Tokiko Goto, 55, mother of former Morning Musume member Maki Goto, 24, died on Saturday night after falling out of a third-floor window of her Edogawa Ward home, police confirmed Monday.
Tokiko came home at about 10:30 p.m. after going out drinking and chatted briefly with Maki before heading up to the third floor. Tokiko fell out of the window of her son's bedroom - who is currently in prison for a robbery and assault committed in September 2007 - about half an hour later, falling some seven meters to the ground below.
Maki heard a thud outside and found her mother lying on the road, bleeding from her head. Tokiko was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead just after 1 a.m. Sunday morning. No note was found but police have not ruled out suicide.
Dates on memorial services have not been announced.
© Japan Today
26 Comments
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sensei258
She had been out drinking. Maybe she was in a daze, didn't realize the window was open, and fell out accidentally. How can you be so sure it wasn't a terrible accident? Damn, at least do some cursory investigating before you close the case.
movieguy
In my time here I think it's fairly common for people who commit suicide to NOT leave a note, but does anyone know if Japanese people normally leave suicide notes???
dolphingirl
Who would commit suicide by jumping from a third-floor window? Seems very strange. Isn't it plausible that it was a drunken accident? Hope they bother to find out the truth.
noirgaijin
I think there is more to this story to be told; out drinking, "chatted with Maki before heading up stairs" and then falling out of a window. Too many variables there.
Makun
Based on the little information provided, it seems possible this could be a simple miscalculation of impaired motor skills. It's possible she was gathering laundry outside and lost her balance. We wont know the details until they are provided. Either way a loss of life is the end result. My thoughts go out to Maki and her family.
Jkanda
Suicide or not, I think everyone needs a litle bit of that extra love. I wish people all over the world realise this. No matter the age or background, but it is nice to have something nice to say to warm the hearts of the people you care about.
Betting
A terrible blow to the remaining members of the family. I hope things improve for both Maki and her brother.
some14some
RIP
goddog
The woman might have been just getting some fresh air and leaned out a bit too far and took a dive. Happens.
Cos
I don't think many people try to really suicide from the 3rd floor. It's a bit low, too many chances to miss yourself. But well, some jump because they are crazy, on drugs, drunk, walking in their sleep, walking back as they are fighting with someone, lose their balance while they try to catch some laundry taken away by the wind, or they are just plain stupid (real case in my family, he survived and he is still stupid). Well, I would often jump the 5 meters from my bedroom when I was a (grounded) teenager, and never got a scratch, but someone less trained could manage to land on their neck and break it. Many possibilities.
pawatan
Geez, poor Maki has had a rough past few years. Very sad for her! I hope it was just a tragic accident.
Marius2
Come on now: out of her arrested- and defamed sons room. No note? No need. The reason seems pretty obvious to most. But keep believing alcohol is hallucinogenic, people. The mental health of society will seem to be doing just fine.
Livvie
This article is a little too brief. The story was on television and on other English news sites from early this morning. Whoever wrote this failed to mention that as Tokiko 'chatted briefly' to Maki and her older sister, she was drunk and mentioned wanting to kill herself as she went upstairs to the third floor. Less than thirty minutes later Maki and her sister heard a thud and found their mother on the street. She later passed away in the hospital. They were going around and interviewing people in the neighbourhood. and everyone said that she was always so cheerful and pleasant and not the type of person to commit suicide. Whether she fell or committed suicide, is still unknown but this is such a sad story.
norinrad21
This story sounds very fishie, never the less, RIP little lady
Livvie
A few of the people they interviewed said that the biggest worry on her mind, something that she was always talking about, was her son and what was going to happen to him once he got released from prison
nemoflow
Good.
Less tax for me.
temporaryVisa
That's terrible. Maki's mother was a very generous and kind person. She ran her own izakaya in Edogawa. I met her and Maki's older sister there a few years ago. Really rough on the girls having already lost their father in a mountain climbing accident. I hope they're getting the support they deserve.
XXXXX
I'm sorry but neighbors always say things like that. Consider how much neighbors interact with each other here. I can't help sensing the irony. It's still tragic, I agree.
memyselfI
Cannot rule out suicide, why didn't she walk her mother inisde her house. How do you know for sure this story is true. It's real embarrassing to have a loved one commit suicide. Many people try to cover it up.
Blue_Tiger
Prayers for Maki's family and loved ones.
anderstungtwist
Now I've got a new reason for turning down a drink.
gogogo
Have they ruled out murder? Who falls out of a window in the middle of winter, no window would be open in winter!
GG2141
Seriously!? Dad fell off a mountain and Mom fell from the 3rd floor??
XXXXX
these neighbors were really born yesterday werent they
ptolemy
@ XXXXX
Well this is Nippon. 90% of the public acts like they born last night actually, yesterday is too much of a compliment. Live here a while, you'll see.
fubroshi
wow how bizarre....
not a accident in my opinion.... but a tragedy none the less
i hope the Goto family stays strong. Japanese society can be rough, foreigner or not.