Yoshimi Toyoda

Case overview

Yoshimi Toyoda was sentenced to death on July 19, 2000 for the murder of his live-in lover Kazuko Nakano and the shooting death of restaurant owner Hide Shinoda, and he committed robberies by stealing their cash and assets.

His death sentence was upheld by the Nagoya High Court on March 1, 2002. The High Court found nothing to support his appeal.

Timeline

• August 1996 — Toyoda drugged his live-in lover Kazuko Nakano with sleeping pills, injected her with a lethal dose of amphetamines after drugging her with sleeping pills slipped into her coffee, and buried her body in a secluded part of Shizuoka Prefecture. He stole over 10 million yen of her cash and assets.
• September 1997 — Toyoda killed restaurant owner Hide Shinoda, who ran a bar in Gotenba, Shizuoka Prefecture. Toyoda and Isao Doi conspired to steal an etching from a Shizuoka convalescent home, used it as collateral to borrow 4.2 million yen from Shinoda, then later killed Shinoda in Owariasahi, Aichi Prefecture. Toyoda stole 60,000 yen in cash off Shinoda’s body and left it in a thicket.
• July 19, 2000 — The Nagoya District Court sentenced Yoshimi Toyoda to death.
• July 20, 2000 — The Nagoya District Court sentence was reported: Toyoda was sentenced to death for killing two women in Shizuoka and Aichi prefectures and robbing them of cash and bankbooks.
• March 1, 2002 — The Nagoya High Court upheld the lower court ruling, leaving Toyoda facing execution.

The offence

Toyoda killed Kazuko Nakano, who was 44 years old, in August 1996. Court records said Toyoda drugged her with sleeping pills in August 1996, injected her with a lethal dose of amphetamines, and buried her body in a secluded part of Shizuoka Prefecture.

Toyoda was also convicted of murdering Hide Shinoda in September 1997. Toyoda owed Shinoda money and was unwilling to repay the debt. The court said Toyoda killed the two women to avoid repaying money the women had loaned him.

The Nagoya District Court said Toyoda committed two acts of robbery and murder within a little more than a year. The court said the victims had done nothing wrong, the methods used were base and cruel, and there was no room for consideration of an indefinite prison term.

Investigation

Court findings described the methods and robbery actions tied to both murders.

For Kazuko Nakano, the court said Toyoda drugged her with sleeping pills slipped into her coffee, injected her with a lethal dose of stimulants, and then stole her bankbook and withdrew about 1 million yen from her account in September 1996 after the August 1996 murder.

For Hide Shinoda, the court said Toyoda killed Shinoda by hitting her with a steel pipe and then shooting her once in the head in a park in Owariasahi, Aichi Prefecture. Prosecutors said Toyoda stole 60,000 yen in cash off Shinoda’s body, which he left in a thicket.

People involved

Victims

• Kazuko Nakano (44) — Toyoda’s live-in lover; she was murdered in August 1996. Her body was buried in Shizuoka Prefecture. Toyoda stole over 10 million yen of her cash and assets, stole her bankbook, and withdrew about 1 million yen from her account.
• Hide Shinoda (62) — A restaurant owner who ran a bar in Gotenba, Shizuoka Prefecture; she was murdered in September 1997. Toyoda stole 60,000 yen in cash off her body.

Co-accused / related person

• Isao Doi (38) — Toyoda conspired with Doi to steal an etching from a Shizuoka convalescent home and use it as collateral to borrow 4.2 million yen from Shinoda in September 1997. Doi was sentenced to an indefinite prison term by the Nagoya District Court and was currently appealing the ruling.

Court personnel

• Presiding Judge Nobuaki Horiuchi — Presiding Judge at the Nagoya High Court when Toyoda’s appeal was upheld.
• Judge Tetsukazu Yamamoto — Judge at the Nagoya District Court when Toyoda was sentenced to death.

Trial

The Nagoya District Court found Yoshimi Toyoda guilty of:

• the August 1996 murder of Kazuko Nakano (44), and
• the September 1997 slaying of Hide Shinoda (62).

The District Court said Toyoda killed both women to avoid repaying money that Nakano and Shinoda had loaned him.

Judge Tetsukazu Yamamoto said, “The criminal nature of the defendant is extremely clear, judging from his selfish character, contempt for human life and lack of moral standards.”

The court said Yamamoto stated that Toyoda used people until they were of no use to him anymore and did not flinch from taking their lives when that time came. The judge said Toyoda had “no choice” but to sentence him to hang.

Yamamoto also said:

“The defendant committed two acts of robbery and murder within the space of little more than a year,” he said. “The victims had done nothing wrong, the methods used were base and cruel, and there is no room for consideration of an indefinite prison term.”

Toyoda’s lawyers said they would appeal the death sentence.

Sentencing

On July 19, 2000, the Nagoya District Court sentenced Yoshimi Toyoda to death for killing two women in Shizuoka and Aichi prefectures and robbing them of their cash and bankbooks.

Appeals

The Nagoya High Court upheld the death sentence on March 1, 2002. The High Court found nothing to support Toyoda’s appeal.

Presiding Judge Nobuaki Horiuchi said:

“Your crimes were cruel and motivated with a maliciousness that leaves no room for leniency,” Presiding Judge Nobuaki Horiuchi said. “Relatives of the victims are also determined to see justice served.”

Outcome

Toyoda’s death sentence remained in place after the Nagoya High Court upheld the lower court ruling.

Other details

Toyoda was described as 58 years old in relation to the High Court appeal.