Driver arrested after car hits mother, daughter on bike, killing girl
There have been too many of these driver related hit and runs lately in Japan.
JUN. 05, 2013 - TOKYO —
The 72-year-old driver of a car has been arrested after he hit a 35-year-old woman and her 2-year-old daughter riding a bicycle in Komae, Tokyo. The girl died as a result of injuries, police said.
The incident occurred at around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Fuji TV reported. Witnesses were quoted as saying the car and the bicycle were going in the same direction along a narrow road with no sidewalks. The car veered left, hitting the bike from behind and dragged it for about 100 meters before hitting a wall.
Takako Hattori and her 2-year-old daughter Ayako were knocked off the bike. Police said Ayako suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at hospital. Her mother remained in a critical condition on Wednesday.
The driver, Toshio Takahashi, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, Fuji TV reported. He was quoted by police as saying that he hunched over because he had an acute stomach ache and that’s when he hit the bicycle. He said he then mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
Japan Today
39-year-old man arrested for beating 1-month-old son to death
MAY. 22, 2013 – AITAMA —
Police said Wednesday they have arrested a 39-year-old man over the death of his 1-month-old baby son in Konosu, Saitama Prefecture.
According to police, the man, who has been named as Yuji Obaku, was investigated after his son Ryuto was taken to hospital and diagnosed with brain damage in early March, NTV reported. Staff at the hospital advised police that the boy’s injuries may have been caused by violence.
Following a police investigation, Obaku was accused of seizing the infant by the head and slamming him into a futon mattress. Police say Obaku also shook the boy repeatedly.
Obaku and his 27-year-old wife already had two children before Ryuto, police said. It is currently unknown whether Obaku’s other children also suffered from assault or mistreatment.
During police questioning, Obaku was quoted by police as saying: “I got angry because he wouldn’t stop crying.”
Japan Today
Kumamoto baby hatch says it received 9 infants in fiscal 2012
MAY. 23, 2013 - KUMAMOTO —
Jikei Hospital, which offers to anonymously accept children from parents who feel they cannot raise their children, has released a report on the number of babies left in its baby hatch.
Jikei Hospital Board Chairman Taiji Hasuda said the catholic hospital’s baby hatch received nine babies between April 2012 and March this year, TBS reported Thursday.
According to the hospital, seven of the mothers who put their babies into the hospital’s care also provided their addresses. One of those was from Kumamoto, and this year for the first time a parent traveled from Hokkaido to seek help.
The hospital said that it received 17 infants in 2007, 25 in 2008, 15 in 2009, 18 in 2010, 8 in 2011, bringing the total to 92 since it started the service. It added that exactly half of the babies were male and half female.
Information taken from parents reveals that three of the children were born in Kyushu, two in the Chugoku region of western Honshu, one from Hokkaido, and two from undisclosed locations. Jikei said that new family registers were drawn up for the children by the Kumamoto city authorities, TBS reported.
Kumamoto City Mayor Seishi Koyama said, “We are beginning to see babies brought in from far afield and some for whom information about their place of birth was not provided. We are looking into the safety considerations around women driving long distances alone immediately after giving birth at home, as well as the legal issues surrounding individuals whose place of birth is unknown.”
Over the years, people have left the babies at the hospital for some bizarre reasons. One woman left her baby there because she wanted to study abroad; in another case, a woman tried to use the hatch as a temporary babysitting service while she worked and, in a third case, a man who was given custody of his nephew, embezzled the boy’s inheritance before abandoning him in the hatch. The system has been subject to misuse since its inception, after a man left a 3-year-old preschooler in the hatch on the day it opened.
Japan Today
Man kills 3 family members, then himself
May. 17, 2013 – CHIBA —
Police said Friday they have found four dead bodies in an apartment in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, in what is believed to have been a family murder-suicide.
Fuji TV reported that a building manager discovered the bodies of two adults and two children in the apartment at about 2 p.m. on Thursday and informed the police.
According to police, Shino Nonaka, 39, her 12-year-old daughter Ayane and 10-year-old son Junpei were each found lying dead on their futons. Police said all three had bruising on their necks consistent with strangulation.
Shino’s husband, Kenji, 43, was found strangled to death by a length of rope attached to a doorknob.
Police say that the apartment had been locked from the inside and that no signs of forced entry could be found, leading them to believe that Kenji Nonaka murdered his family before committing suicide.
Japan Today
Woman held for throwing 2-yr-old daughter from 4th-floor balcony
SAITAMA —Crime May. 05, 2013
Police on Saturday arrested a 31-year-old woman for allegedly throwing her two-year-old daughter from the 4th-floor balcony of their apartment in Ageoshi, Saitama Prefecture.
According to police, an eyewitness called authorities at 9:30 a.m. Saturday to report that a woman had thrown a child from the balcony. Police rushed to the scene and found the child lying on the ground.
Fuji TV reported that she remains in a coma in hospital. The girl fell a distance of about 10 meters, police were quoted as saying.
The mother, who is Chinese, was quoted by police as saying she was sorry for doing such a terrible thing, but gave no motive.
Her husband, who is Chinese, was out at the time. The couple also has a 1-year-old son who was home at the time of the incident.
Japan Today
22-year-old mother arrested after infant’s body found in her room
Crime May. 11, 2013 – SAPPORO —
Police on Friday arrested a 22-year-old woman after the remains of her newborn son were discovered in her bedroom in Sapporo.
According to police, the suspect, identified as Saya Kano, works as a nurse. Fuji TV reported that she apparently gave birth at her home at the beginning of March. Her mother entered her room on Thursday night and discovered the baby’s remains wrapped in a towel and notified police.
Kano, who is a single mother, was with friends at a karaoke parlor where she was picked up by police about two hours later, Fuji reported.
Japan Today
Man arrested for killing his 2 teenage children
Crime May. 15, 2013 HIROSHIMA —
Police on Tuesday arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of stabbing to death his two teenage children at their home in Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture.
According to police, the suspect, identified as Masamichi Nakasone, a company employee, called 110 at around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and reported that he had stabbed his two children to death. Fuji TV reported that emergency services and police rushed to the scene and found the two children—his 17 year-old daughter Haruka and his 13-year-old son Masaya—bleeding from stab wounds. They were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Police said Nakasone was found with stab wounds to his stomach and believe he tried to commit suicide. He is in a stable condition in hospital, Fuji quoted police as saying.
Nakasone was recently separated from his wife and looking after their two children. His boss at work was quoted as saying he had not appeared well recently and was stressed out, while a neighbor said that he seemed to be a wonderful father.
Police said they will wait for Nakasone to recover before questioning him.
Japan Today
Woman tries to kill son while husband, 3 kids sleep in same room
Japan Today Mar. 25, 2013 SAITAMA —
Police said Monday they have arrested a woman after her husband allegedly caught her trying to strangle to death one of her children in the night at their home in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture.
According to police, 29-year-old Miho Shinohara was asleep with her husband and four children when the incident took place at around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Fuji TV reported. Shinohara’s husband awoke to find her strangling their eldest son, a 4-year-old boy, with an electrical cable, police said.
The couple’s son was taken to hospital where doctors say his condition is not serious. Shinohara has reportedly confessed to attempted murder, although police say her motive is still under investigation.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Japan’s Potential Ratification of the Hague Convention: An Update
Friday, March 15, 2013The issue of Japan’s joining the Hague Convention is still controversial in Japan. Many members of the Diet are flatly opposed to the treaty on the ground that it will lead to the imposition of “Western thinking” on family relationships in Japan, i.e. that it might lead to the intervention of the courts into the private life of families, to the issuance of judicial orders concerning family matters that can be enforced by the power of the state, and to both parents having meaningful rights to their children after a divorce or separation.
When most other countries have joined the Convention the United States could choose whether or not to accept the accession. If a country has not enacted satisfactory legislation designed to effectively enforce the terms of the Convention other countries need not accept the accession. Such is the case with Thailand, which acceded to the Convention in 2002 but has not yet enacted implementing legislation satisfactory to the United States or several other countries. By contrast, as an original member of the Hague Conference, Japan will not be acceding to the Convention, but will ratify it which will trigger its immediate entry into force without any place for international review.
Man arrested for shaking 6-month-old daughter to death
MAR. 05, 2013 -FUKUI —Police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 6-month-old daughter at their home in Sabae, Fukui Prefecture.
Fuji TV reported Monday that the man, who has been named as Yuji Yagi, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of violently shaking his baby daughter’s head at their apartment in June of last year. The girl was taken to hospital unconscious and eventually passed away in December.
The assault was uncovered when doctors could not find any obvious physical injuries and reported the child’s death as suspicious. Police questioned Yagi, who admitted to abusing his daughter, Fuji reported.
Yagi was arrested on a charge on manslaughter. Police said they are planning to investigate whether the girl was routinely being abused.
Japan Today
NPA refers record number of child abuse victims to consultation centers in 2012
MAR. 09, 2013 TOKYO —The National Police Agency (NPA) said this week that officers referred a record high 16,387 child abuse victims to child consultation centers nationwide in 2012 last year.
According to the NPA, the figures, which mark a 42.1% increase on the previous year, are the highest since records began in 2004, when just 962 referrals were made. The 2012 figure, a 17-fold increase on that number, has been attributed to improved public awareness over the issue and an increased focus on addressing child abuse cases at an early stage in cooperation with child consultation centers, said an agency official.
Fuji TV reported that of the total, 8,266 children under 18 years of age were referred due to having suffered psychological abuse. Around 65% of psychological abuse cases, totaling 5,431, involved one parent physically assaulting the other in the presence of the child. In addition, 5,222 referrals were on behalf of victims of physical abuse, Fuji reported.
The NPA also announced that 2,736 referrals were made on behalf of children left unfed or otherwise uncared for, while 163 were for children who had suffered sexual abuse.
The NPA said that police forces refer victims of abuse to child consultation centers, who are then tasked with taking steps to protect the children, such as taking them into protective custody and providing counseling to parents.
Japan Today
Things Japan can learn from Moracco about the Hague Convention
Japan and Morocco are quite similar in some ways. Morroco took some steps recently to become a Hague signatory. It would be wise if Japan followed their lead. Of the 146,408 divorces in Japan in 2009, only 3.6% involved both parents taking part in child rearing. Japan’s system seems to favor sole-custody, but Morocco had a very similar system that valued one parent, usually the mother, under Shari’a law. Although Morocco allowed the father to make important decisions about the child, such as where the mother and child could live and whether the child could travel abroad, all decisions regarding daily functions and routine care were left to the mother, essentially creating a sole custody system, similar to that of Japan. Both systems included matrifocal tendencies. While Japan’s Civil Code typically breaks custody into shinken and kangoken, the Moroccan Code of Personal Status similarly divides custody into hadana and wilaya. Morocco successfully uprooted its custody system and allowed joint responsibility to be established among parents, as one parent was given hadana and the other wilaya. In Japan, the same ideology should be adopted. Instead of granting one parent parental rights and physical custody, efforts should be made to grant shinken to one parent and kangoken to the other to allow for increased responsibility for both parents and bring about an understanding of joint custody.
Second, Japanese courts, or the Japanese Diet, need to establish visita- tion as a fundamental right. One of the key reforms Morocco made to join the Hague Convention was to establish visitation rights. However, these rights were already inherent within the Moroccan system as such meas- ures were implied when Moroccan mothers were prohibited from moving away from the father so that the father could have access to the child. Similarly, in Japan, an understanding of the psychological benefits of visitation on the child is already taking root. Courts have even granted visitation rights in some cases, but have made the rights extremely limited. It is time for Japan to push this notion and make visitation rights funda- mental within the constitutional system.
Third, Japan needs to dissolve its current registration system, or at the very least, modify the system. Allowing a child to be taken off a father’s register when a mother changes her name after divorce, resulting in the loss of parental rights for the father, is abhorrent. The registration system should be discarded completely or altered so that the child’s name will remain under both parents’ registers, regardless of the marital status of the parents. Such changes will bring Japan one step closer psychologically to joint parental responsibility.
Fourth, in order to comply with the Hague Convention, services must be available to ensure the return of children to their habitual place of residence. Like Morocco, Japan should implement law enforcement mechanisms to find abducted children and return the children safely. Fortunately Article 226 of the Japanese Penal Code is already in effect to return abducted children. The Japanese government needs to force Japanese law enforcement officers to comply with Article 226 to ensure abducted children are returned home.
Lastly, before signing the Hague Convention, Morocco entered into specific bilateral agreements to resolve familial disputes with neighboring countries to promote collaboration and global cooperation. In an effort to ease global tension, Japan would be strongly urged to do the same with the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Canada, as these four countries have repeatedly called on Japan to increase efforts to prevent parental abduction.
To read the full article click: Hague Moracco vs. Japan
OFWs sa Japan nanawagan sa Pinoy embahador: Kumilos agad sa Pinoy na biktima ng lindol
Larawan ng mga miyembro ng Migrante Japan. (Kontribusyon)
Nababahala ang Migrante Japan at Task Force Respect sa mga migranteng Pilipino na nakatira sa mga lugar sa Japan na apektado ng 8.9 magnitude na lindol, alas-dos ng hapon ngayong Marso 11.
“We are particularly curious about the plans of the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo to help affected Filipinos in the Norther Part of the country, especially Sendai which is directly affected by the 30-meter tsunami that hit the northern coastline hours after the earthquake,” pahayag ng Migrante Japan.
Nanawagan ang grupo kay Manuel Lopez, embahador ng Pilipinas sa Japan, na agarang kumilos para idetermina ang epekto sa mga kababayang Pilipino sa mga lugar na apektado, at agarang mag-alok ng suporta at tulong sa kanila.
Sa tantiya ng Migrante Japan, aabot sa 10,000 hanggang 20,000 Pilipino ang naninirahan sa Timog na bahagi ng Japan. Kabilang dito ang mga manggagawang Pilipino, entertainers, trainees at mga migranteng nakapag-asawa ng Hapon.
“Many of them, especially those living along the Sendai coastline may have already lost their homes and possibly their jobs as well, and therefore, need immediate support in terms of rescue and evacuation,” sabi pa nila.
Sinabi rin ng grupo na sana’y huwag umano tularan ng embahada ng Pilipinas ang ginawa ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sa pampulitikang krisis sa Egypt at Libya.
“In crisis situations like this, Filipinos are known for their “bayanihan” spirit. However, we dare our government officials to take the cudgel for our distressed compatriots instead of just prodding Filipino communities in Japan for much needed help,” sabi pa ng Migrante Japan.
Samantala, nag-alok ang Migrante Japan ng ayuda sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga hotline 
lease check the website below for names and numbers:
Press Release from Global Future, The Parents’ Council on International Children’s Policy
February 22, 2013
Japan PM Abe Promises Hague Accession, but Leaves Kidnapped U.S. Children Held in Japan
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has arrived in Washington
for a four-day summit with President Obama, bearing yet another promise that Japan will
accede to the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. For 30 years,
Japanese officials have said they have been “studying the Hague”. While Japan
studied, one FBI agent estimated in 2009 that 20,000 American children have been
kidnapped from U.S. soil and taken to Japan. Even if Japan finally fulfills its public
promises to sign the Hague, the Treaty will only represent a prevention framework for
future cases. There has been no mention of remedy for, and the Hague will not apply
retroactively to existing cases. In spite of intensely negative press, Congressional
legislation, and several joint demarches in recent years by 10 or more countries
condemning Japan’s apparent policy of state-sanctioned kidnapping, Japan has not yet
acted to remedy any of the long record of existing criminal abductions, or prevent future
abductions of children by its nationals.
Per capita and in real numbers, Japan, a G7 nation, owns the ignominious ranking of #2
in the world in the crime of international child kidnapping, behind Mexico and ahead of
India. Unlike the developing countries of Somalia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, Japan has
never returned a kidnapped child to the U.S. or any other country, through direct legal
or diplomatic means. Over the same 30 years, the only American child ever returned
from an illegal kidnapping to Japan, is Wisconsin native Karina Garcia. Today, Japan’s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues efforts to subvert the U.S. law and jurisdiction
governing Karina’s custody. Both U.S. and Japanese courts had previously awarded full
custody to her father, Dr. Moises Garcia.
American parents of children kidnapped from the U.S. to Japan believe there is much
Japan must rectify. In U.S.-to-Japan child kidnappings, Japanese nationals intentionally
broke the law in America and directly defied, with pre-meditation and malice, U.S. court
custody and passport surrender orders, issued under proper U.S. jurisdiction. The
abductors frequently enlisted the assistance of organized crime elements in the
planning and execution of the crimes. Worse, MOFA officials in Japan’s U.S.
Consulates encourage law breaking on their own websites and assist in the crimes
through dubious and unilateral issuance of Japanese passports for U.S. citizen children,
who at the time of their kidnappings were not also citizens of Japan. Upon the
kidnappers’ arrival in Japan at the conclusion of the crimes, the Japanese government
unlawfully claims jurisdiction over the children. When American parents fight back by
seeking the help of the U.S. government, Japan’s government counters by employing
well-paid American lobbyists, lawyers, and agents to lobby Congress and work against
legislation intended to assist the kidnapped American children and U.S. law
enforcement. Routinely, and with no supporting evidence, Japanese officials or
affiliated spokespersons falsely claim that Japanese parents kidnapped the children to
flee abuse, a charge that U.S. parents find deeply offensive, libelous, and damaging to
the children. Global Future condemns all perpetrators of violence and abuse in the
home, regardless of their gender, nationality, or race.
The Japanese government’s apparent endorsement of this set of belligerent actions
reflects poorly on Japan’s image worldwide. Abe, by visiting the U.S., is now in
position to answer for it. Japan’s record of stripping defenseless American children of
their U.S. Constitutional rights raises serious questions about Japan’s true intentions
and worthiness as an ally. When one of our best allies subverts our sovereignty, aids
and abets in the criminal kidnapping and illegal retention of defenseless American
children, outrageously claims jurisdiction over the children after the unlawful acts,
causes lifelong damage to the children and then alienates them by smearing their
parents with false accusations, and employs paid agents to run interference against the
American children and their parents, how much can this supposed ally really be trusted
in any subject of mutual interest? Where is the reciprocity, shared values, and mutual
respect for the rule of law?
Time is the enemy of all of these children. Wrongfully held children in Japan just grow
older and more alienated from their American families, society, culture, and their US civil
and constitutional rights. These mixed race children represent the future of the U.S.-
Japan alliance. They represent the best bridges between our two countries, societies,
and cultures. They need to be protected, cherished, and allowed to thrive. Forcibly
separated from one half of their families, restricted from one parent’s love, care,
guidance, and protection, and brainwashed against them, these children are destined to
suffer.
Recent events in the China Sea, and in North Korea call us to consider how we will fulfill
our obligations in the alliance on behalf of Japan. Should we really send our service men
and women into harm’s way to protect Japan from Chinese or North Korean threats, if
we can’t trust Japan to rectify the kidnappings of American children for which it is
responsible?
Through his work on the issue of the abduction of Japanese by North Korea while a
cabinet official under then-Prime Minister Koizumi, Abe knows very well the
devastating effects of abduction. He also knows that North Korea returned surviving
abduction victims to Japan. Abe could likewise rectify the criminal and destructive
behavior of Japanese nationals by returning the kidnapped children to the U.S. and
allowing them to have both parents again, as both parents originally agreed to before
U.S. judges, in U.S. courts of law. We hope Abe will see the long-term benefit to the
alliance of returning the kidnapped children to U.S. He can make a concrete offer to
Obama now regarding open abduction cases, while staying on course to accede to the
Hague. By doing so, he will deepen the alliance, on a basis of mutual respect, trust,
shared values, and family connections.
Global Future
P.O. Box 861892 Los Angeles, CA 90086 Phone: (213) 392-5872
Global.Future@yahoo.com
Global Future advocates for every child’s right to two loving parents.
Contact: Patrick Braden, (213) 392-5872 Global.Future@yahoo.com
Scott Sawyer, (323) 877-9185 returnourchildren@gmail.com
Woman arrested for throwing newborn baby daughter’s body into irrigation channel
OSAKA — Feb. 23rd, 2013
A 28-year-old woman in Osaka has been arrested for illegally disposing of the body of her newborn daughter last October, police said Friday.
The woman, who has been named as Tomoko Takiguchi, is accused of disposing of the body of her daughter shortly after birth, NTV reported. According to police, the body of a month-old baby girl was found in an irrigation channel near Takiguchi’s former Kashiwara home last Oct 13. An autopsy revealed that the child had died of suffocation. DNA tests later showed the child to be Takiguchi’s daughter.
According to neighbors, Takiguchi appeared to be pregnant in August of last year, but was not seen in public with the child after giving birth, NTV reported. Takiguchi was arrested on Thursday and questioned by police about the circumstances in which her daughter died.
Police were quoted by local media as saying that Takiguchi denies disposing of her daughter’s body, telling investigators that she nursed her daughter for a week and then the child was kidnapped. Police said no kidnapping was reported.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )3-year-old girl starves to death after mother leaves country
FEB. 22, 2013 - GUNMA —
A 3-year-old girl apparently died of starvation in Oizumi, Gunma Prefecture, after being left in the care of her 14-year-old sister while their mother was out of the country, police said Thursday.
According to police, the children were left alone with food and spending money by their mother, while she went home for a visit to the Philippines on Feb 9. TBS reported that police received an emergency call from the woman’s 14-year-old daughter at about 7 p.m. on Feb 18, saying that her younger sister had collapsed. Emergency workers rushed to the scene where the child was confirmed dead.
Police say there were no obvious signs of injury, but that they suspect the girl may have starved to death. Investigators say they are planning to question the girl’s mother when she returns to Japan and said she may faces a charge of abandonment leading to death. The single mother, who is 37, lived with her two daughters.
Japan Today
Father moves heaven and earth to get his daughter back
Dr. Garcia`s daughter was returned to him (from Japan) in December of 2011. It was a wonderful Christmas present for him. Univision just released a story about Garcia`s fight to get his daughter back. His is the only case of a child being returned (from Japan) through legal means to the country of habitual residence. Click on the link to watch the story (in Spanish).
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Couple claims child care allowance for dead daughter over 6 years
FEB. 20, 2013 -OSAKA —
Police said Tuesday that a couple in Osaka has been arrested for fraudulently claiming 6 years’ worth of child allowance payments for their child who died shortly after birth.
The crime was reportedly discovered when a local elementary school, which had records of the girl’s birth, invited her to attend a pre-enrollment physical check and orientation meeting. According to TBS, the girl’s mother told the school that her daughter had died some time before, but the school reported the matter to police.
Police said the couple—a 53-year-old man and his 35-year-old wife—had a daughter in May of 2006. The child was in good health when she left the hospital six days afetr her birth. The parents filed her birth certificate two days later and applied for a child care allowance.
After the couple were arrested earlier this month on a charge of fraudulently receiving child welfare payments, they told police their daughter died within a week, TBS reported. Police quoted the couple as saying that they decided to continue to claim welfare payments. Over the six years, they received 934,000 yen in child care allowance payments, police said.
The couple also told investigators they threw the child’s body into the sea without registering her death and continued to lead authorities to believe she was alive. Media reported that social workers reportedly visited the family eight times, and each time, the girl’s father claimed she was visiting her grandparents with her mother and was in good health.
Police say they are looking into the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.
Japan Today
Young boy kills self over closure of school
The Yomiuri Shimbun
OSAKA–An 11-year-old primary school student in Daito, Osaka Prefecture, apparently killed himself by jumping in front of a train, leaving behind a note that suggests the act was intended to protest the closure of his school.
At about 4:25 p.m. Thursday, the fifth-year student was hit below a platform of Nozaki Station by a seven-car train heading from Doshishamae Station to Takarazuka Station on the JR Katamachi Line.
Witnesses said he apparently jumped from the platform down to the rails and was struck by the train.
The boy left a note about his school, which is scheduled to be shut down and its students integrated into two other primary schools.
The note read, “In exchange for this little life, please stop the shutdown and integration.”
Shijonawate Police Station is investigating the case as a likely suicide.
According to the police station, the driver of the train saw the boy jump and immediately applied the brake, but it was too late.
The boy’s rucksack, which he left on the platform, contained learning materials for a cram school, and the handwritten note was found nearby, the police said.
The primary school the boy attended has seen its student population decrease, and is scheduled to close at the end of this fiscal year.
Students of the school will be transferred to two other primary schools.
The boy’s family members said he recently complained that he did not want to attend the school that was scheduled to accept him and his schoolmates.
Just before the incident, the boy sent an e-mail to his mother’s cell phone that read: “Thank you for all you have done up to now. I love everyone in my family.”
(Feb. 16, 2013)
Woman arrested for fatally stabbing 14-year-old daughter
CRIME FEB. 06, 2013 - TOCHIGI —
Police on Tuesday arrested a 37-year-old woman for allegedly stabbing to death her 14-year-old daughter at their apartment in Oyama, Tochigi Prefecture.
According to police, the suspect, identified as Yoko Numabe, called emergency services at about 6 a.m. Tuesday and said she had stabbed her daughter. TBS reported that police rushed to the scene and found the girl suffering from a stab wound to the neck. She was taken to hospital where she died on Tuesday night.
Police said Numabe and her daughter lived by themselves. Numabe has so far given no motive for the attack, police said.
Japan Today
Woman throws newborn baby out of toilet window
JAN. 24, 2013 SAITAMA —Japan Today
Police said Wednesday they have arrested a woman for allegedly killing her newborn baby son by throwing him out of a toilet window in an apartment in Honjo, Saitama Prefecture.
According to police, Madoka Masuda, 26, Masuda was staying at her 30-year-old boyfriend’s apartment when she gave birth to the child in the toilet on the evening of Jan 19, TBS reported. Immediately following the birth, police say she threw the child out of the window and left it outside to die.
Masuda’s boyfriend was quoted by police as saying that he noticed something was amiss due to an unusual odor in the bathroom and looked out of the window. He saw the baby’s body outside and notified the authorities.
Masuda was arrested at the scene on a murder charge.
Japan Today
Hague not a priority….Japan will sign the Hague
I am a bit confused. Two articles came out on the same day. Three articles in the last 3 days. One says Hague on fast track, another say Japan will join the treaty, and the third says treaty is not a priority. It seems clear that politicians and bureaucrats are not on the same page and nothing is going to happen in the next diet session. Japan has been saying for over 10 years they will sign the Hague. There are still a large number of lawyers that disagree about signing the Hague. I don’t think this treaty will be signed until there is an overwhelming consensus that it is a good thing. Click on the links to read the full articles.
Hague treaty not priority, past bill needs study: Tanigaki
Japan says it will join child abduction treaty
http://join child abduction treaty
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Man suspected of killing 9-year-old granddaughter
JAN. 15, 2013 – TOKYO
Police said Tuesday that a man is suspected of strangling to death his 9-year-old granddaughter and then trying to kill himself at their home in Tokyo’s Machida.
According to police, the 66-year-old man lived with his son and his daughter. Fuji TV reported that the father returned home from working a night shift at about 9 a.m. and found his daughter, clad in her pajamas, lying on a futon. She had apparently been strangled to death. The man found his father in another room, where he had slit his wrists and tried to hang himself, police said.
Police said the grandfather was taken to hospital where his condition is not life-threatening. He was quoted as saying that he killed the girl, Fuji reported.
Japan Today
« Previous Entries
