Man spends Rs 1.2 crore to rent flat wife was murdered in for 26 years to preserve crime scene

After the suspect surrendered, the man said he was shocked to learn her identity. 'I never expected it was her... So paying rent for the house for so many years has been worthwhile. It is surprising that the murderer is someone I know.' (Representational image: Unsplash)

A man in Japan continued to pay rent for a flat where his wife was murdered for 26 years to uncover the truth and find the murderer. Satoru Takaba's vigil finally came to an end this month with the arrest of a former classmate who confessed to the crime.

Namiko Takaba was murdered on November 13, 1999. She was found stabbed multiple times in the neck inside their home, while her two-year-old son was left uninjured beside her. Despite deploying 100,000 police officers and interviewing 5,000 people, authorities failed to identify the killer, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

To preserve the scene, Takaba left the flat untouched, refusing to clean bloodstains or move any items. He and his son lived elsewhere, and he never remarried. Over 26 years, he paid 22 million yen (over Rs 1.2 crore) in rent. He also distributed fliers and gave media interviews to keep the case alive.

Last year, police reopened the investigation, and on October 30, 69-year-old Kumiko Yasufuku surrendered to authorities. She had previously refused to provide a DNA sample, but blood found at the scene matched hers.

Yasufuku, who had a crush on Takaba during secondary school, admitted to the murder. She had once sent Takaba Valentine’s Day chocolates and a letter expressing her affection, but he rejected her.

“For the past two decades, I have been worried every day. I dared not watch news reports about this case. I felt anxious and depressed on November 13 every year,” she told police. “I did not want to be arrested since I did not want to bring trouble to my family. But when the police contacted me in August, I was ready for the arrest. I would like to apologise to Namiko.”

Takaba said he was shocked to learn the identity of the suspect. “I never expected it was her... she has always been living near my rented house,” he said. “So paying rent for the house for so many years has been worthwhile. It is surprising that the murderer is someone I know. I am so sorry for Namiko."