The Glico Morinaga Case, also known as the “Monster with 21 Faces” case, is one of Japan’s most notorious and puzzling criminal mysteries. Spanning the years 1984 to 1985, this case involved a series of bizarre crimes, including kidnappings, extortion, and product tampering, targeting two major Japanese confectionery companies, Ezaki Glico and Morinaga. The perpetrators remained elusive, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
In the early 1980s, Japan was shaken by a wave of product tampering incidents, with poisoned candies and other threats being discovered in various food products. However, the Glico Morinaga case would prove to be the most audacious and perplexing of them all.
The saga began on March 18, 1984, when Katsuhisa Ezaki, the president of Ezaki Glico, a well-known Japanese confectionery company, was abducted from his home in Osaka. Several masked men broke into his house, subdued him, and took him captive. The kidnappers demanded a massive ransom of one billion yen (equivalent to roughly 4.4 million USD at the time) for Ezaki’s safe release.
Shortly after the kidnapping, anonymous letters, written in a peculiar, distinctive style, were sent to the media and the police. These letters were signed by a group calling themselves “The Monster with 21 Faces.” In the letters, the group claimed responsibility for Ezaki’s kidnapping and threatened to poison Glico products unless the ransom was paid.
The letters demonstrated a deep knowledge of the food industry and contained riddles and cryptic messages that baffled investigators. The group demanded that the ransom money be dropped at various locations, making it incredibly difficult for the police to track them down.
As the police scrambled to locate the kidnappers and rescue Katsuhisa Ezaki, the “Monster with 21 Faces” escalated their campaign of terror. They began tampering with Glico’s products, contaminating them with toxic substances. Boxes of Glico’s popular candy, Pocky, were found laced with cyanide. Fortunately, no deaths or injuries resulted from the tainted products, but public panic ensued.
In a bizarre and chilling twist, the group switched their attention to another confectionery company, Morinaga, and similarly tampered with their products. This included inserting needles and razor blades into Morinaga’s products, further spreading fear and paranoia.
The police launched a massive investigation into the case, but despite their efforts, the “Monster with 21 Faces” proved to be remarkably elusive. The group demonstrated a high level of cunning and organization, frequently changing tactics to stay one step ahead of law enforcement. They also taunted the police and media with letters and phone calls, mocking their inability to catch them.
The investigation involved thousands of officers and led to numerous dead ends. Despite several close encounters, the kidnappers managed to escape capture. The case garnered significant media attention and put immense pressure on the police to solve it.
In the summer of 1985, after more than a year of terrorizing the Japanese public and baffling the authorities, the “Monster with 21 Faces” suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. They sent a final letter, which contained a cryptic poem and announced the end of their campaign. The letter declared, “We forgive Glico.”
Despite the group’s disappearance, the case remained unsolved, and their true identities remained unknown.
Numerous theories have emerged over the years regarding the identity and motives of the “Monster with 21 Faces.” Some believe they were a criminal organization with deep knowledge of the food industry, while others speculate that they were disgruntled former employees seeking revenge. There are even theories suggesting a connection to the yakuza, Japan’s organized crime syndicates.
The ultimate goal of the group remains a subject of debate. Some believe it was solely about financial gain through ransom and extortion, while others argue that there may have been a more personal vendetta against the targeted companies or individuals within them.
The Glico Morinaga Case remains one of Japan’s most enduring mysteries and a symbol of the authorities’ struggle to apprehend sophisticated criminals. The “Monster with 21 Faces” has become a legendary figure in Japanese crime history, representing the audacity and elusiveness of criminal masterminds.
The case also had a lasting impact on the food industry in Japan, leading to significant changes in food safety regulations and product packaging to prevent tampering. It serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of even the most prominent companies and the challenges of investigating complex, organized criminal activities.
The Glico Morinaga Case, with its enigmatic perpetrators, cryptic messages, and audacious acts, remains an unsolved puzzle that continues to captivate the imagination of those interested in true crime. The legacy of the “Monster with 21 Faces” lives on as a testament to the enduring allure and mystery of unsolved criminal cases, leaving us with more questions than answers.