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Japan is safe. But those stories aren’t.
Japan OMG is a true-crime podcast that explores cases rarely covered in English-language headlines.
Season One goes beyond the crime—challenging what you think you know about human nature.
If you’re drawn to lesser-known stories from Japan—and to the complexity of people pushed beyond their limits—this podcast is for you.
New episode every Tuesday.
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At what point does a family stop being victims and become part of the violence themselves? This series includes descriptions of violence, so please listen with caution. You are listening to Japan OMG. Previously, Junko tried to leave Matsuo. Her family betrayed her, luring her back under false pretences.
Fabiano:Matsuo reasserted control through violence and fear, placing her under constant surveillance. From that point on, no one in the house was free. Everyone was trapped. Junko's parents had two daughters. Junko was the oldest, the one expected to carry on the family name.
Fabiano:After she committed herself to Matsuo, that responsibility shifted to her younger sister. The younger sister resented this change. Still, she followed the path set out for her. She married a man who became the family's adopted son-in-law. He was once a police officer, but he left the force to take on the role his parents had arranged for him.
Fabiano:At first, Junko's brother-in-law knew little about the money flowing to Matsuo and Junko, but over time he started to notice things. Late night visits, secretive conversations, money leaving the household without explanation. Suspicion eventually pushed him to confront the family. The confrontation led to his first meeting with Matsuo. The former officer didn't trust Matsuo at the beginning.
Fabiano:But let's not forget that Matsuo had a gift. He is a good listener. Patiently, attentively, he listened. He made the brother-in-law feel heard and understood about his frustrations, his loss of status and the humiliation he felt in a proud, rigid family. Matsuo took that vulnerability and slowly turned it into something else.
Fabiano:Frustration became resentment. Resentment became anger. Over time, the brother-in-law shifted from skeptic to yet another means of control. Meanwhile, Junko's parents continued sending money. They sold land.
Fabiano:They took out loans. They even borrowed from loan sharks. The total reached 65,000,000 yen. By then, they were broke with no way to repay what they owed. One night, the family fled their home.
Fabiano:Six people, the father, the mother, Junko's younger sister, the brother-in-law and the younger sister's two children. They drove to one of Matsuo's apartments. As we've seen before with Matsuo, once the money is gone, your usefulness is gone too. That's when the house of silence started. Under Matsuo's roof, he enforced strict rules for everything, just as he had done with the real estate broker.
Fabiano:He even created a ranking system. Those who followed the rules were allowed more food, a futon to sleep on, a chance to bathe. Those who failed faced punishment. Punishments included electric shocks, being locked in the bathroom and being forced to write and publicly read repentance letters aloud. The brother-in-law, once a police officer, now became an enforcer.
Fabiano:On Matsuo's orders, he beat his wife and his in laws. Obedience was no longer about respect. It was about survival. Matsuo also exposed family secrets affairs, betrayals, humiliations and used them to deepen his control. Shame became another tool of his power.
Fabiano:As the violence continued, the deaths began. The father was the first to perish, exhausted, terrified and worn down. Following Matsuo's instructions, the remaining family members worked together to dismember the body. From that moment on, they were no longer just victims. They were complicit.
Fabiano:Next, the mother died. Then the sister. Followed by the brother-in-law. Finally, the younger sister's two children. The bodies were not buried.
Fabiano:The remains were boiled and dumped in parks or at sea. By 1998, all six had vanished without a trace. Back in their hometown, neighbors assumed the family had moved away. No one took further interest in questioning it. Life went on.
Fabiano:Junko was Thanks for listening. I'd love to hear your thoughts or comments. Don't forget to follow and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Catch you in the next episode.