MAEBASHI — 1971 · Serial Murder

The Kiyoshi Ōkubo Serial Murders

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

Between 31 March and 10 May 1971 eight young women were murdered in Japan's Gunma Prefecture. The perpetrator, Kiyoshi Ōkubo, spent two months driving around and approaching hundreds of young women, often presenting himself as a painter. The bodies were left in mountainous areas of Gunma. After his brother gave police his licence-plate number, he was arrested in Maebashi on 14 May 1971. Sentenced to death in 1973, he was executed at the Tokyo Detention House on 22 January 1976. The case is regarded as one of post-war Japan's best-known serial murder cases, and the number of women targeted in so short a time caused nationwide shock.

Date
1971
Place
Gunma, Japan, Maebashi, JP
Category
Serial Murder
Case Status
Solved
Coordinates
36.3900, 139.0600 ↗

Timeline of Events

  1. 31 March 1971The series of murders in Gunma began.
  2. 10 May 1971The eighth victim was killed.
  3. 14 May 1971The perpetrator was arrested in Maebashi.
  1. 22 February 1973The court imposed the death sentence.
  2. 22 January 1976He was executed at the Tokyo Detention House.

Sources

Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.

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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.