Welcome to another part of my ‘Mysteries of Karakura’ series, which I most definitely did not make up to link several of my past reports with a shared theme together! As I once investigated the Occult Club Disappearance of 1987, I’ve now switched focus to another mystery taking place on school grounds; The Satomi Kato incident of August 1963. During the early 60s, Kato was a star student in Karakura high school. Well-liked throughout our town, she was regarded as both the ideal student and daughter by all who knew her - until the incident around which this report is focused.
August 7th, 1963 would become a day steeped in bloodshed & infamy upon the end of school hours for the day. Kato approached her teacher, Matsuoka Takara, to discuss an assignment with him, ultimately returning to his classroom. Minutes later, two passing students, whose identities are unknown, reportedly heard a struggle within that classroom - loud crashes, and a man screaming. The two students investigated the sounds, only to uncover a horrifying scene.
August 7th, 1963 would become a day steeped in bloodshed & infamy upon the end of school hours for the day. Kato approached her teacher, Matsuoka Takara, to discuss an assignment with him, ultimately returning to his classroom. Minutes later, two passing students, whose identities are unknown, reportedly heard a struggle within that classroom - loud crashes, and a man screaming. The two students investigated the sounds, only to uncover a horrifying scene.
Amidst overturned tables, Takara - popular among the student body - was lying in a pool of blood, having been stabbed 16 times - and over his body was Kato, covered in blood and wielding the scissors used to take her teacher’s life. Satomi herself seemed unaware of what had happened, reportedly simply smiling at the two students as if nothing was wrong - and refused to answer when questioned on what had happened. Upon the discovery of this scene, police were called - and Kato was ultimately arrested by officers Shinohara Yota, Kaneko Shota and Maki Yuu.
Though Kato’s family refused to provide comment on the incident itself, they claimed she suffered from medical conditions which had led her to act out before - although no pre-existing triggers had been identified on the day the murder took place, with Kato having reportedly seemed entirely normal and offering to help other students study in preparation for the upcoming exams. While being questioned in police custody following the incident, Kato refused to provide comment, claiming she had no awareness of the incident. The interview, led by Shinohara Yota and transcribed by Kaneko Shota, was terminated at 3:49 AM on August 8th 1963 upon Kato attempting to assault the officers with her. The transcript of the interview can be seen below.
Kato was subsequently committed to Danuja Psychiatric Hospital after being found criminally insane during the trial of Takara’s murder, where she was kept under tight security to ensure she couldn’t harm anybody else. This would not last, however, as Kato is reported as having seemingly vanished from the institution without a trace, seemingly overnight. To this day, Kato remains missing, and is presumed dead. To this day, rumours of the site of Takara’s murder - classsroom 312 - being haunted persist, though there is no definitive proof of there being any truth to these rumours at present.
Another rumour surrounding Takara’s murder, however, is that Kato’s unusual behaviour isn’t a result of mental illness - but rather, possession. Incidents in a similar vein have been reported throughout Karakura’s history, and were believed to have been the work of an Amanojaku - or “Heavenly evil spirit”. Often described as Yokai or minor Kami, it’s said that these malicious spirits will provoke humans to act on their deepest, most malicious desires to spread their spiritual immortality to whoever falls victim to their influence. Due to Kato’s history as a star student loved by her peers, it’s often speculated that one of these spirits may have possessed her, resulting in this incident. There is, however, no evidence - no any testimonies - to support this theory at present.
Another rumour surrounding Takara’s murder, however, is that Kato’s unusual behaviour isn’t a result of mental illness - but rather, possession. Incidents in a similar vein have been reported throughout Karakura’s history, and were believed to have been the work of an Amanojaku - or “Heavenly evil spirit”. Often described as Yokai or minor Kami, it’s said that these malicious spirits will provoke humans to act on their deepest, most malicious desires to spread their spiritual immortality to whoever falls victim to their influence. Due to Kato’s history as a star student loved by her peers, it’s often speculated that one of these spirits may have possessed her, resulting in this incident. There is, however, no evidence - no any testimonies - to support this theory at present.
