Mother, 3 children found dead in Tokyo apartment in apparent murder-suicide

WE should all agree to disagree. I have no sympathy for the mother. I cannot comment about the husband because I know nothing about their situation, but my heart bleeds for the children.  Not because she carried them for 9 months that she has the right to take their life.

"It's ridiculous to assign blame here, since we don't know this woman's situation". Ridiculous, not hardly, that woman killed her kids. Why can't we blame her? Whose fault is it then?

OMG, the poor father. @ TTD - I prefer to sympathize with the children who were murdered by the one they loved and trusted most.

What a selfish, evil woman.

A heartless uninformed comment from an internet poster who, just like the rest of us, doesn't have a clue to the real cause of this tragedy.

Sorry, but she should rot in hell.

That's not going to be a decision made by you now is it - unless you are claiming some Godlike status.

What we can't understand is how you sympathize with murderers and never learn.

This posters stance (despite the 'we' it is a single poster) is to throw the blame and make accusations of murder without a shred of evidence. I for one would rather sympathise with a Mother who felt no other choice but to kill herself and her children.

I think the majority of posters here see this Japanese event through Western eyes.  In western culture especially Christian ones, suicide is considered an evil but in Japan as was explained to me by my Japanese friends suicide is not viewed as a bad way to go.  IMO if people want to do this that is their business but I do disagree with taking the kids with them, they should get a sporting chance to succeed or fail in the world.  I believe life is meant to be hard and not everyone can hack it, if life was easy what is the point of living.

And that is enough internet for today. poor dad.

Yeah. I literally feel sick to my stomach with that. I'm imagining the father must have PST. Personally, I can't think of anything worse, and I wonder if that poor man will still be able to function in society, because I know that I wouldn't...

I agree with Disilusioned. I read four other country’s newspapers and it is only Japanese newspapers that I read about family murders every day.

And you’ve confirmed that this means it’s actually happening more in japan, and not just reported more in Japan, right? You wouldn’t be thinking that the number of articles you read or don’t on a subject is some sort of accurate indicator as to the actual rate of that crime, right?

@Nakanoguy - do you read the news from other countries? You seem to always imply that this only happens in Japan. No, it does not.

I agree with Disilusioned. I read four other country’s newspapers and it is only Japanese newspapers that I read about family murders every day. Yeah, murder and suicide happen everywhere, but suicides are usually a solo event and murder is usually crime related. I’ve read about three family murders in Australia this year. I’ve read about four family murders in japan this week, including that woman that moved her baby around coin lockers for the past 4-5 years.

I also think his point about the government is relevant. There is a deep seated problem in Japanese society that needs to be addressed ‘by the government’ to give these sucidal and murderous people some support and options. Stating that she must have been depressed and had no other choice is just an obvious conclusion. The problem is why she was so depressed and why she felt she had no other choice.

I hate it when suicidal parents decide to take the kids with them. People got to know the kids would survive without them

As a man who really wants to have children when I read such thing it always devastating me... RIP to those that have died including the mother even if I really can't accept her action...

What I have seen in Japan is that women and men want it the traditional way in the couple but also a more involved father in the family and a more involved mother in helping with the financilal aspect, though both are often too stubborn to cross that line often kept that way by family and society pressure, that is really sad...

I'm happy to know Japanese friends that have crossed that line of the family and society pressure and despite those difficulties their couples are in better harmony (if I can say it like that)

As a dad, I feel terribly sad for this guy. Coming home to find his babies are gone -

TigersTokyoDome: "We have no idea why the Mother killed herself - if the husband was leaving her or having an affair and she had no other family support then I can understand the desperation. Or what if they were about to lose their home or had severe debts?"

Here come the rationalizers and sympathizers, which is why this happens again and again and again and you guys have to start off your comments with, "For those who are not Japanese, it might be hard to understand..."

"Rest In Peace, the Mother too."

So, you admit not knowing at all why the mother did what she did, but already feel bad for her. Sorry, but she should rot in hell. Not a WORD of sympathy for the husband or other family that survive this murderous woman, although you DO suggest they might be partly to blame. Now, I agree with you that society does not do enough, and it needs to start with the government, but again, we'll be reading another case like this tomorrow as long as you guys just fob it off as something normal for people in Japan, and that people "without Japanese heritage" can't understand. What we can't understand is how you sympathize with murderers and never learn.

DaDude: "Let the investigation finish before jumping to conclusions. Apparent murder-suicides can end up turning out to be murder by the husband. We should all know better by now."

Here we go -- dad again. Did you know they were also only potentially dead until they got to the hospital? If the dad, who got home and found him and yet is getting no sympathy from the people avoiding the obvious, were in any way being investigated, it would be clear. The investigation is just a formality.

RIP to the poor kids, who did not deserve the mom who murdered them. I've said it almost daily here, but if someone feels absolutely hopeless to the point where they see no way out but to die, do NOT take others with you! What a horrible thing for the father to come home to, and the family that survives them to suffer. What a selfish, evil woman.

What a sad story. Japanese reports include the father saying that the mother felt economic despair, but we cannot know their circumstances from the information available. The youngest child is still a baby, so that makes post-natal depression one of many potential factors. Apparently it lasts over a year in 50% of cases.

Stories about suicide in the Western press now usually end with contact information for support groups like the Samaritans. I think it would be good if Japan did that too.

apparent murder-suicide

Let the investigation finish before jumping to conclusions. Apparent murder-suicides can end up turning out to be murder by the husband. We should all know better by now.

This is mess up. If you want to die then that’s your business but why take all her chidren with her? She must have really hated her husband then.

The government is refusing to accept the fact that raising kids in Japan is becoming to much expensive and burden for parents that they have to come in to help.

The expense part I don’t really agree with you. I think if anyone is worried that they can’t afford to have kids, they shouldn’t.

But I would 100% agree that the Japanese government needs to offer much better assistance to those with mental issues, it is woefully lacking. Being a full time housewife, 3 kids and your husband working till late. Over time things will boil over.

The government is refusing to accept the fact that raising kids in Japan is becoming to much expensive and burden for parents that they have to come in to help.

The problem goes deeper than her just being a selfish witch. Hers was a problem rooted at the very heart of Japanese society. theoersoniamnow, above, said it perfectly

First of all, this happens everywhere on earth and for the same reasons...desperation, depression, revenge, hatred, etc.

I think in Japan when you are isolated or without friends and family it is more real and apparent due to the very exclusive, withdrawn, and group culture.

Japan also has no safety net for kidz that have no families. You will be doomed to never having a family and be treated quite bad and that’s why many mothers murder their children. It’s almost like a mercy kill in its application.

“Why is family on family violence common in Japan?”

Even to ask this question takes a certain amount of courage. Alas, too many here are so browbeaten and fearful of being labeled as someone unable to read the air that few hard questions are ever asked and such murder-suicides are the natural result of this cultural predilection for avoiding unpalatable reality. There is much to gain from encouraging a more forthright assertiveness in discussing the problems which bedevil people’s lives here.

After reading this all I have is a painful sadness....

Selfish woman, kill yourself not others.

@disillusioned

Why is it the government's fault that this woman did this? It's ridiculous to assign blame here since you have no idea about this woman's situation. And do you read the news from other countries? You seem to always imply that this only happens in Japan. No, it does not.

Horrific and tragic but this is not exclusive to Japan.

As TTD points out - we have no idea (as usual) as to the full details of this terrible story.

For those of us not with Japanese heritage, it is very difficult to comprehend Mothers also killing their children at time of suicide. But we should understand that there are different trains of thought in Japan. We have no idea why the Mother killed herself - if the husband was leaving her or having an affair and she had no other family support then I can understand the desperation. Or what if they were about to lose their home or had severe debts? Depression could also trigger it, especially if the husband is coming home at 6am and there is no interaction with his Wife anymore, and in Japan many Mothers will take their children at the time of suicide. In Japan it can be really difficult for a Mother to find government support or family support and whatever happened here she could obviously see no other way out. Very few of these Mothers intend to harm their children, that's not the point, she obviously reached end game. Rest In Peace, the Mother too.

I can't even imagine what's going on in the father's thoughts right now. Why is family on family violence common in Japan? Such a thing is a sacrilegious in any right

And that is enough internet for today. poor dad.

Yeah a country with happy people....huh?

Damn! I get so sick of reading about these kinds of events in Japan. It happens a couple of times every week! Parents killing kids. Kids killing parents. Brothers killing sisters. Sisters killing brothers. Cousins killing other family members. Does it ever end??? Kasumigaseki! We have a problem!