Fourth grader dies in hit-and-run; ‘Why didn’t anyone help? I want to know the truth.’ Five years left until the statute of limitations.

On September 30, 2009, in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, a fourth grader named Takunori Koseki (then 10 years old) died in an unresolved hit-and-run case, marking the 15th anniversary of the incident. Hana Horiguchi (25), a classmate of Takunori, visited his home later this month and quietly paid her respects. Reflecting on their friendship, Horiguchi said, "I really loved Koseki; he was a truly close friend. I hope the perpetrator is found and caught soon."

The accident occurred around 6:50 PM on September 30, 2009, on a road in Honishi, Kumagaya City, while Takunori was biking home from calligraphy class. As the statute of limitations approached in September 2019, the police changed the charge from vehicular manslaughter to reckless driving resulting in death, extending the statute of limitations by ten years.

Horiguchi recalled, "Koseki was incredibly kind, athletic, and well-liked by everyone." They became friends in the third grade when they were in the same class and attended the same calligraphy school, where they enjoyed playing together at the nearby Hoshikawa River after class.

Horiguchi's parents would drive her to the calligraphy school. Although Takunori’s class ended at the same time, he would wait for Horiguchi’s parents to pick her up instead of going home early. "On the day of the accident, he was waiting for me. If he had gone home early…" she said, tearing up.

At a school assembly, she couldn’t hold back her tears and couldn’t listen until the end. However, seeing his name in the shoe locker and finding his things in the classroom made it hard for her to fully grasp his death. Over time, arriving at school at the same time and competing to reach the shoe locker ended, and she gradually began to process the loss, even receiving counseling at school.

It took a long time for her to accept his death, but she has never forgotten the anniversary. She often closes her eyes at home and speaks to Takunori. Now working as a public servant at a children’s center in Tokyo, she advises the elementary school kids who bike there to "be really careful on their way home" to prevent similar incidents.

With five years left until the statute of limitations expires, she still hopes for the perpetrator's arrest. "I feel scared knowing about the accident, but I want to know why no one helped him. I want to know the truth," she shared. She intends to live her life fully, in part for Takunori, but added, "If I could, I would like to see him one more time. He hasn’t appeared in my dreams lately, so I hope he comes to see me sometimes."

Takunori’s mother continues to call for information and advocates for the abolition of the statute of limitations on fatal hit-and-run cases. On the 30th, she will make a live appearance on the community FM station "FM Kumagaya" at noon, and in the evening, she will distribute flyers near the accident site with the police to encourage information sharing.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5ab892883cbef885647a889ff991ebaf2303fd03