Police have arrested a 64-year-old man after the body of his 90-year-old mother was found in their apartment in Tokyo's Adachi Ward on Saturday.
According to police, the woman had been dead for about a month, TBS reported. Her body was inside a vinyl bag when she was found, police said. There were no external injuries on the body, according to police.
Police visited the apartment at around 3:30 p.m. Saturday after the woman's son, identified as Jun Tanaka, had not shown up for work for the past two weeks.
Tanaka, who lived with his mother, was quoted by police as saying that she fell in the toilet about a month ago and died. He said he didn't have any money for a funeral and didn't know what to do, so he kept the body in the apartment.
© Japan Today
17 Comments
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Daniel Naumoff
burying people seems like real problem in Japan, i guess it's because of its' size. Still seems wrong.
kimuzukashiiiii
guys an idiot but this bit...
grabbed my empathy.
In all honesty, If a close family member in Japan (for example my husband or one of our children) dropped dead tomorrow, I would be unable to pull the 2-3 million needed for a funeral out of thin air. I suspect our family is not alone in these tough economic times. Its hard to save money when your low income / only one family member working / raising small children.
Although granted, with a 90 year old mother, her death probably wasn't surprised. You would have thought one of them would have thought to make provisions.
Regardless. RIP. I hope this man is not too heavily charged for this, if the old lady died naturally.
mitoguitarman
There should be an available option for these cases.
FightingViking
@Daniel Naumoff
The only people allowed to be buried in Japan are foreigners. There are special cemeteries for foreigners but the Japanese are all cremated - which takes up much less space than burying them in a coffin.
I agree with kimuzukashiiiii, funerals over here are far too expensive and I feel very sorry for the man, there should be some kind of "help" in these cases.
RIP 90 year old mother.
FightingViking
@Zichi-san
I haven't checked if the Yokohama one has closed down but I used to live in Kobe but didn't even know there was a cemetery for foreigners there.
hammereddownnail
Maybe he thought that if he could keep receiving her pension for a few years, then he could pay for her funeral.
BurakuminDes
2-3 Million yen for an average funeral service here? Wow. I guess that explains the local Buddhist priest I've seen here driving a convertible (admittedly old model) Ferrari. Is there any way I can buy shares in the funeral business?
whiskeysour
Reminds me of the movie, " Pyscho " the guy had mummified remains of his mother in a dress sitting down in a chair.
Scary !!!!
" Motherrrrrr "
Alphaape
Do theynot have "pauper" funerals available in Japan. From what I understand, part of the problem is the expectation in some cases to have an expensive funeral so that friends and relatives can attend. Just my thoughts, but if a 90 year old lady can go off the radar for a month without any of her other friends or relatives asking, then I think worrying about how she will be presented at a funeral should not be a concern.
No burial insurance here in Japan? Mandatory health care, but once you die you are on your own without government support.
squeeks
Are you not allowed to dig a grave for loved ones in the backyard in Japan, gather some loved ones, and bury them? Much less expensive method.
602miko
he can run, and asking help at the municipal ward, or let him know the company where he works so they can give him advice or idea. this people are lack of knowledge when it comes of trouble, problem, their solution is the keep the body inside the house or do suicidal?
Disillusioned
Sorry but, I can't even raise an eyebrow to these kinds of incidents anymore. - Somebody should let these people know that the government will pay up to 10 million yen for a funeral. However, it is possible these people are aware of it and just want to take their pensions.
UsagitoSaru
Squeeks..what backyard? Most Japanese homes don't have much of a yard to speak off and many live in apartments...these people in the article lived in an Apartment...also Japanese are cremated not buried.
smithinjapan
You know, I actually believe the guy on this one. If you have no money, or worse, are in debt, there really is NOTHING you can do here. Get evicted because you can't pay rent? tough luck because even to move sets you back a couple of grand any place you go. Loved one dies and you have no money? tough luck unless he or she willed a bunch to you.
There's GOT to be some sort of service for people with no money.