Key Facts
Status: Unsolved
Also known as: Setagaya family murder, Setagaya family killings, Miyazawa family murders, Setagaya massacre
Coverage: 11 timeline events, 6 persons, and 4 locations
Sources collected: 27 sources
Setagaya Family Murders
New releasePublished May 21, 2026Updated May 21, 2026
Overview
Case Overview
On the night of December 30-31, 2000, Mikio (44), Yasuko (41), Niina (8), and Rei (6) Miyazawa were killed inside their Kami-Soshigaya home in Setagaya, Tokyo. Investigators believe the intruder entered through a second-floor bathroom window beside Soshigaya Park, remained in the house for hours, used the family computer at about 1:18 a.m., and left behind blood, fingerprints, clothing, and other forensic evidence without being identified. Yasuko's mother discovered the bodies at about 10:40 a.m. on December 31; the case remains unsolved, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department still publicizing a total reward of up to 20 million yen.
Case At A Glance
Interrupted burglary escalated into a full-family murder
Low confidence
Status
Unsolved
Key evidence
Investigators concluded that a sashimi knife used in the attack broke during the assault, an important detail in the reconstruction of how Mikio Miyazawa confronted the intruder.Show more
Open question
Was theft the original objective or only incidental after the murders?
Latest timeline item
May 27, 2024: Setagaya Ward motion on DNA usage
Explore This Case
Categories
unsolved homicidefamily homicidemass murderhome invasioncold caseJapan
Tags
DNAfingerprintsType A bloodbathroom window entrySoshigaya Parkcomputer activitybarley teaice creamMUJI handkerchiefsUNIQLO jacketSlazenger shoesrewardstatute of limitations
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