Ep 4. Tsutomu Miyazaki: The Japanese Dracula

In the fourth episode of Murderous Minds: Inside Serial Killers season 2, we delve into the dark and disturbing case of Tsutomu Miyazaki, also known as the Japanese Dracula. Miyazaki was a serial killer who terrorized women and young girls during the late 1980s in rural Japan.

Miyazaki was born in 1962 and was seen as a shy and introverted child. However, as he grew older, he began to display strange and disturbing behavior, including peeping on his female classmates and collecting pornographic materials. He also became obsessed with horror films and began to view himself as a vampire.

In 1988, Miyazaki began his killing spree, targeting young girls between the ages of four and seven. He would scout out his victims at local parks or playgrounds and lure them away with promises of gifts or treats. Once he had them alone, he would sexually assault and murder them, often taking their body parts as souvenirs.

The police were baffled by the killings and struggled to find any leads. However, Miyazaki eventually made a mistake when he left a trace of evidence at one of the crime scenes. He was arrested in 1989 and quickly confessed to the murders.

The episode explores Miyazaki's upbringing and the events that led him to become one of Japan's most notorious serial killers. It also looks at how his obsession with horror films and desire to become a vampire played a role in his crimes. Experts and psychologists weigh in on Miyazaki's case and the psychology behind his behavior.

The episode also dives into the investigation and trial, as well as the public's reaction to the case. Miyazaki's murders were particularly shocking to Japan, where violent crime was rare at the time. His trial became a media sensation, and the episode explores how his crimes impacted Japanese society and sparked a conversation about mental health and the treatment of the criminally insane.

Overall, Tsutomu Miyazaki: The Japanese Dracula is a chilling look at one of Japan's most horrific serial killers. The episode combines in-depth research, interviews with experts, and rare footage to create a compelling and disturbing portrait of Miyazaki's crimes and the psychological factors that drove him to commit them.