Japan, a land renowned for its rich culture, technological marvels, and breathtaking landscapes, has long basked in the global spotlight. Among its myriad virtues, one aspect seldom associated with this nation, is crime.
In this land of the rising sun, criminal activities exist, but they often pale in comparison to the more menacing narratives seen elsewhere in other nations. Because of this, Japan is a place where safety seems to have woven itself into the very fabric of daily life, a reassuring blanket for its citizens. This, in turn, has cast a magnetic allure upon foreigners eager to immerse themselves in the tapestry of Japanese culture.
But amidst this serenity, a dark cloud gathered, a grim tale of tragedy that has sent shockwaves across the archipelago.
Josi Putri Cahayani, a bright 23-year-old soul from West Sumatra, Indonesia, found herself ensnared in the most unfortunate of circumstances.
This is because the woman became the victim of an alleged crime that left her nation in shock and disbelief.
As the news of her untimely demise spread like wildfire, the digital realm in Indonesia erupted in both curiosity, and fury.
This happened after Josi's lifeless body was found in the apartment in Gunma Prefecture, Maebashi, Japan.
Initially, the cause of her death is unknown, but she is suspected to have been murdered.
And the first suspect is Keiichiro Kajimura, a 40-year-old unemployed man, who rented the apartment.
The police found him in the Japan's capital, Tokyo, before apprehending him at Awajicho Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line on the afternoon of August 24, on suspicion of abandoning her body.
He was found there after he was admitted to a hospital for a few days prior.
Kajimura stands accused of a chilling act - abandoning Josi's lifeless body within that fateful apartment, an act believed to have occurred around 4:40 p.m. two days prior, on August 22.
Yet, in the face of these grave allegations, Kajimura's demeanor remains enigmatic, his words cryptic.
"I don't remember. I have no perception of having abandoned her body," he declared, his denial casting shadows and doubts.
Gunma Prefectural Police's first investigation division and other officials don't believe everything he said, so they start looking into the case, believing that Kajimura knew what went on.
This is because Josi, who was a student in Japan, was first reported missing in mid-August 2023.
According to a member of the Indonesian Community in Japan group, Rosalia Bratanegara, through an upload on Facebook, Josi left her school dormitory since two weeks before she was found, and last communicated with her family in Indonesia on August 17, 2023, during the Independence Day of Indonesia.
Josi shared a room in the apartment with another fellow Indonesian woman, who also attends the same school.
"I'm off to hang out," Josi said to her roommate.
According to the woman, Josi was going out to meet a Japanese man and never returned.
After that day, family and friends who tried to contact Josi, failed to reach her.
Her roommate also tried to contact her school at Nihonggo Gakkou, but still with no avail.
After being notified by the roommate, the first that contacted the police, was the language school Josi attended. They consulted the prefectural police on August 21.
Based on a report from the roommate, the police investigated the woman's whereabouts until finally finding her body in a room on the second floor of the apartment at the east Japan city, located in a residential area about 500 meters east of JR Maebashi Station.
The apartment in question is only 3 kilometers from Josi's apartment.
The thing is, no physical and external injuries were seen on her body.
Police learned that Josi might have been in a relationship with Kajimura.
But before they can conclude anything, an autopsy was performed.
However, due to its decomposition an autopsy could not determine the exact cause of her death, according to Gunma Prefectural Police's first investigation division and other sources.
In the meantime, officials at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, said that they are working with the police to uncover the truth behind Josi's death.
"KBRI has coordinated with the Gunma police for the autopsy and identification of the bodies," said the Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and BHI of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha via text message.
Then, slowly, things start to get clearer.
And the police cannot deny that this Kajimura is not some random man.
First of, Josi and Kajimura are believed to have first met around July.
Based on Josi's story, Kajimura claimed to have been diagnosed by a doctor with only six months left to live due to a terminal illness. Because of this, the perpetrator asked the victim to accompany him for the remainder of his life, promising to inherit his wealth to the Josi.
"The perpetrator told Josi that he only had six months left to live and asked Josi to comfort him in order to gain Josi's sympathy," the victim's aunt, Ardines, stated.
At that time, Josi admitted that he had just met the Kajimura, and that her original intention was simply to provide comfort to the Kajimura. Josi was not interested in the offer of inheritance and only intended to comfort Kajimura as a friend.
Based on Kajimura's Facebook account, most if not all of his more recent posts are all about Josi. Through the posts, Kajimura showed that he and Josi had spent many of their times together, traveling around Japan, visiting various venues.
Through how Kajimura shared the intimate moments, as well as how he captioned the photos of him and Josi, his posts seemingly painted a deep bond between the two, showing how he and Josi were close friends, if not lovers.
But it appears that the Kajimura wanted more than that, and allegedly expressed his desire to marry Josi.
Josi declined this proposal because Josi came to Japan to pursue her dreams of studying, not to find a spouse.
"The perpetrator attempted to persuade Josi by picking her up at the dormitory on August 17, 2023. Josi initially refused, but the perpetrator threatened her," Ardines revealed.
Then one day, Kajimura asked her to hang out, which Josi eventually accepted.
But before leaving, Josi told her roommate who she was hanging out with, which clearly helped the police in this case.
That is not all, because there is something more sinister to Kajimura that what Josi might have known.
Secondly, the police realized that Kajimura is also not an ordinary man.
This is because according to reports, Kajimura is said to have a criminal case in 2017.
In fact, Kajimura was a criminal, after murdering a woman named Haruka Abe. The 26-year-old had a towel wrapped tight around her neck when she was found dead.
When she was found, Kajimura was right beside her, unconscious. It's said that he passed out after consuming too many sleeping pills.
At that time, Kajimura admitted the murder.
"I used a towel to strangle her," he said.
However, the police didn't arrest Kajimura because he suffered from mental illness.
Josi's death, and the alleged murder, sparked anger amongst Indonesian netizens, in which made her name a trending topic on social media platforms. Publications also began following the story, as the truth slowly unfolds.
