national

Mother, 2 children dead after car goes into sea at Oita port

32 Comments

A 45-year-old woman and her two young children were found dead in their car after it drove off a pier into the sea in Saiki, Oita Prefecture, on Friday night.

According to police, the car was seen parked at a pier at the Nabuto fishing port for a few hours on Friday evening., Fuji TV reported. Then at around 8:30 p.m., a witness called 110 to report that the car drove off the pier and plunged into the sea.

Police said the car was pulled out from water about two meters deep, some 10 meters from the pier. The woman, Hinako Kimoto, her son Tsuyoshi, 10, and her daughter Shoko, 8, were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, including the possibility of murder-suicide.

© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

32 Comments
Login to comment

There is no way this much infanticide we here reported in Japan is normal - what is going on? Is this acceptable to the Japanese public?

5 ( +11 / -6 )

how can this be! Japan is a very safety country! seems Japanese children have more chance dieing at the hands of there parents either by murder/suicide or incompetence/unsupervised.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

QJapan is no more nor less safe when it comes family or love/relationship crimes than the rest of the world.

We are all Humans with our good and bad points, granted culture/religion plays a point too.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

It"S MEMAR. 05, 2016 - 03:47PM JST

QJapan is no more nor less safe when it comes family or love/relationship crimes than the rest of the world. We are all Humans with our good and bad points, granted culture/religion plays a point too

You would think, but I read news in different countries (Uk, US, NZ, AU) a lot I NEVER see the frequency of infanticide as often as I do in Japanese news - what is going on? Is there anything being done?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

sad news

8 ( +8 / -0 )

granted culture/religion plays a point too. yes and mostly its the Japanese culture that causes the mental heath issues that plague Japan. Unfortunaelty culture/religion almost always trumps common sense and progress.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, including the possibility of murder-suicide.

Possibility? I'd say it's a given! There must be a special place in hell for people who kill their children.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

If it was suicide, very unfortunate that the children were not spared.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Sad news.

Without needing to speculate on this particular incident, there do seem to be a lot of news stories that make you wonder whether Japan has the required safety net for children whose parents cannot cope. In the West, I think it is more of a given that some people are incapable of bringing up children or are simply abusive and shouldn't be allowed to. In either case, the state needs to step in.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Is this acceptable to the Japanese public?

Probably not. But then indifference seems to be the prevailing attitude of Japanese society. Sure, there is a vocal, minority protesting many issues plaguing the country, but the vast majority seems content to just mind their own business.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

but I read news in different countries (Uk, US, NZ, AU) a lot I NEVER see the frequency of infanticide as often as I do in Japanese news - what is going on?

What's going on is there's less other news such as mass shootings and terrorism. If you want to make a comparison, check statistics, rather than relying on your vague impressions from news reports. Do you have any statistics to support your claim?

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

The chances were high that they committed murder-suicide. Nonetheless, we have to wait for the results of the police investigation. RIP.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

NessieMAR. 05, 2016 - 06:33PM JST but I read news in different countries (Uk, US, NZ, AU) a lot I NEVER see the frequency of infanticide as often as I do in Japanese news - what is going on?

What's going on is there's less other news such as mass shootings and terrorism. If you want to make a comparison, check statistics, rather than relying on your vague impressions from news reports. Do you have any statistics to support your claim?

Disagree - if this happened in the UK, NZ, AU or even the US it would be big news and whether there were other things going on in the news or otherwise. And statistics can indeed be helpful but there are often too many variables to be reliable; how does this country measure murder? How often are autopsies performed? We know few are conducted in Japan.

I would like to see statistics too. Are there also cultural aspects at play - we know suicide is traditionally seen as heroic and a real solution, and according to academic papers and the internet there is a long tradition of infanticide in Japan. http://www.amazon.com/Mabiki-Infanticide-Population-Eastern-1660-1950/dp/0520272439

I'm concerned.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

The ages are similar across countries but they uses different terminologies, most human in a similar case will act similar just sometjing build into us and it don:t come from creed, culture, upbringing, what ever = the animal Instinct takes over.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

most human in a similar case will act similar just something build into us and it don:t come from creed, culture, upbringing, what ever

Not when it comes to ending one's life. For people with Abrahamic faiths or atheists, they believe there is only one life to live, whereas people of faiths that believe in incarnation think they will be reborn and get a fresh start in life again. This difference can have a profound impact on whether someone chooses suicide as a way of dealing with issues in life.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

To paraphrase: The air is running out and you are definitely sinking much too low, Japan.

The Japanese need to sort themselves out... However, when presented with options they invariably choose the worst of the lot. Sad.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Tragic event but not confined to Japan only, read many similar reports on similar topics from overseas.

Anyway RIP may they rest in peace

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Another mother of the year murders her kids. Break out the pity party to come to her aid. It'll somehow be "delayed PPD" or so,etching equally ridiculous, according to them. RIP to the little ones, but if it is indeed suicide, which it sounds like, may the mother rot in hell.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Igloobuers

You would think, but I read news in different countries (Uk, US, NZ, AU) a lot I NEVER see the frequency of infanticide as often as I do in Japanese news - what is going on? Is there anything being done?

You probably don't see that much in the UK,US and AUS because they spend more time covering shootings,stabbings,rapes,racial incidents and terrorism,drug busts,etc etc. You also have to take into account the relative incidents compared to the general population.Im sure there are way more in the US than japan but nobody really cares about it in the US.I'm sure CNN would rather go on about another cop shooting,racial incident or as in the UK another kid stabbing another kid at school. Yes you will see a lot of children being killed.Just look at the UK today.Stabbed pregnant mother,primary kids with knives, 16 year old stabbed. Another reason you won't hear about these suicides in the press is because it can also give people ideas about committing suicide if they are vulnerable. This is why you never hear about people jumping off big bridges in the UK. As for the US,how many kids get shot? or actually shoot someone,and still blame mental health or poor health care.

Here is a break down of suicide murder rates in the US. http://www.vpc.org/studies/amroul2012.pdf

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

@Yukiman

You probably don't see that much in the UK,US and AUS because they spend more time covering shootings,stabbings,rapes,racial incidents and terrorism,drug busts,etc etc. I'm sure CNN would rather go on about another cop shooting,racial incident or as in the UK another kid stabbing another kid at school. Yes you will see a lot of children being killed.Just look at the UK today.Stabbed pregnant mother,primary kids with knives, 16 year old stabbed. Another reason you won't hear about these suicides in the press is because it can also give people ideas about committing suicide if they are vulnerable. This is why you never hear about people jumping off big bridges in the UK. As for the US,how many kids get shot? or actually shoot someone,and still blame mental health or poor health care.

I'm guessing you are joking here, or just exaggerating wildly. The only thing correct here though is there are fewer incidents of drug busts and shootings in Japan compared to the US. All the other things happen plenty in Japan (i.e. stabbings, rapes [not openly reported though in Japan], racial incidents etc.)

Again, a murder-suicide of a mother and her two children or any other infanticide is going to be big news no matter where you are.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Disagree - if this happened in the UK, NZ, AU or even the US it would be big news and whether there were other things going on in the news or otherwise.

My friend and her two daughters were shot to death in the U.S. by her husband, who then killed himself. It barely made the papers.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Husband messing about and maybe leaving them would be my guess.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

People trying to defend Japan. By now its becoming a problem that the country can no longer ignore. Its only a matter of time before the worls notices, and further lowers Japan's human rights rankings on child abuse (currently equal to that of non developed nations)

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

@ Smith, at least we both agree on this point.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

NessieMAR. 05, 2016 - 09:51PM JST Disagree - if this happened in the UK, NZ, AU or even the US it would be big news and whether there were other things going on in the news or otherwise. My friend and her two daughters were shot to death in the U.S. by her husband, who then killed himself. It barely made the papers.

Anecdotal at best and unbelievable at worst. There may have been some reason the media weren't able to report it. My Japanese wife's sister was raped at the age of 5 in a local Tokyo park. The local media totally ignored that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The mom couldn't cope with life anymore for reasons we do not know. She wanted out. She didn't want her beloved kids live alone in a cruel world by themselves. In her religious beliefs, taking the kids with her was the right and only thing to do.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

So murdering your kids is okay as long as you think you have a good reason?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Does the Japanese culture still endorse the theory of suicide is honourable? as we here in the west call it cowardly? which is right or wrong the debate will roll on for some time, I am surprised that Japan does not have any sort of help for people that are struggling or not copping with life. I am very annoyed that she's killed her children, could she not have asked for help? did she ask for help? as for the children could have been left with her grand parents or her parents. don't local communities have self help groups? Is there a net work of professionals how can help people that are not copping? if not why not? In the UK we have a voluntary team called "Citizens advice" these are maned by professional (ex) and non professional people, they can help with giving out advice on dept problems, marriage, and social security problems, these people can cut through all of the red tape and bureaucracy. simple thing like these make a world of difference to some people.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

My impression of similar events which occur fairly regularly where I live is that either (a) the parent has mental health issues, i.e. depression,or (b) he or she is a control freak or a psychopath involved in a relationship breakdown, can't get all their own way over custody, and decide that if they can't have the kids as much as they want, then no one will. Whatever the reason, it's a totally despicable act.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@YAKIMAN love how people try to defend Japan by saying the US this the US that LOL, Japan has less than half the population of the US yet it has almost double the number of suicides than the annual US murder rate. taking into account the huge number of gun owners and the ease in which people can take there or anothers life. Now just imagine if Japan had this many gun owners, add to that the mental health problems with its population. Japans suicide and murder rate would go through the roof.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Does the Japanese culture still endorse the theory of suicide is honourable? as we here in the west call it cowardly?

Yes they do

I am surprised that Japan does not have any sort of help for people that are struggling or not copping with life.

Why surprised? Have you ever been here? To suffer (gaman) is to be honorable and admirable.

I am very annoyed that she's killed her children, could she not have asked for help? did she ask for help?

See above. If she did, she was probably told to ganbatte.

as for the children could have been left with her grand parents or her parents. don't local communities have self help groups?

Not if the grandparents tell her it's not their problem and to "ganbatte". After all, they had to suffer through it. Why can't she? Local communities usually don't have self help groups. There is no demand, as few people ask for help.

Is there a net work of professionals how can help people that are not copping? if not why not?

There may be some small networks set up with no funding that people generally don't know about. They don't exist because of lack of perceived demand, lack of time to run such volunteer groups or participate in them because people work such long hours here, and the culture of minding ones own business, and having ones own sh1t to deal with.

In the UK we have a voluntary team called "Citizens advice" these are maned by professional (ex) and non professional people, they can help with giving out advice on dept problems, marriage, and social security problems, these people can cut through all of the red tape and bureaucracy. simple thing like these make a world of difference to some people.

That has changed then since I was there, when the Citizens Advice Bureau was more dealing with consumer affairs than anything else. But see above for why it does not exist here.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

NathalieB thank you for your insight and thought, Aaaar yes I can see now and why this has happened, if this is the case it will carry on happening until the culture/attitude has changed. its the old chicken and egg sanario, I have visited Japan on two occasions, but on a holliday basis not to live,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites