A baby girl was born in the autumn 26 years ago in a working-class neighborhood of backstreet workshops and humble housing complexes in Yao, Osaka Prefecture.

She reportedly grew into a slim and fair-skinned young girl with an “okappa” bob haircut. Her name was Reina Iwamoto, and she referred to herself by her given name instead of speaking in the first person singular.

According to investigators, she must have been 6 years old when she became the victim of a horrendous crime during the cold winter between late December 2006 and January 2007.

Her uncle kicked her viciously “to........

© The Asahi Shimbun