030 "The Ōokayama–Senju Serial Murders: A Tale of Two Families, One Killer" Uncovering Japan’s 1920s unsolved murders that revealed police missteps and a chilling connection across years.

The Ōokayama–Senju Serial Murders refer to two connected family homicide cases that occurred in Tokyo during the 1920s. On September 5, 1925, in Ōokayama (present-day Meguro, Tokyo), three people — a woman named A (23), her husband ST (25), and their adopted daughter F (29) — were found dead in actress Utako Nakayama's residence. Initially believed to be a group suicide, autopsies revealed all were strangled. Evidence pointed to robbery, as valuables including a bankbook and wallet were missing, and 520 yen had been withdrawn using the stolen bankbook.

A year later, in September 1926, a man named T filed a fraud report but acted suspiciously when questioned further. Under pressure, he confessed to multiple frauds and later unexpectedly admitted to the Ōokayama murders. However, he died of tuberculosis in 1928 while in custody. Investigations later proved he was not responsible and may have confessed to hide involvement in a different unsolved crime — the 1922 Kirigaya family murders.

On August 21, 1928, in Senju (now part of Adachi, Tokyo), two more victims — a woman M (43) and a maid WK (16) — were found strangled at a soy sauce shop owned by YK (50). The case led to the arrest of Tetsuo Gomi, a driver in debt to YK, and his accomplice, Fujita Tanaka. Gomi confessed to murdering YK, then killing M and WK to eliminate witnesses. Later, under further investigation, Gomi admitted to also committing the 1925 Ōokayama murders with Tanaka. Police found stolen items from the earlier crime in their possession.

In court, Gomi declared he felt no remorse and believed murder was his life’s purpose. He insulted T, the wrongly accused man, calling him a “stupid fool.” In April 1931, both men were sentenced to death. Tanaka appealed, claiming he was coerced, but the appeal was denied. Both Gomi and Tanaka were executed on March 7, 1933.

These murders shocked Japan, revealing investigative failures and exposing a chilling, multi-year killing spree committed by the same pair.

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