Issei Sagawa

Issei Sagawa, born on April 26, 1949, is a controversial figure in Japanese history, known for his heinous crime that shocked the world. He gained notoriety as a lust murderer, cannibal, and necrophiliac after the brutal killing of Renée Hartevelt in Paris in 1981. Following her murder, Sagawa engaged in acts of mutilation and cannibalism over several days, which led to his arrest and subsequent trial.

In France, Sagawa was deemed legally insane and was ordered to be held indefinitely in a mental institution. However, after a few years, he was deported back to Japan, where he underwent evaluations by psychologists at Matsuzawa Hospital. They unanimously concluded that he was sane, resulting in his release from the hospital in 1986.

Due to the closure of the criminal case in France and the unavailability of court records to Japanese authorities, Sagawa was never retried for his crimes. This situation sparked widespread criticism, as many viewed it as an obstruction of justice. Despite his dark past, he became a minor celebrity in Japan, capitalizing on the public's fascination with his crime to make a living.