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crime

16-year-old boy arrested for attempting to strangle mother to death

23 Comments

Police in Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido, have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of attempting to kill his mother, who is in her 40s, by strangling her.

According to police, the incident occurred in the living room of their home at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Hokkaido Broadcasting Corp reported. The boy used both hands to strangle his mother but was stopped by other family members who then called 110.

Police said the boy has admitted to the allegation and quoted him as saying,"I intended to kill her. I lost my temper.” 

Police are questioning the family over the circumstances that led up to the boy attacking his mother.

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23 Comments
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When children grow in an environment without any kind of love and affection, those atrocious things happened. You never read those kind of news on the rest of the world, where Familly is first, and the respect for your mother, or parents, is a sacred thing and people rather kill themselves before even saying something bad to their mother, and parents in general.

I never seen in Japan mother kissing their children, hugging them, being affectionate, etc. Is so sad really...

-25 ( +6 / -31 )

I married a Japanese woman, and while I will say she is an amazing mother and incredibly competent, like most Japanese I would describe them as "emotionally unavailable" and that can really chip away at you over time.

-5 ( +14 / -19 )

both guys above me.fully agree.

as a father of 3 I see how my kids are often very different to rest around them.

I am not talking about physical appearance but about their soul.as they grew in family where we talk to each other,care about each other,discuss problems around the table.not just declaring "love" at fb or instagram/we both dont have and really dont need/.

story is short but chance that that boy possibly grew up in family without real love may be one from factors of his actions.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

DanteKH Today  08:45 am JST

When children grow in an environment without any kind of love and affection, those atrocious things happened.

This comment, and other comments here that are similar to it, are coming perilously close to blaming the victim of this tragic crime. It's also being turned into an excuse to (again) engage in some Japan-bashing. More on that below.

We have absolutely no idea what level of "love and affection" this boy has received throughout his childhood.

For all we know, his behavior here could be attributable to some other factor -- violent TV shows or video games, the influence from hanging out with a "bad crowd," or what have you.

Or maybe he was just a spoiled brat who got that way by being shown TOO MUCH love and affection -- to the point that he could never be told "no" by his parents without flying into a violent rage.

Or are we not allowed to even ponder or consider that possibility? I guess not. It doesn't suit the "Japanese people should be more like us Westerners" narrative.

This automatic knee-jerk conclusion that this crime must have occurred because the Japanese don't meet some Western standard of "love and affection toward children" smacks of cultural imperialism and even bigotry.

It's yet another example -- I have seen many in my 20+ years, including in comments posted on this website's forums -- of Westerners expecting the Japanese to be just like us. And then, when something bad happens, blaming it on Japanese people's stubborn refusal to do so.

In other words, it seems many on this forum are (again) seizing on a tragedy and exploiting it as an opportunity to engage in some good old-fashioned Japan-bashing.

11 ( +23 / -12 )

*Edit: I have seen many in my 20+ years in Japan

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

You never read those kind of news on the rest of the world, where Familly is first, and the respect for your mother, or parents, is a sacred thing and people rather kill themselves before even saying something bad to their mother, and parents in general.

Just because you never read about it, doesn't mean it never happens.

I never seen in Japan mother kissing their children, hugging them, being affectionate, etc.

Just because you have never seen it, doesn't mean it never happens.

Seems to be a common thing on the Internet these days. To many people, reality seems to be entirely defined by, and based on, what they personally have or haven't seen.

Well, guess what: it's not. Reality is not based entirely on only what YOU have seen or not seen.

Having said that: For whatever it's worth, I actually HAVE seen Japanese parents kissing and hugging and being affectionate toward their kids.

And as I said in my previous comment, this tragic crime in Iwamizawa happened because ... well, we don't know why. Do we?

We certainly have no basis for concluding that it was because the boy wasn't getting enough love or affection at home.

That's just an assumption being made here by you and some others -- an assumption, sadly, borne of a negative stereotype of Japanese people.

Certainly not the first time we've seen negative stereotypes of Japanese people being articulated on here. In a way, of course, that would never be acceptable against certain other groups.

14 ( +20 / -6 )

Can you imagine being the parent of this teen? What would you do afterwards; would you keep parenting him or abandon him to some kind of institution? Must be tough.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

*When children grow in an environment without any kind of love and affection, those atrocious things happened. You never read those kind of news on the rest of the world, where Familly is first, and the respect for your mother, or parents, is a sacred thing and people rather kill themselves before even saying something bad to their mother, and parents in general.*

Took me five minutes to find the following.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/15-year-old-charged-killing-parents-3-siblings-washington-rcna176893

USA

https://www.hindustantimes.com/trending/daughter-who-murdered-parents-and-hid-bodies-in-home-jailed-for-life-101728714532950.html

United Kingdom

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2023/12/03/valentin-15-ans-a-tue-ses-parents-en-isere-ladolescent-voulait-tout-detruire-et-refaire-sa-vie-11618542.php

France

12 ( +17 / -5 )

Anyone want to challenge my "observation " that parents here do not hug/kiss kids over 5 years old.

Japan not like Italy or Brasil, granted.

Feelings here are things to be suppressed, unless after drinking, perhaps.

This is not a new observation.

Go ahead and hug your kids today would be good

-5 ( +11 / -16 )

DanteKH - so very well said. I often make similar comments about the state of much-vaunted family values in Japan but they’re always deleted. I would just say that, travelling the world I very rarely see Japanese tourists with teenage children among the happily bonding families of other nationalities

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Anyone want to challenge my "observation " that parents here do not hug/kiss kids over 5 years old.

Japan not like Italy or Brasil, granted.

Feelings here are things to be suppressed, unless after drinking, perhaps.

This is not a new observation.

Go ahead and hug your kids today would be good

agree with everything you say- as usual.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

You never read those kind of news on the rest of the world

Maybe that's because the rest of the world has more news to report on, like school shootings.

I kind of agree that people are jumping to conclusions here. Just because it's a family in Japan, we are already jumping to conclusions that the culture automatically is the reason for this. Most of the families I know in Japan are loving families, but a lot of them don't show that affection in public. That's the big difference between Japan and my country.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the theories above.

The lad is 16, so senior high age. He's finished compulsory education. He can legally work (full-time) and can get a scooter or motorbike license. He doesn't need to live at home if he's unhappy to the point of attempted murder. If finishing senior high is important to him, he can go to night school, a correspondence school, etc.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I can sympathies with both the parents and the boy! Hugging is nothing nothing to do with this case. There are millions of Japanese kids that do great with the same manners.

There re teens with depression, behavior problems etc., but at that age they are expected to perform - study and get in good school. Often mothers can be very pushy and trigger violent reaction. Counseling and somebody outside of the family is necessary to talk to the kid - is is very difficult to find such help in Japan. Mother should step back or they should get him in institution otherwise there is no guarantee this will not happen again.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

For clarity...I dont know why this kid did what he did.

I just observed a different style of parenting.

As an experiment to you doubters, start hugging your Japanese friends...see the astonishment .

1 ( +8 / -7 )

I cannot understand why you think that the foreign concept of hugging should be subjected upon everyone. Mind your own business. A lot of hugging is unwelcome, and hugging is not a sign of a happy and healthy family by any means. There is, however, something wrong with imposing certain standards on eveybody else. Travelling overseas with teenage children may be the norm for some people, but it is far from being the norm for most people. Hugging in public may give some people warm and fuzzy feelings, but in many places it is inappropriate to do so. Be mindful of your surroundings and worry about your own problems.

Back to this case, the fact is that nobody knows what was going on in that householld to precede the action of wanting to strange his own mother. Whatever it was must have been very bad, and their family is likely to have ongoing problems. I hope that they find peace.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

We are all products of our environment. Nobody, not even animals, can escape the circumstances in which they grew up. A baby comes as a new book, and the first to write something in it is their parents and later society at large. The input of the parents conforms to the basis of a personality or character. I do not condone the behavior of this 16-year-old, but to be fair, we need to consider the circumstances in which he grew up. We are all made up of infinite biological and educational circumstances.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

they should get him in institution

I agree with your other points, but he's old enough to leave home. There is no need for an institution. Not getting on with your mother does not need to be "corrected". After 16 years, whatever relationship they have is likely irreparable.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

So many armchair psychologists here. Fact is, we do not know enough of this case to form an opinion.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@kohakuebllsu - that's what I meant actually but was lost in translation. Although at 16 it would be difficult to live alone but there are share house and other means. The problem in Japan is that it's very difficult to get mental help and support from institutions (including municipality, hospitals and facilities).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

When children grow in an environment without any kind of love and affection, those atrocious things happened.

Speculation. Idle, feverish, whatever.

story is short but chance that that boy possibly grew up in family without real love may be one from factors of his actions.

Maybe, but see above.

I agree with your other points, but he's old enough to leave home

As in rent an apartment? Room in a boarding house. Not without income, guarantor... Highly unlikely.

Can you imagine being the parent of this teen? What would you do afterwards; would you keep parenting him or abandon him to some kind of institution? Must be tough.

Yes. If you are not a parent, don't favor us with your observations.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A baby comes as a new book,

No, that's not how it works. (Perhaps you meant blank slate, but anyway.)

Go ahead and hug your kids today would be good

Thanks, but there are other ways of demonstrating love.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Neuroscience backs hugging as a way to develop bonds between parents and children.

I,m not challenging neuroscience

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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