crime

19-month-old boy drowns in bathtub while parents are away playing slot machines

22 Comments

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22 Comments
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Stupid people, what is wrong with them?

21 ( +21 / -0 )

So very sad, hopefully not, but I cant imagine the burden the 8 might yet feel later in life.

Little ones absorb so much, who will help her.

20 ( +20 / -0 )

Yet some will still defend these morons if I accuse them of poor parenting

12 ( +14 / -2 )

@gogogo I think you answered your own question...I would add that they are perhaps woefully negligent too; very unfortunate.

11 ( +13 / -2 )

The parents have told investigators that the bathtub was empty when they left home and they had often left the children unattended at home while out playing slot machines and pachinko.

Well, YOU'RE not getting the parents of the week award

6 ( +8 / -2 )

So very sad! I just learned about a place in the same Toyohashi city that helps people in trouble, physical or psychological. No money involved, when I went to visit, there were lots of kids running around playing and doing activities with volunteer helpers. I wish these parents took the kids there instead. Poor kids, just to think of the guilt and sorrow the 8 year old will carry because of these terrible, criminal I might add, parents.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

They are NOT mentally fit to be parents and admitting they have often don this is frighting. Their parental right should be revoked!! Furthermore forced sterilization is not a bad idea here. Hope the older sister can find some love and good people to look after her.

Yes, I’m harsh to those that put children in danger! We as adults are responsible for he safety of the youth!

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Sadly, leaving little kids at home by themselves is a very common practice in Japan and not just so the parents can play pachinko. You have to feel so sorry for the 8 year old girl who watched her brother die just because her parents are flipping idiots! It is actually illegal to leave kids under 12 years old unsupervised in Japan, not that anybody would notice.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

JHC, that poor girl. Left to live with that excuse of ‘parents’ who couldn’t care less for them. That’s really made me very angry and so very, very sad. Phffffff.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Just disgusting. how can you do that to the kids. I hope the court is not lenient.

Also this kind of events should be wake-up call for Japan. The government want more babies but they are not putting enough effort to improve the care system. The baby sitting services are extremely expensive and too much trouble. Temporary day care facilities are no different.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

It is actually illegal to leave kids under 12 years old unsupervised in Japan, not that anybody would notice.

Do all the kids have to be under 12? Or if one is 12 and another is say, 6, would it be ok? (I don't have kids, I'm just curious about the law).

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This is murder with intent. You DONT go play slots for five friggin hours and leave an 8 year old and 2 year old alone unless you WANT something to happen. I have no mercy for these egotistic parents and hope they get punished to the severest extend.

As for the 8 year old girl, I hope she gets proper mental care because this is not something she will get over soon.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

It is not that uncommon for an 8 year old to be alone at home as they come home from elementary school while the parents are working. A 8 year old watching a 1 year old alone is a whole other story. I am sure this wasn't the first time they left the kids at home alone.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It is not that uncommon for an 8 year old to be alone at home as they come home from elementary school while the parents are working.

I disagree with that statement. I think it is VERY rare in Japan for both parents to be working at a time when an eight year old would be coming home from school. There are gakudo to provide support for working parents.

 I am sure this wasn't the first time they left the kids at home alone.

and they had often left the children unattended at home while out playing slot machines and pachinko.

That poor child has to live with her brother dying on her watch. Ands will no be bounced around through the system. RIP little boy, I feel for the little girl and I hope both parents are locked up for this.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Do all the kids have to be under 12? Or if one is 12 and another is say, 6, would it be ok? (I don't have kids, I'm just curious about the law).

In Japan, a 12 year old is considered old enough to be responsible for younger children. However, in Australia it is not acceptable at all. Leaving children unsupervised results in child abuse charges and children's services will remove the kids from an unsafe environment. The parents then have to apply to the courts to prove they are worthy parents. I used to foster abused and neglected kids in Australia and my sister still does, so I know the laws quite well.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Footnote: In Australia, a child must be 16 to be responsible for younger children (legally) although, there are many babysitters much younger. This creates huge legal issues if the sitter is younger than 16 and there is an incident.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

And the negative social consequences of pachinko just keep on coming...

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Once took a crying Japanese child about 5 yrs old to the hotel front desk. I guess she managed to open the door and was crying all alone in the hallway. This was in at night in Waikiki.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Reading some comments here that have thumb downs because they expressed anger towards the parents. 

So should we sympathize the parents?

So the parents should not be blamed because there's an 8 yr old kid that can watch the little one?

If anyone is thinking like this...well shame on you!!!!

That kid is scared for life! The horror of this unfortunate events that will take place in her mind instead of a happy childhood memory because of the selfishness of her parents.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is why I think casinos are a good thing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As with not using car seatbelts, I think leaving young children alone at home is common in Japan.

tmarie mentions "gakudo" - after school club - for school age kids, but I know children who go home to empty houses rather than after school club. I guess it's because you have to pay (albeit a nominal amount), you have to apply, and you have to collect your child from gakudo every time they use it. They aren't allowed to walk home. Regarding the "illegal to leave a child under 12" law, we had to get special permission to get our school's day club during the holidays to take our daughter when she was fourth grade. They normally don't accept children that old, but she liked reading books there and wanted to go herself.

I don't think leaving an eight year old now and then for an hour or two is a problem, but leaving a baby is criminal.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@ natsu - oddly enough I was also in Waikiki many years ago, in the lobby of my hotel, when a lady that had just gone to the front desk started screaming "Where's my baby where's my baby". I ran outside to look because I figured if somebody had just snatched her I'd still be able to see them, but I didn't see anything. When I came back into the lobby, as I passed the elevators, I heard a little girl crying, pushed the button and there she was. She had wandered into the elevator while Mom was distracted at the desk, and was too short to reach the buttons.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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