OSAKA -- The remains of a child recently found encased in concrete in Osaka Prefecture belong to a girl who went missing in the 2000s, police announced March 19, citing DNA analysis and other information.

Police identified the remains found inside a house in the Osaka Prefecture city of Yao as those of Reina Iwamoto. A 41-year-old man, Noriyuki Iimori has been arrested on suspicion of abandoning the corpse.

The girl's residence certificate had been deleted based on explanations from Iimori's father, and she was regarded as a child who had "disappeared," referring to those whose whereabouts cannot be ascertained by governments.

Around 2002, Reina and her mother moved into Iimori's father's house. According to the Yao Municipal Government, she was assumed to be living with her family based on Iimori's father's statements, including that he, the girl and her mother were living together, but her presence was reportedly not confirmed. A city official visited the address where Reina was previously registered as living, but this only involved checking the nameplate and whether there was any mail. The worker accordingly instructed the suspect's father to update the address of her residence certificate.

The head of the city's division that handles identity documents on March 19 told reporters, "This did not involve a check of the actual residence where she was living. The procedure was not flawed."

The girl was also not found in the city's records of group health checkups, and it is unclear whether the municipal government was able to grasp the environment in which she was being raised.

Yuki Ishikawa, a journalist familiar with the issue of children's disappearances, pointed out, "The city may have been overconfident in what the suspect's father said, but this attitude has often been seen from municipal governments before abuse problems become serious." She continued, "They need to respond on the assumption that problems within the family tend to be covered up. Other children may have also died unnoticed, so we want them to be very careful to confirm children's safety."

Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura on March 19 expressed the intent to tell local governments to conduct further surveys to determine if there are any children whose whereabouts cannot be located.

Timeline of events related to the case

On Oct. 26, 2000, the victim, Reina Iwamoto, is born in Yao, Osaka Prefecture.

Around 2002, Reina and her mother move into the home of suspect Noriyuki Iimori's father, also located in Yao.

Between 2002 and 2003, city officials investigate Reina and her mother's residential status. Iimori's father explains that due to Reina's mother's circumstances, they cannot transfer their residence records.

Around 2004, Reina's mother entrusts Reina with Iimori's father and departs from the home.

On June 29, 2004, Iimori's father informs Yao officials, "Reina and her mother have gone somewhere else."

On Sept. 2, 2004, the city deletes the residence records of Reina and her mother.

Around October 2006, suspect Iimori takes custody of Reina.

Around 2007, Reina is presumed to have died.

On Oct. 17, 2013, the Osaka Family Court declares Reina and her mother to be missing, officially presumed dead.

Around October 2024, Iimori's father relocates to the room where Reina's remains would later be discovered.

Around November 2024, Iimori and his partner, Juri Shibata, allegedly place a clothing case containing Reina's body in a room occupied by his father.

On Feb. 25, 2025, the property's caretaker, having discovered the clothing case filled with concrete, consults Yao Police Station, but the station initially judges there is nothing unusual.

On Feb. 27, 2025, after the property manager again asks Yao Police Station to examine the clothing case.

On Feb. 28, 2025, Osaka Prefectural Police break open the concrete, discovering Reina's body inside.

On March 1, 2025, the prefectural police arrest Iimori on suspicion of abandoning a body.

On March 3, 2025, an autopsy determines that the body was of a girl aged between 6 and 7 years old, with evidence of injuries likely resulting from physical abuse.

On March 6, 2025, the prefectural police arrest Shibata for allegedly conspiring with Iimori to abandon the girl's body.

On March 19, 2025, police confirm and publicly announce that the victim was Reina Iwamoto.

(Japanese original by Tatsu Shingu and Mie Omokawa, Osaka City News Department)