Police on Sunday arrested a woman for allegedly stabbing her 11-year-old son to death at their home in Marugame, Kagawa Prefecture. Police said they received a call at 4 a.m. from a truck driver reporting that his wife had stabbed their son.
Police found the boy unconscious on the living room floor with knife wounds to his chest. The 37-year-old mother was arrested at the scene and charged with attempted murder. The boy was taken to hospital where he died about two hours later, police said.
Police said the mother had slit her wrists and quoted her as saying that she wanted to die. She has so far given no motive for stabbing her son.
The family of five lived together in a small residential area located in the mountains five kilometers south of central Marugame. The father had just returned home from his shift, while the other family members were still asleep at the time of the crime.
© News reports
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Gurukun
"Other Family members"??? Does this mean other children? Aunts or uncles? Grand Parents? They didnt hear anything? Was it one of those ninja knives? Japan going to ban anything that cuts now?
chotto
Again...
maryhinge
Daily kids murder story. What a sick country this is.
KyokoSmile
as alwys,I'm with chotto. AGAIN.... and again, and again and again....
KyokoSmile
maryhinge at 08:55 AM JST - 21st June
Daily kids murder story. What a sick country this is.
and that's because you havent been here long enough yet, honey. :(
KyokoSmile
anyway, as horrible and macabre as this crime is, let's not forget this is japan, so please who wants to join me in the "she will just get a suspended sentence" pool?
TumbleDry
They always got the order wrong.
Kill yourself first, then the innocent one.
masterkun05
You dont try and kill yourself by cutting your wrists. Thats pure attention seeking on the womens part. Lady I am sure a there is a train line nearby coz you are welcome to jump on the tracks in front of a sonic or bullet train. Do the job properly please. Is there any other nation in the world where the women are so prone to killing and abusing there own children...........or other children they find in malls or on the street. Sick. Really sick.
Gurukun
I'm in! You know that's the only thing that's going to hhappen.
KyokoSmile
Is there any other nation in the world where the women are so prone to killing and abusing there own children...........or other children they find in malls or on the street. Sick. Really sick.
I gotta bow to you, this is it! You got it!
Rest in peace, young man. :(
shufu
how awful for the child involved. I wonder what happened... ? Family of 5 implies there were 2 more kids in the house? My money is on the 11 year old having some kind of learning difficulties or diasbility requiring him needing extra attention...
Masterkun05 - slitting your wrists can be fatal if you sever one of the big veins. You would just bleed out. Its a perfectly accepted form of suicide.
KaptainKichigai
Japan needs to open the door on the mental illness problem and make help more accessible BEFORE people slide into insanity. This is just a sympton of the declination of a culture/country. Wake up and make some changes.
KyokoSmile
shufu, you are right on that, though it takes a tremendous will, power and determination to cut through not only the skin but the muscle and tendons to get to that artery. I know, unfortunately.
well, this news just ruined my morning at work. A child was cold-blooded murdered, I lost my appetite and I can't wait to get home to hug and kiss my children. I'm heartbroken as usual. Thanks JT.
spudman
You clinked on the link. Seriously if you are so bummed out give up reading the news.
sandtrapcougar
Really sickening story and things like this happen way too often but those of you who think this is only a Japan problem need to venture out. I do agree, however, that Japan needs to do a better job at treating mental illness. God bless the boy and hopefully justice is served in this case.
lovejapan21
But Spudman..why cant they put the good news as headliners and then the killing parts hidn in other categories..i agree with kyoko
nath
I was enjoying my 11 year old son's sports game and had a Father's Day dinner, she was killing her kid and pretending to commit suicide.
Nice life, lady
MoBass4u
Such selfish thinking here. Maybe, just maybe another case of absentee husband, lonely neglected wife and "I'll show him" attitude. It hurts me to think of what went through that poor sweet childs head when the person he knew as his protector and provider suddenly started to hurt him. My mind reels when I read this sort of thing. Rest easy little one.
Frungy
Shufu
Mostly though people cut across, and the wound naturally closes on its own. Slitting your wrists is not a reliable means of suicide. Also, on a personal note, there is no such thing as "acceptable" suicide unless you've done something so horrible that you're just saving the taxpayers the cost of a trial and hanging. Generally speaking people commit suicide because they feel depressed, alone and that they can't cope. This is an incredibly bad reason to do it. Since this is an English comments section I'm including the Tokyo English Lifeline number. Call it if you're thinking about suicide or just want someone to talk your problems through with: 03-5774-0992 Free every day from 9am to 11pm.
dracpoo2
Everytime I see these headlines I grieve man. Has the government ever said anything that even suggests that they are aware of this seemingly growing problem???? if they did send me a link somebody. It makes no sense you work on policies to save or make money for a nation with no kids.
Monkeyz
If anything, I hope these types of stories put to rest the myth that "all women make wonderful mommies and lovelovelove children and babies are the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life if you're female." I don't like kids much, so I get tired of hearing variations on this.
I really wonder what the thinking was in this case. If everyone else was asleep, it seems like the boy and the mom had some kind of altercation, she got angry and stabbed him, and then realized what she'd done. It's just peculiar. Usually we see the murder-suicide where mom or dad kill all the kids, but that clearly wasn't the case here. Could have been overkill self defense, could have been anger, could have been a sudden snap from being stuck with three kids (assuming) in the mountains while dad drives a truck all over ...
smithinjapan
Sick. In this society it's hard enough to stop a person from taking their own lives, or dealing with depression, stress, and what have you -- there's just not enough support -- but I still think, and am not alone, that these people should kill THEMSELVES and not hurt others, if they insist on taking their own lives. And of course, it's usually an innocent child who bears the brunt of the adult's stupidity. RIP, little one.
ratpack
Is there more to this story other than the mother murdering her son?? What do we know about the son? Was he an angel? Was he a late night bike roamer? Was he making his mothers life a living hell and she just flipped out? Or was she just another one of these depressed mentally unstable people who just decide to go on a rampage?? Kyokosmile....I totally agree with both your posts....and i too join you.
DenDon
find a new hobby
sensei258
Who wants to bet she gets less time than the guy who killed that deer? Suspended sentence (because we understand your stress), so don't kill any more of your children in the next few years. Remember, you heard it here first.
nedinjapan
The problem here is that there are millions of cowards who go after the weakest people they can hurt, even if they be their own children, grandpa, grandma, .... Courage is not a characteristic of value in the modern Japanese society. They never go after someone their own size; that sounds scary or stupid to them. I dont think they are mentally ill to the level they dont understand their actions; they actually think carefully who they can hurt and get away with!
KyokoSmile
spudman, dendo... meh thinks people who have no kids usually come up with this sort of things. enjoy your drink.
KyokoSmile
Whoopps, I meant to say: "people who hates kids..."
Personally I know a bunch a people who have NO kids and would be disgusted by this CRIME.
netrek
What is wrong with Japan society!? Seems every single week on JT I read of a poor child being killed by their own family or injured by some random person. ToT Really terrible!
fishy
this family has 3 children, but only this 11-year-old boy who was killed was this woman's biological child. the other 2 kids are from the husband's previous marriage. according to the husband, he heard the woman yell "you should not live" 〔生きとったらあかん)beofore he heard the boy scream. SELFISH WOMAN.. she cut her wrist while the husband was trying to take care of the boy.. I strongly believe she cut her wrist knowing she was not going to die (someone ---> husband would rescue her).
fishy
continued from my previous post --- And if for some reason the situations were not good for the boy in the family, why did she not take him with her and move out? I mean, as a mother, protecting your own child should come in first.. so, whatever excuse she might tell the police, I am not going to forgive what she has done (not that she ever needs me to forgive her, but as a mother myself, I am very angry about the selfish action she has taken)
DenDon
wrong. just common sense, give it a go
fishy
Sorry a little mistake (my post at 12:17pm). The woman didn't say you shouldn't live before she killed the son, she yelled SHE shouldn't live to the police officer who came to the house after the husband dialed 110.
Either way, she is a selfish woman and I would not want to call her a mother because REAL MOTHERS DO NOT HURT OUR CHILDREN. We'd hurt ourself to protect our children.
4icejp
Sad that the father didn't detect anything earlier strange in his wife. Fathers in Japan have lost their sense of fatherhood and role as good husbands, only cared about the "bread and butter". I think it's not only this woman to blame, but also the father should bear responsibility.
This society is sick because the family, which is the unit of the society is broken.
wontond
It would be nice to go one week without a parent killing their offspring somewhere in Japan.
yasukuni
I assume that some Japanese mothers want to die, but think that their children would be better off dead than living without their mother who suicided. Is that it? Someone should explain that a better option is to let the children decide for themselves.
Another Japanese woman in her 30's. These women are scary. 30's Japanese women are the most spoilt, self-absorbed group of people I know.
sensei258
I predict a suspended sentence, because the judge will have sympathy for her.
norinrad21
I predict your prediction
KyokoSmile
DenDon at 12:27 PM JST - 21st June
meh thinks people who have no kids usually come up with this sort of things. enjoy your drink.
wrong. just common sense, give it a go
nope, I was referring to the both (spudman) of you making comments that have nothing to do with this terrible news, that is lack of common sense I say. Have some respect for the victim.
DenDon
I was trying to help you out. if news like this bums you out so much you should find a new hobby or spend more time with your own kids
KyokoSmile
Don't you get it? It's not up to you what I do or don't do. The fact that I come here and post on this thread should be enough. I don't come here expecting something from you or Taro. Let's keep this thread FOCUSED on the news article, shall we?
gaijinfo
Why on earth do they close suicide lines? Do they really think that people are going to plan ahead and schedule some time to call and chat about their plans to off themsevles?
Disillusioned
Ah, so you've met my wife. You left out egocentric, bigotry and megalomaniacal.
Sad that every week I have to endure yet another one of the attacks. Poor kid!chotto
Isn't anyne sad that this women felt driven to commit this horrendous, selfish, cruel act?
fussagaijin
Of course these things happen all over the world, however the amount of fratricide in Japan is alarming. Definitely a country in need of serious mental health care....
shufu
Frungy, I appreciate your gesture in putting that number up for all those needing help. However I think my word choice was wrong, for that I apologize, however I dont think you really should be giving me a slap on the wrist and little lectures for my comment when someone wrote that -
Surely comments like this by MasterKun - that people who try to kill themselves are simply attention seekers - are more dangerous than my bad vocabulary?
Elbuda Mexicano
Another horrible! Sad news! What made this woman so despondent?? RIP little boy!
bicultural
And yet I get along so well with my in-laws I'm about to move in with them. This type of news is very distressing for my Japanese wife too, but I just hate these over-generalized comments about how every Japanese person is mentally sick.
Rico808
bicultural - I don't think the generalization is that Japanese people are mental cases. Although there was something about women in their 30's being unable to cope with the realities of this world.
I think the overwhelming feeling is that Japan (being a first world country) has an alarming number of murders related to mental illness and family issues. In comparison to other countries who are dealing with war, poverty, starvation, disease or drugs, it seems like quite an anomaly. It really needs to be looked at, and soon.
VelvetRosetta
So much drama on here, this is a serious situation...I personally am not familiar with japan suicide cases, or with the mental health care either, but one thing I have heard from many Japanese friends that Is that mental illnesses are looked down on in Japan, and its a shame, no country or race, is exposed to this, it is as common and depression which considered an illness, this woman was obviously in need of drastic help, for a deep depression, ppl explode at times... and No..I am not defending her, but I am not saying that I do not feel sorry for what she was going threw that made her turn to such horrific actions, she is in need of mental health care, and for someone to cut there wrists, thats not looking for attention, its from desperation..its called not wanting to live! As well as i hope for her to seek medical attention, i also wish to serve time for het actions...i dont believe mental ill persons should get off so easily...with a slap on the wrist and some medical treatment..She deserves to go to jail.I hope that the system does its job correctly and dont just let her off with a warning!
irishosaru
How is it that in these situations, rhe parent always manages to kill the child all right, but only manages to wound themself?
They should kill themself first, and make sure they've done it right, before moving on to the child.
roomtemperature
"Ah, so you've met my wife. You left out egocentric, bigotry and megalomaniacal."
I will tell your wife you talk about her like that, Disillusioned!