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Mentally ill man confined in cage by father for over 20 years

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Cause and effect, does not seem that the father had gone mentally ill as well, as, it seem, he cared for the son, but still quite questionable case. I would have preferred father to attempt to seek cure for his son mental condition with the state authorities, and maybe he is actually better now, considering after all this time he has no serious health issues, he might just be able to fit into the society,... somehow. In that way, the father would have not failed splendidly.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The father is an abusive scum. Put him away for life!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Daniel Naumoff.

"confining his mentally ill son in a cage measuring just 1 meter high by 0.9 meter by 1.8 meters"/for 26 year. No explaining away this type of abuse, the dad is a very sick puppy.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

I would have preferred father to attempt to seek cure 

There is and has been a stigma with mental illness. Mentally ill people are often kept away from public view and not making excuses but the late mother was also part of this problem. Did no one in the city welfare department not visit periodically to check on the situation?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Pretty easy to see where the victim's mental illness came from.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

We hope that the dear mentally Ill young man will receive immediate profound psychiatric attention.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

THIS is the problem of having a society that looks at mentally challenged people as "an embarrassment".

If it were more open, read more humane and loving, people would feel less inclined to hide their mentally challenged offspring from the world.

A 1.8 x 0.9 x 1.0. cage? Come on that's a zoo exhibit. Dad should've got government/social service help.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

So, put dad in a cage before he goes in the box, and let him stay in the former until time for the latter.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@Speed - Dad should've got government/social service help.

There is very little of that help available. If the kid was put in an institution it would have cost the family a small fortune. The other alternative would to have the kid constantly taking 'zombie medication', which also would have cost the family a small fortune. If you have physically or mentally handicapped kids in Japan you are pretty much on your own. One of my friend's kids was born with a half formed eye. Of course she couldn't see anything from that eye. However, because the eyeball was there she was not deemed to be handicapped and, as a result, they received no government subsidies or support for her condition. He left Japan and went back to Australia where he receives full government support for her handicap, including special schooling. - I'm not supporting this idiot father's actions at all, but his options were quite limited.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Very frightening there are people like this out there

3 ( +3 / -0 )

As Disillusioned explained, having mentally-ill offspring makes you a loser because that kid cannot contribute to society and only has a cost in Japanese'eyes.

Japanese have exceptional good sides but empathy to people outside their family is not one of them contrary to the christian spirit of the west, culturally speaking.

I remember when I hurt my ankle in Japan and only limited number of people would help to open doors as I was with clutches. In my country, people rush to help...that is only physical but starts with such actions of understanding the others' conditions.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Seriously spooky, especially for me!!! Dad and I are the exact same ages. I’ve got my grievances but he’d surely not do anything of that sort to me.

Poor man. Wish he could’ve got better attention before and who knows, could’ve probably lived a much better life!!!! Hope that still can happen.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Horrible stuff.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Disillusioned and Jonathan Prin know absolutely nothing and are insulting. How can you call someone a loser for having a handicapped kid. Shame on you.

First hand experience: Japan has wonderful services for those not so called normal people. The education in the schools is superb. It is basically one on one for working with kids. There is much less IEP work (Individual Education Planning) done by certified teachers, which allows the teachers to focus on the kids and not have to deal with endless paperwork and red tape as they do in America. I taught special education for a few years before coming to Japan. I have a special ed child. She is doing wonderful after going through ES special ed, MS special ed, and HS special ed. here in Japan. She and others from her class are all working. They love it.

The ward office gets paperwork from the doctors that take care of your child and the system supporting them is excellent. Lots of benefits, help etc.

So, unless you have dealt with it first hand, quit with your self centered opinions about how Japan does not take care of its own. They do and they do it extremely well.

No apologies needed. I accept your ignorance as just plane ignorance.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@ Toasted

agreed.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"A plastic sheet had been placed on the floor beneath the cage in which the son was confined, and the prefabricated hut was equipped with an air conditioner, the police said."

imagine that

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Seriously spooky, especially for me!!! Dad and I are the exact same ages.

That is well spooky ;-)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

and provided him food every other day, 

Does this mean he gave him an adequate supply of food (lasting several days each time), or does it literally mean he only fed him every 2nd day?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Aside from the shocking tragedy here. Ok Japan Media, lets see if this makes international news..exposing the Japan / elephant in the room issues. As awareness does, such as in the recent Turpin family case in California.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

something similar, yet FAR more harrowing happened in France a hundred or so years ago..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanche_Monnier

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Speed Apr. 8 09:13 am JST

THIS is the problem of having a society that looks at mentally challenged people as "an embarrassment".

If it were more open, read more humane and loving, people would feel less inclined to hide their mentally challenged offspring from the world.

You don't seem to know that the crime rate of the mentally handicapped people is so high in Japan. And there are a few facilities can accommodate them who are mentally handicapped but physically non-handicapped, are aggressive and tend to intermittently commit anti-social acts.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Jonathan Prin Apr. 8 02:12 pm JST

I remember when I hurt my ankle in Japan and only limited number of people would help to open doors as I was with clutches. In my country, people rush to help...that is only physical but starts with such actions of understanding the others' conditions.

more complicated in Japan. The people here know that some of injured/handicapped/elder people get piss off if you help them. "Don't nose into my business! Leave me along!!!"

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Should I, or should I not, find it amazing that the neighbours (assuming they had any) didn't notice anything unusual? Food going into the shed every other day, remains and toilet contents etc. being taken out? Sadly this sort of inappropriate handling of disabled offspring occurs in many places. When I worked in an institution for the intellectually disabled in Australia there was one woman there I was told as a girl had been confined to a chicken house, with the chickens, until she was about eleven. her parents were immigrants from the Mediterranean area. It's not malice that causes this sort of thing, but a combination of cultural backwardness and, mostly, sheer ignorance; ignorance about what is the best way of coping and of what guidance and help is available. They have a problem, so they take the nearest solution. Sad, but in this case at least the poor son will now lead a better life now.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Okay. This story absolutely takes the bizzaro cake. Never in a million years have I ever read such a disturbing act of human on human abuse. I am sure in the Fathers mind he was right. Is this man living in some ancient period of Japan's history? Disgusting, revolting. Scum. Throw the book at this man. I hope is son has a peaceful and fulfilling life in the days ahead. This just boggles the mind.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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