crime

Man arrested for killing bedridden mother

16 Comments

Police in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, said Monday they have arrested an unemployed 45-year-old man over the death of his 80-year-old bedridden mother in February.

According to police, the woman, Takako Nakamura, died of carbon monoxide poisoning after her son Jin burned charcoal in their apartment, Fuji TV reported.

Police said Nakamura has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying he was worn out from looking after his mother. Nakamura also told police he had planned to kill himself, too, but couldn't go through with it.

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16 Comments
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This really sad, well japan has a long life a bedridden might be stay for more years or maybe 10 years. and his gonna stuck for the rest of his life looking and taking care his mother, his 45 he need a life, family, and to have fun, but what he did really wrong.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A responsible and loving parent never would consider raising their child as a "sacrifice" but as a loving responsibility having children. That same loving devotion should be felt toward your parents when they are in need.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ignatious

Don't comment about it until you have walked in his shoes and been the sole care provider for a bedridden relative with no support, nor sympathy from the government or family members.

Yes I've never had to support a bedridden relative in Japan, However I was the sole provider of my severely handicapped sister for 7 years after my parents passed away. Sure the States provides some help for providing her with medical help however every state is different and with being in the military it was very hard with the moving and deployment tempo HOWEVER she was family and at no time, regardless of how hard it was both physically, psychologically or financially did I ever think it would be easier if she was dead.

This man is still a coward.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I worked as a nurses aide while putting myself through University. It is a hard job and by no means that I want to do it on a daily basis take care of a family member. However, I would do it.

As hard as it may be I would cope with it and manage.

One point about carbon monoxide poisoning is that you simply fall asleep and that's it there's no pain.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just because we can understand and even sympathize a bit doesn't mean it was okay for him to kill his mother.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The young caring for the old, and family caring for loved ones, should go without saying. But when you're talking full time care, i.e., taking away the ability for the young to live their lives, I agree with other posters that it's unfair. That's not how life was designed, and it's an unsustainable model for a society. As someone whose first baby will be born this year, I am aware that this was our CHOICE. Our children owe us nothing. They're not an investment, for goodness' sake.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@ham21

Child raising is seen as a sacrifice only by those who didn't want kids in the first place. Although there are many compromises and sacrifices of some luxuries, raising a kid does not equate "sacrificing your life" nor should you require payback from your kids once they are grown. They should be able to live their own lives and given the same opportunity to care for their own family like their parents once did.

This is exactly what social security and pension programs are for. Unfortunately, its not enough for some people who are bedridden, hence the system is not geared for the aging population. Unless the government realizes it has a growing problem, the elderly will continue to be a liability to the younger generation.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Excuse me, who sacrificed 20 years of their lives getting these young ones on their feet? I agree it can be very difficult to take care of ageing parents however killing their parents is not an answer! Maybe it's time for middle aged working people to promote more government care for aged ones, even if it may cost them something in taxes.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Circumstances in the last few weeks have suddenly found me having to care for an older relative who has until recently been pretty much bedbound and helpless. It is slowly getting better now, but I have only done it for a few weeks and I am worn out. I have a whole new respect for long term caregivers, and whilst I would never condone the actions this man has taken, I agree that no one can really judge without having walked a mile in his shoes. I only did a few feet and I am inclined to hold back on harsh judgement.

8 ( +8 / -1 )

He wont go to jail, this is Japan, if you are tired of taking care of someone you kill them and get away with it.

It's disgusting!

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

The regularity of this kind of incident clearly shows how inadequate the aged care and pension system really is. There are so many people in their forties and fifties locked into a life of drear waiting for their parents to die. There are very few nursing homes in Japan and the are very exclusive and expensive. This situation is only going to get worse as the population ages. Japan is supposed to have a reputation of respecting and caring for the aged, but the reality is very different.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

As much as I feel for him for having to care care for an aging parent, he took the easy and the wrong way out. Why not get some professional help or consult the city or ward office about what his options are.

with the dramatic rise in the population of the elderly in japan within the next decade or two, i think this type of story will be more common unfortunately.

I agree. A while back, I got so much backlash for saying that the elderly are becoming a liability in this country. THIS is exactly what I mean. As this society continues to age, without more government programs geared for caring for the elderly, the younger generations will be burdened with having to care for the elderly. Its really unfair for the younger generation to not be able to live their lives because they have to spend so much time caring for their parents until they die. Often times, the parents will even out live their kids, because their kids become mentally and or commit suicide because it becomes too much for them.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Ignatius

Don't comment about it until you have walked in his shoes and been the sole care provider for a bedridden relative with no support, nor sympathy from the government or family members.

Well said ! Very true ! Whether we're talking about the elderly or the very young, Japan does not have enough facilities to take care of either and I'm sure, taking care of a bedridden parent, without any kind of help or relief, must become absolutely unbearable at some point...

8 ( +8 / -0 )

with the dramatic rise in the population of the elderly in japan within the next decade or two, i think this type of story will be more common unfortunately.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Don't comment about it until you have walked in his shoes and been the sole care provider for a bedridden relative with no support, nor sympathy from the government or family members.

17 ( +17 / -1 )

"Coward arrested for killing bedridden mother" would be a better title for this article. The poor lady.

-4 ( +4 / -7 )

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