Buzzfeed Unsolved: The Monster with 21 Faces

Introduction

• Examines a candy-centric crime wave in Japan during the 1980s.
• The criminals referred to as "The Monster with 21 Faces."
• Story involves kidnappings, ransom demands, and threats of poisoning candy.

Key Events

Kidnapping of Kahatsu Isa Azaki

• Date: March 18, 1984
• Victim: Kahatsu Isa Azaki, the head of Izaki Glico, a candy manufacturer.
• Incident: Kidnapped by two armed assailants while taking a bath.
• Ransom: 1 billion yen and 100 kilograms of gold (approximately 10 million USD today).
• Azaki escaped before ransom was paid.
• Authorities unable to identify the captors.

Threats and Arson

• Post-Escape: Criminals demanded $480,000.
• Threatened to poison Glico candies with cyanide.
• Set fire to Glico headquarters as a warning.

Failure of Police and Public Taunting

• Japanese police were unable to solve the case, a rarity given their high crime-solving rate.
• Criminals sent over 100 taunting letters, mocking the police and giving false clues.

Poisoned Candy Scare

• Target: Morinaga and Company.
• Threat: Poisoned candies labeled with "danger cyanide" found in stores.
• Result: No one consumed the poisoned candies; however, the threat was credible.
• Intense police stakeouts resulted in no arrests.
• Surveillance video identified a suspect known as "Video Man," but led to no arrests.

Public Perception and Media

• Criminals referred to their actions as "crime as theater."
• Utilized media effectively to spread fear and maintain public attention.

Theories about the Criminals

Inside Job Theory

• Some speculate Azaki was in on the crime due to his escape.
• No evidence supports this theory.

Revenge Theory

• Revenge against Japanese food companies, possibly related to a past poisoning incident involving Morinaga’s milk products.
• Victims from the incident would have been adults by the time these crimes were committed.

Manabu Miyazaki Theory

• Fox-eyed man linked to Miyazaki, a known criminal with a yakuza background.
• He had an alibi and no direct evidence linked him to the crimes.
• Released a memoir post-statute of limitations, profiting significantly.

Conclusion

• Despite massive police efforts, the Monster with 21 Faces was never caught.
• The case remains unsolved.
• The crime wave resulted in significant financial losses for the targeted companies.