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An 88-year-old woman died after apparently stabbing herself as she sat on a park bench in Fukuoka on Monday morning, while her 70-year-old daughter, who was bedridden, was found dead at a nearby home for the elderly where they both lived.
Police believe the woman killed her daughter and then herself as there was a suicide note and a knife near her on the park bench, Fuji TV reported.
According to police, a passerby found the woman slumped on the bench in Susenji Park in Nishi Ward at around 7:30 a.m. and called police. The woman was bleeding from a knife wound. She was taken to hospital where she died soon after arrival.
Police went to the room at the facility where the woman lived with her daughter who had been bedridden for the past few years. She was found lying on her back, already dead from a stab wound.
© Japan Today
16 Comments
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kurisupisu
This is tragic in many ways but indicative of how society is changing with so many Japanese becoming incapacitated.
Planned euthanasia has to become legally acceptable...
mitoguitarman
This peculiar brand of elder care
Chip Star
Agreed 100%. Though, I think it’s more palatable to refer to it as death with dignity. Oregon led the way in the US. Valerie Vollmar was a lead architect of the law.
Aly Rustom
Certainly seems that way, doesn't it?
sensei258
How do we know the daughter wanted to die?
Aly Rustom
Good morning.
Sensei, we don't. I don't see any indication in the article that she did. She may have, but we just don't know. We don't know if the mother acted of her own volition or if it was consentual with her daughter.
TrevorPeace
If it happened as an 'opposite' - meaning daughter killed mother and then herself, would it be any different?
1738Kwaaa!!
When we grow old do terms as daughter, son, sister perfectly fit for use.
it's cute though.
Disillusioned
It's wonderful that can brag about the longevity of life. It's a shame they can't also brag about the quality of life for the elderly.
oldman_13
No excuses for brutally stabbing someone to death like that.
Zero sympathies from me, there are far more humane ways to end someone's suffering.
captain-caveman
To grow old with your child is a blessing most people don’t get to experience.
nandakandamanda
The 88-yr old mother knew her end was near and was thinking about the burden of the future of her bedridden daughter without her. We do not know anything else about the daughter, but the mother probably felt that no-one would be able to do, or should be expected to do, what she has carried all her life. Just too sad all round.
zones2surf
We don't know the contents of the suicide note nor do we know the specifics regarding the home for the elderly where they both lived.
However, given that the mother was 88 yo and clearly still mobile, while the daughter was 70 yo and bedridden, one can envision a possible explanation.
As we all know, Japanese homes for the elderly come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the resources of the elderly person in question.
One has to believe that the mother was responsible for the care of the daughter in some form / fashion. Whether it was actually taking care of her (even though they were in a home for the elderly), ensuring that she was adequately looked after, or even ensuring that the costs of care for the daughter was covered.
In such a situation, one can well imagine the mother worrying about what might happen to the daughter if the mother were to die first. And possibly even something the mother discussed with the daughter.
I have to believe that there was a reason why the mother decided to take this course of action.
Truly sad.
therougou
We don't know if the daughter wanted to be killed or not, but this is tragic either way.
smithinjapan
How many murders this week alone so far of elderly parents killing their bedridden/hikkikomori kids? It is truly a sad state. The mother here was only 18 when she had her daughter, and clearly the two were living together at least at the time of the murder suicide. I wonder if the mother had had to take care of her daughter for the latter's entire life.
Society really needs to step up and help out, or this aging thing and the crash of society is only going to continue to go off the rails. Now excuse me while I go read the story about the guy who stabbed his drinking companion to death.
rgcivilian1
Doing research in Japan for elderly care and programs one finds not enough has been done or in any future plans. Unfortunately this news is becoming normal these days which is quite alarming and unfortunate. However the Abe administration can for certain fund cherry blossom festivals, set funding aside for a building that can wait to get rebuilt vs humanitarian aid within the countryside or better yet more aid towards elderly care.