Natsumi Tsuji - The Sasebo School Incident

Izabella O'Keefe 20 Jun 2025

The quiet of a school day in Sasebo, Japan, was shattered on June 1, 2004, by an event that shook a community to its very core. A young student, Natsumi Tsuji, then just 11 years old, carried out a terrible act against a classmate, Satomi Mitarai. This moment, so sudden and unexpected within the walls of an elementary school, left many people feeling a deep sense of shock and sadness, you know.

The incident involved a planned act, which, as a matter of fact, came to light through Natsumi's own words later on. It happened in a very specific way, starting with an innocent-sounding invitation to play a game. This tragic day, obviously, became a point of deep reflection for everyone connected to the school and the wider area.

For those who lived through it, or heard about it, the story of what happened between these two young people remains a difficult memory. It really shows how some personal feelings and online interactions can, in a way, take a very dark turn, leading to truly heartbreaking outcomes.

Natsumi Tsuji - A Look at Her Early Life
Personal Details and Biographical Information for Natsumi Tsuji
What Happened on June 1, 2004, with Natsumi Tsuji?
How Did Natsumi Tsuji Set Up the Situation?
What Was the Reason Behind Natsumi Tsuji's Actions?
The Aftermath for Natsumi Tsuji
How Was the Community Affected by Natsumi Tsuji?
Other Ways Natsumi Tsuji Was Known

Natsumi Tsuji - A Look at Her Early Life

Natsumi Tsuji, who came into the world on November 21, 1992, seemed to have, in some respects, a childhood that appeared quite normal. Reports from that time suggest her early years were without any obvious signs of trouble, which is that, what many people would expect for a young person growing up.

She showed, it seems, a good amount of interest in sports, which is pretty common for children her age. Natsumi even played basketball, which implies she was active and, perhaps, enjoyed being part of a team or just the physical activity itself. Her early life, to be honest, did not suggest the very serious events that would unfold later.

This ordinary start makes the later occurrences even more difficult to grasp, as it highlights how a person's path can, quite suddenly, take a very different direction from what might have been expected based on their early days. There was nothing, apparently, in her younger years that gave a clear warning sign of the deep distress that would eventually lead to such a tragic outcome.

Personal Details and Biographical Information for Natsumi Tsuji

Detail	Information
Full Name	Natsumi Tsuji
Date of Birth	November 21, 1992
Age at Incident (2004)	11 years old
Nationality	Japanese
Known For	Involvement in a school incident in 2004
Place of Birth	Japan
Apparent Childhood	Seemingly normal, with interest in sports like basketball

What Happened on June 1, 2004, with Natsumi Tsuji?

On the first day of June in 2004, a very sad event took place at an elementary school located in Sasebo, Japan. Natsumi Tsuji, a student at the school, led her schoolmate, Satomi Mitarai, to a classroom that was not in use. This was, as a matter of fact, the start of a sequence of events that would shock many people.

The classroom was empty, providing a quiet, isolated spot where the two young people were alone. Natsumi had a specific plan in mind, which involved a deceptive tactic. She told Satomi that she wanted to play a sort of game with her, and this game, so it seemed, required Satomi to have her eyes covered.

Under the pretense of showing Satomi how this game would proceed, Natsumi guided her toward a chair. Satomi, trusting her, sat down as she was told. It was then that Natsumi, in a very deliberate move, took off Satomi's eyeglasses, further making it hard for Satomi to see what was happening around her. This act of removing the glasses, you know, added to the feeling of vulnerability for Satomi, who was now truly relying on Natsumi's word.

With her long-time school friend unable to see, and without speaking another sound, Natsumi performed a terrible act. She used a sharp tool, a box cutter, to injure Satomi's neck, in a way that seemed quite calculated. This action, so sudden and without any further conversation, ended Satomi's life, leaving a deep mark on the school and the people who knew both young girls.

How Did Natsumi Tsuji Set Up the Situation?

The setup for this tragic event was, to be honest, a series of calculated steps. Natsumi Tsuji used the idea of a game to get Satomi Mitarai into a vulnerable position. The empty classroom provided the privacy she needed, which is pretty unsettling to think about.

The act of blindfolding Satomi was a key part of her plan, making sure Satomi couldn't see what was coming. This was done under the guise of a fun activity, which, you know, makes the betrayal even more stark. It was a way to control the situation and ensure Satomi's cooperation without raising any alarm.

Guiding Satomi to a chair and then taking off her glasses further removed any chance for Satomi to react or even fully understand what was about to happen. This sequence of actions, really, shows a deliberate effort to isolate and incapacitate her friend before the main act. It was, in a way, a very cold and methodical approach to a very personal conflict.

What Was the Reason Behind Natsumi Tsuji's Actions?

The reasons behind Natsumi Tsuji's actions, as revealed later, stemmed from a deep sense of personal offense and a history of difficult interactions. It appears that Satomi Mitarai had been, in some respects, isolating Natsumi from her other friends. This kind of social exclusion can, obviously, be very painful for a young person.

Beyond that, there were reports of Satomi forcing Natsumi to spend all her time studying, which could have put a lot of pressure on her. And, as a matter of fact, Satomi was also stopping Natsumi from doing the hobbies she truly enjoyed. These kinds of controlling behaviors can build up a lot of frustration and resentment over time, you know.

A specific point of contention that came to light was Natsumi's annoyance with someone in her group of friends using similar expressions and ways of speaking to the ones she used herself. Natsumi felt quite upset about this, seeing it as a personal invasion or perhaps a form of copying that she disliked intensely. This feeling of having her unique qualities taken from her, so it seems, really bothered her.

The situation escalated when Satomi, who seemed to find Natsumi's annoyance silly, decided to make fun of her on an internet message board. This public mocking, really, made the personal conflict much worse. To say that Natsumi's reaction to this online taunting was much stronger than just "not taking it well" is, quite frankly, a clear understatement. This online interaction, apparently, was the spark that ignited a very destructive path.

The Aftermath for Natsumi Tsuji

After the tragic event, Natsumi Tsuji openly admitted what she had done. She also made it known that she had thought through the crime, and that her ideas for planning it came from watching the movie "Battle Royale." This detail, you know, added another layer of complexity to the understanding of her actions, suggesting a pre-meditated aspect.

Following her confession, she was placed in the Nakasaki Juvenile Detention Center. She remained there for a period of time. This period of being held in a special facility for young people was part of the legal process that followed the incident, basically.

On September 16, there was a significant movement for her. She got on a flight, ANA668, from Nagasaki Airport. She was accompanied by four employees during this journey. The flight arrived at Tokyo International Airport at six in the evening. From there, she was moved to Kinugawa National, which suggests a transfer to another facility or care setting. This journey, really, marked a new phase in her life after the incident.

How Was the Community Affected by Natsumi Tsuji?

The community where the incident took place was, obviously, left in a state of profound disbelief and deep sadness. Such an event, especially involving young people in a school setting, is something that truly shakes the sense of safety and order that people usually feel. The impact was immediate and very widespread.

Many people felt a great sense of mourning, grappling with the sudden loss and the disturbing nature of what had occurred. It was a time when the whole area had to come to terms with a very difficult reality, you know. The incident became a topic of intense discussion and concern among parents, teachers, and residents.

Initially, the person responsible for the act was known only by a placeholder, a way to keep her true identity private for a time. This initial anonymity, in a way, added to the mystery and the collective shock before more details became public. The event left a lasting mark on the community's memory, changing how many people viewed safety and the well-being of young people.

Other Ways Natsumi Tsuji Was Known

Over time, and especially in various online spaces, Natsumi Tsuji became known by several different names and nicknames. These included "Nevada," "Nevadatan," "Neva," "Neva-tan," and "Nevada-chan," which, you know, were terms that spread widely. These names often came from internet communities and discussions surrounding the event.

The incident itself was also referred to by different phrases, such as the "Sasebo slashing" or, in Japanese, "Sasebo shōroku joji dōkyūsei satsugai jiken," which translates to the "Sasebo elementary school 6th-grade girl classmate murder case." These varied terms, really, show how the event was discussed and remembered in different contexts and languages.

The victim, Satomi Mitarai, was also referred to by her full name, 御手洗怜美, in Japanese. The locations involved, like Sasebo, Okubo, Nagasaki, and Japan, were consistently mentioned, tying the event to specific places. All these names and phrases, in a way, became part of the public record of this very sad event, helping to identify the people and places involved.

Natsumi Tsuji: 11-Year-Old Behind the Infamous Nevada-Tan Killing

Natsumi tsuji – Artofit

Natsumi Tsuji - Wikinet

RapidNewsline

Natsumi Tsuji - The Sasebo School Incident

Table of Contents

Natsumi Tsuji - A Look at Her Early Life

Personal Details and Biographical Information for Natsumi Tsuji

What Happened on June 1, 2004, with Natsumi Tsuji?

How Did Natsumi Tsuji Set Up the Situation?

What Was the Reason Behind Natsumi Tsuji's Actions?

The Aftermath for Natsumi Tsuji

How Was the Community Affected by Natsumi Tsuji?

Other Ways Natsumi Tsuji Was Known

Detail Author:

Socials

facebook:

twitter:

linkedin:

tiktok: