Man admits fatal abuse of 5-year-old stepdaughter

I remember crying when I heard that she had written letters asking for forgiveness. My goodness, she was only 5.

I hope he gets the harshest punishment possible!!

Hanging is too good and swift for this guy. He hasn't suffered the torment yet. He needs to feel every single bruise and pain she suffered because of him tenfold, then hang him.

I am disgusted with both the stepfather, the mother, and the spineless bureaucrats who did not even try to check up on the girl.

tormented 5 years old to that extreme? he needs to suffer the same way as yua suffered then disappear in this world.

let him drop. For the good of the world, let him drop with the cable neck tie

I have really struggled with this case as a father of 3 beautiful children that I love so much I would give my life w/o thought for them. I love my wife of 15 years so much. I would do the same for her.

I am usually against the death penalty, but the more I hear of this scum bag the more I hope he hangs.

Jeff Lee:

We live in a society of "spineless bureaucrats" because overall its a lot better than a society run by strong-arm bureaucrats.

I agree in principle, but there has to be a reasonable balance. In case of suspected child abuse, the bureaucrats should be strong-armed enough not to just be waved away by the suspected abuser.

@TumbleDry Here you go

rgcivilian1: Hanging is too good and swift for this guy. He hasn't suffered the torment yet. He needs to feel every single bruise and pain she suffered because of him tenfold, then hang him.

Dear Yua,

Your heartbreaking abuse and death made me want to do something to help. You should have been protected from evil. We grown-ups failed you. I am so sorry and so sad. As a teacher and puppeteer who loves children but cannot speak Japanese very well, I wondered what I could do to help... so I started teaching English to young children who are in orphanages and children's homes here in Tokyo through a non-profit foundation called JOEE. We use songs, games and puppets with native English speakers through JOEE; Joyful Opportunity English Education.

Your death helped push me to act. I am sorry that I cannot do more. All children need protection and joy and love. God knows that we can do better. Please forgive us, Yua. We can all make a difference. Children are our future.

" the spineless bureaucrats who did not even try to check up on the girl."

But if it wan a nonJ they would have been on it...That is Japan...

"We live in a society of "spineless bureaucrats" because overall its a lot better than a society run by strong-arm bureaucrats." and that's they will never be leaders of the free, world.

"We live in a society of "spineless bureaucrats" because overall its a lot better than a society run by strong-arm bureaucrats." and that's they will never be leaders of the free, world.

Nonsense. Spend some time searching with Google. Easy enough to find comparable US/UK cases.

"We'd like you to decide upon an appropriate sentence,"

Any sentence that involves him spending every minute of the rest of his life in prison sounds appropriate to me.

This is the most heart breaking story I have ever heard of in Japan.

I find all the negative voting quite disturbing...

@WilliB

"....the spineless bureaucrats who did not even try to check up on the girl."

I guess you missed the last paragraph:

"The girl had been taken into protective custody by a child welfare center in Kagawa twice. Another center in Tokyo tried to check on the girl in February last year, but her mother refused to let the officials see her."

We live in a society of "spineless bureaucrats" because overall its a lot better than a society run by strong-arm bureaucrats.

Let's hope his sentence is in double figures and first figure is a 2.

I guess the mother doesn't feel enough remorse if she's already appealing her verdict! Hopefully the appeal will cause her to get the longer sentence that prosecutors aimed for!

Heartbreaking story. It was international news. It brought my mother in Australia to tears and I’m sure she was not alone. I’m quite positive this monster’s penalty will not be lenient.

These stories of child abuse are so painful to see. Something must be done to stop this. To identify the cause and attack that cause.

I find all the negative voting quite disturbing...

I find the fact that people want to avenge death with death most disturbing. "Eye for an eye" has never been a solution for getting out of the vicious circle.

I really, really hope he does NOT hang.

Oh no.. no no no no no. Death Penalty would be injustice to the little girl.

He needs to suffer exponentially than the pain he inflicted on the little angel.

As a father of two, and having a 2 year old daughter myself, this is one of the crime/cases that is really painful to recall. And I can think of no punishment that would fit the crime for this 'person'.

@memoryfix- The sharp increase in child abuse in Japan is matched with the sharp decline in the economy. A poor economy creates stress and the kids are the ones who cop it. The only way to stop it is to fix the economy, but that is not going to happen under the current regime of stone-headed cronies who believe it is still 1980.

@TumbleDry I'm not with you on this one

let him drop with the cable neck tie

I hope he gets the harshest punishment possible!!

(That is death penalty according to Japanese law)

I am usually against the death penalty, but the more I hear of this scum bag the more I hope he hangs.

He needs to suffer exponentially than the pain he inflicted on the little angel.

It is precisely THIS kind of story that attracts a lot of (gaijin) comments, because it's food for them to throw rants at Japanese justice system.

I am Buddy on this one.