The Kurohamiya Incident...

In the year 1998, on the evening of October 26th, a small remote village community by the name of Kurohamiya in the Tochigi Prefecture of Japan (northwest to the city of Nikko) was befallen with a terrible tragedy. A mass fire broke out in the village and spread throughout the settlement, destroying over two thirds of the community. A small river ran through Kurohamiya, dividing off a small portion of the village. This was the only section that survived the outburst. According to official reports, the fire had started in a theatre building situated in the southern area of the village, and had spread outwards from that point mainly due to vegetation, engulfing most of the village before the residents even had a chance to exit their bedrooms. The reports are unclear as to the casualties, but out of the one thousand people who resided in Kurohamiya, only a handful is believed to have made it out of the village alive. 1

Kurohamiya was a traditional place that was doing well in keeping up with modern times, despite its seclusion from the main urban districts. However, a majority of the constructions located in the village were of elder designs, making use of wood and other natural materials. This is one speculated cause as to why the fire had spread so easily throughout the village. As for the deployment of aid and rescue, Kurohamiya’s remote location made it highly difficult to dispatch any form of rescue attempt in an efficient manner. Indeed, the fire was not known about until it was far too late. Locals from the nearby Kinugawa Onsen resort had reported seeing a glow over the mountains and a large chimney of smoke rising from Kurohamiya’s direction. A report had been filed, but by the time any rescue teams had arrived on sight, Kurohamiya had already been destroyed.2

The casualty count had never been publicized; indeed the whole incident is not that well known for the village of Kurohamiya was not particularly famous. However, sources say that less than twenty people had survived the fire and had rebuilt their lives elsewhere. Strangely enough, those who was said to have survived the fire had never been found. Records of Kurohamiya’s residents had been wiped clean and any documentation that was taken from the remaining villagers has all disappeared. Some speculate that the fire was not entirely accidental and that the government is trying to cover up a mistake. Others believe that there were no survivors from the Kurohamiya incident and that the government does not want the populace to think so, therefore they would say that some survived. Whatever the reason, the Kurohamiya incident seems to have died away over time.3

Unofficially, a few investigators who have researched into the matter had uncovered some mysterious facts about the pre-fire Kurohamiya. It is believed that people have gone missing from the village in the few years preceding the fire. Apparently there have also been murders within the village which have never been solved. One of the missing had been the previous owner of the same theatre where the fire was reported to have started from. Also, another missing is a police officer who was part of an investigative group dispatched to the village a few years ago to try and solve some of the disappearances.4

However, the most intriguing and disturbing case surrounding the Kurohamiya mystery seems to be about one Shimizu family. The husband of the family, a man believed to be called Koji Shimizu, had apparently murdered his wife and two daughters before committing suicide. The family had lived in a large estate, just outside Kurohamiya. The house is rather isolated from the rest of the village and so was untouched by the fire, and after police investigations had been over the property, a suicide note written by mister Shimizu had been found. This note would be the only true piece of evidence to have been found from the village of Kurohamiya, but it would also increase the mysteries surrounding the blurred past of the village. Large portions of the text had been blotted away by what some believe to be tears or some form of liquid. Also, some of the writing is illegible, due to the fact that mister Shimizu must have been drunk or under some form of intoxication when he was writing. What follows are the comprehensible remains of the note:5


To the…[saviour?]…my reality.6

My name…[Koji?]…Shimizu and this is my letter of resignation, apology, and…[illegible]…heed of what I have to say for the sanctity of…[illegible]…your…[illegible]…understanding.7

I have taken the lives of my beloved wife and my two lovely daughters, all with my…[illegible]…their bodies so no one will be able to…[disturb?]…their peace from…[illegible]…wretched place, our lives have been turned into turmoil. I have come to understand that Kurohamiya hides more than simple deceit and…[illegible]…never forgive…[myself?]…yet…[illegible]…disappearances in the hands of the Kami, and the deaths of…[illegible]…[oppose?]…[illegible]…them. I do not believe in such folly, yet it seems my lack of respect has lured the Seras…[demon?]…to me and my family. Once it is here, I cannot turn it away. I can only dwell on my own disbelief against something…[illegible]…8

I am forever sorry for what I have done and I can do nothing but to end my own existence as well. I think I understand now that this is exactly what…[demonic idea?]…the beginning. Perhaps it forced me to do this, even if I knew that it was wrong. Yet, even as I sit here writing, I see my beloved wife laughing with my daughters in front of me. They are just a figment of…[illegible]…their spirits are an…[influence?]…in my mind. I believe they have forgiven me for my disgraceful actions.9

I hereby conclude my loss to the…[Kami?]…[illegible]…succeeded in its evil ways. I only wish that Kurohamiya escapes the clutches of this demon and that the…[people believe?]…the truth of faith. Forgive me…[illegible]…me…[forgive?]…[illegible]…10


Mister Shimizu’s signature concludes this note, as well as a date which is presumed to be the date when he wrote the note, October 28th 1996. It is believed that mister Shimizu had gone mad, perhaps suffering from schizophrenia or some other mental breakdown which drove him to believe in spirits which forced him to commit the murders of his family. Strangely enough, all records regarding the Shimizu family history has gone. No one knows about the family line, or what they did. It seems that the Shimizu’s were just another family who moved to the village at the wrong time and become caught up in the village’s secret.11

However, there are those who believe that certain elements within Koji’s note are not totally false. Despite the text to be somewhat difficult to read and to interpret, words and phrases such as ‘Kami’ and ‘Seras demon’ are mentioned. Some believe these to be references to a spiritual entity that was upon Kurohamiya and is what ultimately lead to the village’s downfall. Others say that they are code names or perhaps a cover for something realistic that was happening behind everyone’s backs before the fire. Whatever the speculations are or what the people believe, the truth is still unknown.12

In 2008, mid October, a discharged detective and his old work partner travelled to the remains of Kurohamiya village in order to meet an anonymous individual who some believe to be a survivor from the fire. This is all speculation and the discharged detective never stated what he found out officially. It is believed that this is a hoax as well.13

However, some sources do state that the anonymous individual that the man and his partner went to meet was a woman. Apparently, she had information regarding the Kurohamiya incident and knowledge about its past. What she and the discharged detective had discussed has never been truly cleared. They never told anyone about what they have found out. However according to the anonymous woman’s story, there was something more than simple spirits causing havoc among the villagers. According to her story, among the ones who died in the Kurohamiya fire of 1998 were seven young friends…