British English Teacher Strangled

Lindsay Hawker was a 22 year old girl teaching English in Japan, as so many people do. I was 23 when I crossed the ocean to do the same thing. She lived in Chiba, but worked in Tokyo. I lived and worked in western Tokyo. She worked for the same chain of language schools as I did.

The thing is, when I was researching teaching English overseas, Japan was and most likely still is, considered to be one of the safest countries for a single woman to live. The Japanese culture discourages any activity that might upset the group. Murder and violent crime does that. You could leave your purse on the train and someone would run to catch up to you and give it to you. It is generally a peaceful sort of place. (of course there is the Yakuza, but never mind that for the moment.)

But hearts are the same everywhere. Evil still lurks deep within all of mankind. Lindsay, in an effort to help a particularly persistant student, fell victim to his dark and twisted fantasies.

My heart goes out to her family and I grieve the incredible loss they have experienced, in the face of their worst nightmare.

Read the story here.