MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1978-19
Sakunosuke Tabata
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
Osaka, Japan
Summary:
Sakunosuke Tabata was a 3-year-old boy who disappeared on March 3, 1978, in Osaka, Japan after being struck by a car and abducted by the driver. The case remains unsolved; the statute of limitations expired in 1983 and 1984, and the child has never been found.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
On March 3, 1978, at approximately 4:30 PM, Sakunosuke Tabata, age 3, was playing with a 5-year-old companion on a street near his home in the Higashinokagaya area of Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka. The area was under the Hansin Expressway on a municipal road. A white automobile, believed to be a Toyota Corolla based on witness descriptions, struck the child. After hitting him, the driver got out of the vehicle, placed Sakunosuke in the car, and drove away. At least 8 witnesses observed the incident in the busy evening hour when foot traffic was significant.
Additional Details:
The Osaka Prefectural Police established an investigation headquarters and launched an extensive search. Based on eyewitness testimony, investigators determined the suspect was a middle-aged man approximately 40 years old who was not wearing business attire despite the time being after work hours. The vehicle was described as white, likely a Toyota Corolla. At the time, surveillance cameras and vehicle identification systems (N System) were not sufficiently deployed to aid the investigation. Despite the large-scale investigation, very few clues about the suspect or the child's whereabouts were uncovered. The statute of limitations for negligent homicide and kidnapping/abduction charges expired on March 3, 1983 at midnight. The statute of limitations for murder charges also subsequently expired. The case remains unsolved to the present day, with neither the child nor the perpetrator ever identified or located. A stone memorial (jizou) was later erected at the incident site.
Case Last Updated:
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