was Japanese serial killer who perpetrated the so-called during the Edo period. Using a yari spear, Saito targeted homeless and disabled people in the streets of Edo between January and March 1806, killing seven and injuring seven others. He confessed to the crimes in April of the same year following arrest for an unrelated theft and was executed a week later.Unno, Hiroshi 江戸の盛り場, 432 pages.
Biography Little is known about Saito's upbringing. According to him, he served in a samurai residence and learned how to use a spear during that time. At the time of his execution, he was described as a 37-year-old foot soldier () for a daimyo.
Crime The attacks took place from 21 January to 6 March 1806. Since the beginning of February, the tokugawa shogunate has increased its vigilance, but incidents have continued one after another. From the beginning of March, a large-scale fire called the "Great Fire of Bunka" occurred around the same time, but the crimes continued. Saito's crime was characterized by the fact that there was no evidence that he stole money, and that his purpose was to kill someone.
On 18 April, he was arrested on suspicion of stealing two zukin clothing from a store. He was arrested and confessed to the incident, saying, "I wanted to stab a living person with a spear.". According to him, he developed a twisted curiosity after learning how to use a spear while working at a samurai residence. On 24 April, after being dragged through town as a shame display, he was executed by beheading, with the head displayed at the prison gate for public viewing afterwards.
Copycat crimes After Saito's execution, people in Edo were able to walk around with peace of mind at night, but on the day of Saito's execution, another person was stabbed to death in Asakusa, and four days later, three people were killed or injured in Kagurazaka, one of whom was a 17-year-old blind masseuse, who was stabbed from the ribs to the back while returning from receiving medicine from a doctor for his suddenly ill mother. On 2 May, a blind man was stabbed to death in Ushigome. Similar incidents continued in November and December, including people being stabbed in Kagurazaka. These murders are not considered to be serial murders, but are believed to have been the work of multiple independent copycat killers. Machi-bugyō immediately began a search, but the culprit was never caught. In September of the following year, the former swordsmanship instructor was arrested and confessed to having committed crimes in 22 locations. the man died in prison.
Victims Murder victims Number Name Status Age Date of Murder Locations 1 UnknownIshizuka, Hokaishi 随筆文学選集 續 第6, 363-365 pages. Homeless 40s 21 January 1806 2 Unknown Blind monk 60 23 January 1806 Kiridoshi, Yushima 3 Unknown 38-39 25 January 1806 Niōmon, Asakusa 4 Unknown Visually impaired person 40 31 January 1806 Kaminarimon 5 Kyoan Blind homeless 32 1 March 1806 Edomizaka 6 Chosuke Freeloader 50 6 March 1806 Sanno-cho, Kōjimachi 7 Usuke Doctor's apprentice 25 6 March 1806 Higashinaka-cho, Asakusa
Survivor Number Name Status Age Date of Attack Locations 1 Unknown Blind Homeless 23 January 1806 2 Tohachi 57 4 February 1806 Makiki 3 Ichisuke 16 February 1806 4 Sabei Servant 16 February 1806 5 Unknown Mid-February 1806 6 Teishin Homeless 26 27 February 1806 7 Gesei Blind Masseuse 45 6 March 1806 Kōjimachi
In popular culture Pop Culture Kido Okamoto "hanshichitorimonocho" 1986
Books Kato Ebian "Wagakoromo" Sudo Yoshizo "Fujiokaya Diary" Takizawa Bakin "Toen Shōsetsu"
See also List of Japanese serial killers List of serial killers by country List of serial killers before 1900 Tsujigiri
References