MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1991-40
Mai Ishii
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
Funehiki Machi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Summary:
On July 25, 1991, 7-year-old Mai Ishii disappeared from her home in Funehiki Machi, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan in what became one of the country's three unresolved children's disappearance cases. Police concluded that someone had taken Mai out of the house while she was asleep. The case remains unsolved.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
On July 25, 1991, architect Kenichi lived in Funehiki Machi, Fukushima Prefecture with his father Nayuki (73), mother Haruko (66), nephew (17), the nephew's boyfriend Tamakawa Kazuya (22), wife Yoshiko (27), eldest son Kento (6), youngest son Leo (1), daughter Ishii Mai (7), and two daughters of Yoshiko's friend. Kenichi's parents went to karaoke at 9:20 pm, and the other girls and Mai fell asleep in Mai's room. Around 10:30 pm, Yoshiko entered Mai's room and covered the children with blankets. Yoshiko heard Kazuya going out of the house and thought it was not unusual. She descended to the first floor and bathed. While bathing, Yoshiko heard the sound of the door closing again and someone going up the stairs. After her bath, she went to the room where her husband and sons were sleeping. At 2 am the next day, Kenichi's parents returned from karaoke. The front door was not locked. They found out Kazuya was not at home, woke Kenichi, and informed him. At 5:20 am, two children who slept with Mai woke up and discovered Mai had disappeared. The children informed Kenichi and Yoshiko, and the family learned Mai had disappeared and reported it to police at 6 am. As a result of the family report, police examined the house and found no fingerprints or traces of those who were not family members. This meant either the criminals left no traces, or the perpetrator was among the family. Mai was seven years old at the time and was afraid to go to the bathroom by herself. The police concluded that this child could not imagine leaving the house alone at night, and that someone had taken Mai out asleep. Police mobilized police dogs to search the house, and the police dog stopped in front of the front door. Someone had kidnapped Mai and put her in a car in front of the entrance.
Additional Details:
Police investigated the incident and began investigating Mai's mother Yoshiko, father Kenichi, and Kazuya because they were the only ones awake at the time. Among them, Yoshiko was soon excluded, and Kazuya was suspected. Kazuya, who left home at night, returned home about 6:30 am. He said he went out to meet a friend in Corya Massi, went to Hunehiki Station, went to Corya Massi after the last train left, but couldn't meet his friend. Police doubted Kazuya's unusual work of almost staying up all night to meet a friend. Kazuya was investigated for two weeks, but there was no evidence and his alibi was eventually established when a taxi driver appeared confirming that Kazuya was driven to Koriya Massi. On various Japanese portal sites including 2ch, Mai's mother Yoshiko was strongly suspected of conspiring with Kazuya to kidnap Mai. When considered, Yoshiko's work was very suspicious. It is unclear why police excluded Yoshiko from suspicion. On the day of Mai's disappearance, Yoshiko claimed she bathed on the first floor after seeing Kazuya leave, but thought it was insignificant and finished bathing then went to her husband and sons' room. Mai's grandparents were at karaoke, and even Kazuya was outside the house, and her husband Kenichi was sleeping in the second floor bedroom with his sons. Therefore, Yoshiko was the only adult awake in the house. Two months after Mai disappeared, Kenichi and Yoshiko heard shocking testimony from two children who slept with Mai. The two reported the story to police, but police ignored it, saying it was an excessive story for children. Kenichi later organized his company and followed Kazuya, but did not catch evidence. At the time of the incident, there was a white car near the house around 11 pm, which was said to have its bonnet open as if it were broken.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Children with Mai wake and discover her missing; family reports disappearance to police at 6 am
Kenichi's parents return from karaoke; front door is unlocked
Yoshiko bathes and hears sounds of door closing and someone going upstairs
Yoshiko tucks children into bed, hears Kazuya leaving the house
Kenichi's parents depart for karaoke; Mai and other children fall asleep in Mai's room
Associated Persons
Kento I. (Sibling) - Living
Kenichi I. (Father) - Living
Nayuki I. (Grandfather) - Living
Tamakawa K. (Person of Interest) - Living
Haruko I. (Grandmother) - Living
Leo I. (Sibling) - Living
Yoshiko I. (Mother) - Living
Family Tree
Why is this important?Missing person
Father
Mother
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Father
Mother
Missing Person
Missing Person
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