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Ichihashi’s stated celibacy while on the lam possibly exaggerated

Until the Arrest --- The Blank Two Years and Seven Months
Tatsuya Ichihashi’s book “Until the Arrest — The Blank Two Years and Seven Months”

Garnering a fair bit of attention in recent days has been the book written by Tatsuya Ichihashi, the accused murderer of Briton Lindsay Ann Hawker. Naturally, Nikkan Gendai (Jan. 28) felt it necessary to verify his claims about his sex life while on the run.

In March of 2007, police arrived at Ichihashi’s apartment in Chiba Prefecture to investigate the disappearance of the 22-year-old Hawker. Ichihashi bolted from the scene and officers discovered Hawker buried in sand inside a bathtub on his balcony. The suspect was captured in November 2009.

Released last week by publisher Gentosha, “Taiho Sarerumade — Kuhaku no Ninen Nanakagetsu no Kiroku” (Until the Arrest — The Blank Two Years and Seven Months) tells stories of his stops in 23 administrative districts (including Tokyo), his partaking in ohenro, or the touring of the 88 temples in Shikoku, and his stay on a remote island in Okinawa.

There are also details on his sexual activities, or lack thereof.

In July 2007, four months into his escape, the 32-year-old ventured into a fuzoku (red-light) area of Okinawa. “A few ladies were standing outside the doors of various place,” he writers. “One was in her 30s. She offered me services for 5,000 yen. But after recalling what I had done, I couldn’t answer her.”

He also worked at a construction company in Osaka for a year and three months. “While I told colleagues that I’d go out on weekends to buy hookers,” he continues, “I was actually saving my money for plastic surgery, so nothing happened. When I thought about Lindsay-san, I got scared.”

Nikkan Gendai is skeptical that such recollections have led to a feeling of deep remorse. A former colleague and roommate at the construction company’s dormitory offers further speculation. “Ichihashi used to go out a lot on Sundays,” says the source. “Some people witnessed him walking around the Tobita Shinchi area [the largest largest brothel district in Kansai]. He had cash, and I noticed half of condoms in a 12-pack box were gone.”

Certified clinical psychologist Yo Yahata says that in the days immediately after one begins his runaway, a tremendous amount of pressure is exerted. “But with time and money building up,” the psychologist adds, “one starts to have the appetite and a sex drive will return.”

The article also cites Ichihashi’s sushi dinner with a boss, trip to a movie theater, and date with a woman in Koza, Okinawa as further evidence that his stated contrition is probably overdone.

Source: “Tobo shuki no kireigoto,” Nikkan Gendai (Jan. 28, page 5)