Mother, son arrested over abduction of 13-year-old Toyama girl

If she went of her own accord, it's not kidnapping. Don't know why they "confessed" so quickly. I'd have liked to be present during the interrogation.

This is so strange it must be a poor translation. If she was not being held she was not kidnapped. She may have been intimidated or coerced, but it's very difficult to say from this article. Coercing young girls (and boys) on the Internet is an offense in other countries and it's called, grooming. They have a police squad in Australia who pose as minors on social media sites and messaging apps to catch these 'groomers'. However, I don't even know if it's an offense in Japan. Strange!

Funny that the mom was in on it. She should have slapped some sense (figure of speech, I'm not advocating violence) into her son instead. I can just hear them...

"Hey Ryokun, go to the store and buy some daikon, and miso"..."Okay okasan"..."oh, and on the way back, pick up a girl to help me around the house"...

It almost sounds like the mother neglected the daughter and somehow wanted to suto adopt the girl, I mean there is so little information, who knows the motives, I know of cases where there was nothing sinister behind something, but who knows.

I was watching the news with a group of Japanese friends while eating and they all guffawed at this story. They too, were wondering what the heck, "They Confessed," to a kidnapping meant. Sounds like typical Police/ Prosecutor going for some low hanging fruit, (individuals with low cognitive skills).

You can't just adopt someone's 13-year-old daughter! Still, just how good is she at housework? Not enough details!

Odd, she seemed to be there of her own accord. I do not get it.

She is 13. The family can't have her at home without her parents consent. It's obviously a kidnapping.

In the news I heard that she told the police that she left home after an argument and has been in subsequent messaging contact with her own family.

The guy, whom she had met through online gaming, expressed symapthy for her by texting such things as 俺に甘えろ, ie "Throw yourself at me", or " say or do whatever you like but I will always be kind and sweet to you".

one chat exchange reveals a message that reads, “Come over here and you can depend on me for everything”

俺に甘えろ ----- you can behave like a spoilt child with me

Enticing a THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD minor to run away from home and then claiming that she "consented" is pretty sick behaviour.

Maybe she was a smart 13 year old and actually hijacked the mother and son and got everything she ever desired!

Enticing a THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD minor to run away from home and then claiming that she "consented" is pretty sick behaviour.

Yeah. And some posters say the sexual exploitation of teenybopper Lolita music culture has nothing to do with this behavior. (sheesh...)

WC: Explain

WC: Explain

You actually think that comment needs explaining? You live in Japan, right...?

If the man was intending to "groom" her or if there was any sort of sexual contact, there should be punishment meted out to the man and the mother as an accomplice. Even if there is no evidence, at the very least, they should be put on some sort of watch list regardless of intent. People should have no business in taking in strangers' children without the proper court procedures.

However, if the girl was there completely on her own accord, this should not be called kidnapping, especially if she was maintaining contact with her family as someone commented. This can lead to a very slippery slope, such as a teenager running away from home and going to a friends house to stay for some time. Would the friend's parents be considered kidnappers?

Doesn´t sound like much a kidnapping --- more like a teenage runaway.