OSAKA (TR) – Earlier this 12 months, regulation enforcement arrested feminine fortuneteller Yoshie Hamada, 63, who calls herself “the Creator,” for allegedly instigating two of her male followers to commit suicide by drowning in Wakayama Prefecture 5 years in the past.
The trial for Hamada has but to start. However, two feminine accomplices of hers, Sawako Terasaki, 47, and Naori Takitani 59, are at the moment dealing with allegations of aiding and abetting suicide and forgery.
During the court docket proceedings that started earlier this month, particulars of the circumstances main as much as the crime and their actions had been revealed.
What has emerged so far is a chronicle of egocentric actions by Hamada that included brainwashing, extortion and her taking an underage lover — all of which culminated within the deaths of two males, stories Yomiuri TV (Aug. 11).
“Mind control”
At the Osaka District Court on August 1, Takitani appeared in a swimsuit within the courtroom. Wearing glasses and together with her hair tied up, she remained expressionless because the prosecutor learn out the indictment. She typically admitted to her guilt and responded as follows:
“It was Hamada who put the [microphone] cords in the car and ordered us to ‘sink each other,’” stated Takitani. “I followed Hamada’s lead, just like the two who died, and, as a result, I’m the only one who survived.”
Takitani stands accused of aiding the 2 males (Kohei Teramoto and Ichiro Yoneda) of their suicides. Her lawyer argued, “The defendant will not contest the charge of aiding and abetting suicide, but she acknowledges that she aided and abetted the suicide through Hamada’s mind control.”
Meanwhile, Terasaki admitted to forging a suicide be aware for one of many males and submitted it to the police the next August.
Bodies of two males tied along with microphone cords
On August 1, 2020, the our bodies of Teramoto and Yoneda had been discovered washed up on a seashore within the city of Hirokawa, Wakayama.
Hamada, a resident of Kawachinagano City, Osaka, presided over what was primarily a cult. Seemingly able to the aforementioned thoughts management, she claimed to be “the Creator.”
Teramoto, a 66-year-old former president of an organization, and part-time employee Yoneda, a 51-year-old resident of Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, grow to be followers round 2008 after searching for recommendation from her by way of her site. They then started making donations.
Upon the invention of their our bodies, the 2 males’s wrists had been tied along with a microphone wire. The explanation for loss of life was decided to be drowning. At the time, the Wakayama Prefectural Police handled the case as a easy suicide and decided there was foul play concerned.
The case surfaced in 2024. In May, a 3rd man, who sought fortunetelling companies from Hamada, consulted with Osaka Prefectural Police, saying that she had extorted him out of tens of tens of millions of yen.
The third man went to police after Hamada referred to Teramoto and Yoneda when she spoke to him: “Ichiro and Kohei are no more. They’re dead. So you should prepare yourself too.”
On January 28, Osaka police arrested Hamada and Takitani, who lives in Nakano Ward, Tokyo, on suspicion of blackmailing the third man. They had been indicted on March 11.
“I can turn your soul into a cripple in an instant”
According to the prosecution’s opening assertion learn out on August 1, Hamada supplied non secular counseling for over 20 years. In addition to utilizing “the Creator” moniker, she was also referred to as “Angel Gabriel.” She preached to her followers that God had descended to earth and possessed their our bodies.
She would converse to followers searching for salvation for lengthy durations of time with out giving them any breaks or sleep. Under the guise of sermons, she would make them consider she was a supernatural being, saying issues like, “I created you too. I can turn your soul into a cripple in an instant.”
Hamada was recognized to her followers by the title “Father.” She referred to a few of her followers, together with Terasaki, as “members of the Kingdom of God.”
At the time of the crimes, she had obtained massive quantities of “funding” from her followers. Terasaki seems to have been managing these funds.
Prior to his loss of life, Teramoto supplied Hamada with a complete of 70 million yen, together with the proceeds from the sale of actual property he owned and debt accumulation. Like Yoneda, he had severed ties along with his household earlier than his demise.
Underage lover
Starting in 2008, Hamada started letting a male follower dwell in her Kawachinagano house as her lover. At that point, he was underage. However, he fled the house 5 years in the past.
Hamada then informed the 2 male followers and Takitani, “In order to return [her lover] to normal, we must die, become souls and destroy the system created by God, the Elohim.” From this level on, the 4 started discussing a suicide plot.
On July 31, 2020, Hamada, saddened by her lover’s departure from house, lastly determined to hold out the group suicide.
“Today is the day we’re going to destroy the Elohim system,” she stated. “Please prepare the microphone cords. Let’s all get in the car and go into the ocean.”
Boxes of painkillers
As they carried out the plan, Hamada foresaw the likelihood that the three followers would flee in worry. So, she informed them, “Let’s try to submerge each other’s heads.”
That evening, the 4 of them — Yoneda, Teramoto, Takitani and Hamada — headed towards Kansai Airport in a automotive that they had ready. However, after looking for a spot to leap in with out discovering anybody seeing, they determined to go to a seashore in Wakayama. Along the best way, they purchased 4 bins of painkillers at a drugstore and finally arrived at a seashore within the city of Yuasa.
At Hamada’s request, the 4 of them lined up on the seashore. Yoneda, Teramoto, Takitani’s arms had the microphone cords wrapped round their arms, tying them collectively, however Hamada’s arms weren’t certain.
The 4 joined fingers and entered the ocean. As instructed, the 2 males tried to drown one another. However, at that time, Hamada began shouting, “Stop! Stop!”
But it was too late. Takitani took be aware of Hamada’s command and tried to cease the drowning, however the two males had been unaware. Hamada and Takitani later carried their our bodies to the seashore. Hamada then allegedly instructed Takitani, “Leave them there.”
“I don’t know why they died”
After the 2 males died, Hamada referred to as Terasaki and defined the state of affairs. “If the police call, please keep it a secret that Takitani and I were with them,” she informed Terasaki.
Subsequently, when questioned by police, Terasaki replied, “I don’t know why they died.”
When the police requested Hamada to establish the physique of Teramoto, she informed Terasaki, “If you’re going to the police, you should write a suicide note and take it with you for future procedures.”
It was then that Terasaki solid the suicide be aware of Teramoto and submitted it to police. According to police interviews, the be aware acknowledged that the previous president had tried suicide because of the COVID-19 recession and that he had entrusted Terasaki with dealing with all essential posthumous procedures.
Furthermore, Hamada instructed Terasaki to switch possession of the land and constructing in Kawachinagano, the place the deceased former president lived, to the title of her son. She stated, “I don’t want it to be taken over by some shady company.”
According to property information, the possession of the land and constructing in Kawachinagano was transferred to the relative of Hamada. Two years later, Terasaki assumed the presidency of Teramoto’s firm.
“I have nothing to be ashamed of”
Prior to her arrest, Hamada denied any involvement within the suicides of the 2 males in an interview with Yomiuri TV.
“I have absolutely no recollection of this,” she stated. “This is a groundless, false accusation, and I have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.”
Though a trial date has not been set for Hamada, she has cooperated with investigative authorities. Prosecutors’ proof revealed that she responded to questions on her alleged crimes by saying issues like, “I needed to die to save my lover.” She additionally stated, “It was the Creator who spoke.”
“Your date of birth is unique”
Problems involving unscrupulous individuals claiming to be “fortunetellers” are usually not unusual.
According to the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there are roughly 2,000 consultations per 12 months, of which roughly 80 % are made by girls.
In some circumstances, what begins as a free session turns into a big price. In different circumstances, the scammers cleverly use phrases to worm their manner into hearts of the weak.
“You have the best luck of anyone I’ve ever provided a fortune for,” one may say. Another might supply, “Your date of birth is unique, and you have a powerful guardian spirit.”