New Year's Eve is typically a joyous occasion.

It's a sign of change that the old is fading away for new.

It's a time to celebrate a promising fresh start, generally with your family and closest

friends around you.

In Japan, this day is known as Omisoka, and it is widely regarded as one of the most important

days of the year.

There are customs and traditions involved, which most people follow.

While in America, New Year's Eve is often themed as a time to party and kiss someone

at midnight.

In Japan, New Year's is treated as the most prestigious of holidays.

But at the turn of this past century, an event occurred that forever marred the holiday

season.

It occurred in the district of Tokyo known as Saitagaya, and for close to two decades,

what happened on this night has continued to completely stump investigators.

Welcome to the Unresolved Podcast.

I'm your host Michael Wheelan, and as I stated in the opening, this episode takes place

overseas in Japan.

This is one of those stories that is as tragic as it is terrifying.

It's definitely kept me up for an eye to since I started researching, so fair warning.

You might not want to listen to this one in the dark.

Now, without any further ado, let's take a trip back in time to Tokyo, Japan.

It's the last week of 2000, and we meet our characters whose grizzly fate was approaching.

...