4 16-Year-Old High School Students Arrested in Tochigi Murder Case, Suspected 'Tokuryu' Involvement
In a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, that resulted in the death of a 69-year-old woman, four 16-year-old boys have been arrested. Police suspect the involvement of an 'anonymous and fluid criminal group' (known as 'Tokuryu') that uses young people as perpetrators.
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- 📰 Published: May 16, 2026 at 23:23
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(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 16th, by reporter Tai Ya-chen) A robbery-murder case occurred in a residence in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, on the 14th, resulting in the death of a 69-year-old woman and injuries to her two sons. Police today arrested a male high school student on suspicion of robbery-murder, bringing the total number of arrested youths to four, all of whom are only 16 years old. Police believe the four were the perpetrators and suspect the case is related to an 'anonymous and fluid criminal group' (abbreviated as 'Tokuryu').
According to NHK and Yomiuri Shimbun reports, police investigations revealed that multiple assailants broke into a residence in Kaminokawa, Tochigi Prefecture, at around 9:25 a.m. on the 14th. During the robbery, 69-year-old Eiko Toyama was attacked with a knife and died from stab wounds to her chest and other areas. Her eldest son in his 40s and second son in his 30s, who were farming outside and rushed back home, were also beaten and suffered head injuries.
Police first arrested two 16-year-old boys from Sagamihara City on the 15th. Today, they arrested another 16-year-old male high school student from the same city. Later, at around 5:40 p.m., another 16-year-old male high school student from Kawasaki City was arrested on suspicion of robbery-murder, bringing the total number of arrested youths to four.
Police believe this case may have been orchestrated by a 'Tokuryu' criminal group that recruits perpetrators through 'dark part-time jobs' and are continuing to investigate other individuals involved.
Using clues such as surveillance footage from around the crime scene, police identified one of the youths and arrested him urgently on the evening of the 15th near his home in Sagamihara City as he went out. At the same time, police discovered a white luxury imported car in a nearby park parking lot, which is suspected to be the vehicle used by the criminal group.
This morning, the first-arrested male high school student was transferred to the Utsunomiya District Public Prosecutors Office. The youth confessed, 'A friend from my grade invited me to join. The others escaped in a car.' According to sources involved in the investigation, at least four people were present at the scene, and there may be a higher-level mastermind giving instructions.
Masahiko Soejima, a former superintendent of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division who was in charge of murder and robbery cases, analyzed, 'For the mastermind, it doesn't matter if the perpetrators are caught as long as they get the money. They may have chosen to commit the crime during the day to force the residents to withdraw money from financial institutions. This is a typical 'Tokuryu' crime pattern.'
Regarding the perpetrators all being 16-year-old high school students, Soejima pointed out, 'As the risk of arrest for perpetrators has been high in recent years, criminal groups may believe that younger people are easier to control, so they have lowered the recruitment age to teenagers.'
Soejima stated that this type of crime has gradually formed a 'crime business model,' with criminal groups constantly studying how to avoid arrest, engaging in a battle of wits with the police.
He believes that in recent years, police have made significant progress by gradually tracing their way up to the masterminds. This case may be linked to other cases in the future, at which point the police may combine the forces of the Metropolitan Police Department and various local police forces to fully combat the criminal organization. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150516
According to NHK and Yomiuri Shimbun reports, police investigations revealed that multiple assailants broke into a residence in Kaminokawa, Tochigi Prefecture, at around 9:25 a.m. on the 14th. During the robbery, 69-year-old Eiko Toyama was attacked with a knife and died from stab wounds to her chest and other areas. Her eldest son in his 40s and second son in his 30s, who were farming outside and rushed back home, were also beaten and suffered head injuries.
Police first arrested two 16-year-old boys from Sagamihara City on the 15th. Today, they arrested another 16-year-old male high school student from the same city. Later, at around 5:40 p.m., another 16-year-old male high school student from Kawasaki City was arrested on suspicion of robbery-murder, bringing the total number of arrested youths to four.
Police believe this case may have been orchestrated by a 'Tokuryu' criminal group that recruits perpetrators through 'dark part-time jobs' and are continuing to investigate other individuals involved.
Using clues such as surveillance footage from around the crime scene, police identified one of the youths and arrested him urgently on the evening of the 15th near his home in Sagamihara City as he went out. At the same time, police discovered a white luxury imported car in a nearby park parking lot, which is suspected to be the vehicle used by the criminal group.
This morning, the first-arrested male high school student was transferred to the Utsunomiya District Public Prosecutors Office. The youth confessed, 'A friend from my grade invited me to join. The others escaped in a car.' According to sources involved in the investigation, at least four people were present at the scene, and there may be a higher-level mastermind giving instructions.
Masahiko Soejima, a former superintendent of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's First Investigation Division who was in charge of murder and robbery cases, analyzed, 'For the mastermind, it doesn't matter if the perpetrators are caught as long as they get the money. They may have chosen to commit the crime during the day to force the residents to withdraw money from financial institutions. This is a typical 'Tokuryu' crime pattern.'
Regarding the perpetrators all being 16-year-old high school students, Soejima pointed out, 'As the risk of arrest for perpetrators has been high in recent years, criminal groups may believe that younger people are easier to control, so they have lowered the recruitment age to teenagers.'
Soejima stated that this type of crime has gradually formed a 'crime business model,' with criminal groups constantly studying how to avoid arrest, engaging in a battle of wits with the police.
He believes that in recent years, police have made significant progress by gradually tracing their way up to the masterminds. This case may be linked to other cases in the future, at which point the police may combine the forces of the Metropolitan Police Department and various local police forces to fully combat the criminal organization. (Editor: Yang Sheng-ju) 1150516