new facts and testimonies, and highlighting connections to the present day and the lessons learned. Announcer Mayuko Wakuda will serve as Caster and main narrator.
