Seven years after a car driven by an elderly man struck pedestrians in Ikebukuro, killing and injuring 12 people, the families on both sides of the case have agreed to the publication of a book about it. The bereaved husband and the driver's eldest son gave their consent with the same words: "This kind of tragedy must never be repeated."
The driver, Kozo Iizuka, was sentenced to five years in prison and died in custody in October 2024 without serving the full term. Tetsu Morita, a TBS TV reporter, spent seven years on the case. His book, "Ikebukuro Kōreisha Bōsō Jiko: Izoku to Kagaisha Kazoku no 2060 Nichi" (Bungeishunju), is the record of that work.
The crash happened on April 19, 2019. Morita met Takuya Matsunaga, who lost his wife Mana and daughter Riko in the crash, more than 100 times, and Iizuka's eldest son several dozen times.
A dashcam, and a decision
A central part of the book is footage from the drive recorder in Iizuka's car, which Morita obtained after several years. The footage shows a particular victim, raising an ethical question for the book.
Morita consulted Matsunaga on behalf of Mana and Riko, who are dead. Matsunaga said he has never watched all of the footage, for emotional reasons. He agreed to the request anyway, so that the reality of the crash would be recorded.
Morita writes that the rare character of Matsunaga as a bereaved family member influenced both the family and the driver's family in reaching that decision. The book sets out how that came about in its second half.
A mirror of the times
Morita calls the issue of elderly drivers a mirror of the times: people meet it as family members while young, and as the drivers themselves when old. That is why he judged it had to be told soon.
The wounds of the bereaved family have not healed, and abusive comments directed at the driver's side continue. The two men chose to record it regardless.