22-year-old mother held for allegedly suffocating 16-day-old son

Tuesday 30th June, 02:14 PM JST

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buggerlugs at 05:33 PM JST - 2nd July

Ok. I think it is time to introduce a test for parenthood, not just in japan but worldwide!! I hope she does decide life is too tough while in jail and take appropriate action. To the next selfish person out there: if u want rid of your child the buggerlugs family will gladly take them in!! We all ready have 3 kids under the age of 5 so we know what tough is, and we cherish every smile, every single day is a blessing. So if your tired let us know.
cleo at 05:41 PM JST - 2nd July

17 days before it would have been choice what she did. Totally legal.

Not in Japan, it wouldn't. Abortion after the child is potentially viable (legally set at the end of the 22nd week) is totally illegal.

A 22-year-old left alone to care for a new-born. Not a good idea. Most can cope of course, but it's hard. She should have gone home to her mum for the birth, and stayed there until she felt she could manage. Poor baby.
maryhinge at 05:42 PM JST - 2nd July

He discovered his son’s body when he arrived back home and notified the local fire department.

Were the police not available?
OneForAll at 05:55 PM JST - 2nd July

God Bless you buggerlugs. Make sure the children learn English. When high school comes around, it is a financial whammy in Japan. From day one the parents are told to save, save, save...Another unneeded pressure on the poor Mom. I am considering seriously of taking the children back to the states for high school where the burden is shared by society at large (Everyone contributes). I have three children as well, and can see 100,000 USD going toward high school, and that is after taxes (rather save it for college ). Perhaps this girls parents just had no life to pay for her education. Yes, she was selfish and it is a real sad state of affairs when children are looked at as a financial burden. The US is a lot more humane in this regards.

I can really see a backlash coming in Japan to the older generation who cares not for the next generation in financial terms. Why should those children pay for those people who chose to live the good life and not have children to support them in old age? Because of the incentives of society? I think that is probably a good excuse. I just hope there are enough children to take on the burden of the older generation and that the laws change swiftly to support struggling families.
womanforwomen at 05:56 PM JST - 2nd July

Why? was she worried that she will not be able to enjoy her youth a little bit more, 'cos the baby would be a bother? yes, where were the parents of the woman or some other relative or friend? There are many like buggerlugs family in the world. Damn, isn't there some way to stop these stupid killings? I will volunteer to make people aware of some important things in life, like not to kill babies, step in and help stupid young ones who cannot take responsibility of their acts.
cleo at 06:15 PM JST - 2nd July

Were the police not available?

I imagine he phoned 119 first, which is fire and ambulance. The police is 110.
Den Den at 09:15 PM JST - 2nd July

RIP little one. Japan needs to move on from the token "baby hatch", and move onto more radical and effective measures to protect the family in society. She clearly(mummy) needed help, but it wasn't anywhere on the horizon.
Apsara at 09:58 PM JST - 2nd July

"17 days before it would have been choice what she did. Totally legal."

This was an odd comment. In which countries can you legally abort a full-term baby? Definitely not here.
jkoffman at 10:16 PM JST - 2nd July

6am Tuesday she killed the child, so the father wasn't home. hmm, OK...
cleo at 10:58 PM JST - 2nd July

6am Tuesday she killed the child, so the father wasn't home. hmm, OK...

The article doesn't say he wasn't 'at home', it says he was 'out of the house'. Could have been working in the garden, taking the rubbish out, nipped down to the conbini to buy a newspaper, walking the dog, anything. Or he could have been working night shift. According to the vernacular newspapers the father phoned 119 at around 8:50 in the morning.
OhioDonna at 04:08 AM JST - 3rd July

She had gotten tired of rearing him after only 16 days! Give me a break!
Cynthia at 08:44 AM JST - 3rd July

That point blank post pardom(??? not sure how to spell it) depression. Don't they have special help for mothers like that?
buggerlugs at 09:08 AM JST - 3rd July

In japan, in my experience, there is basically no help. Of course there's the doctors visit at the hospital but usually granny is expected to step up and help the first 2 months or so. Many mothers become almost recluse during the first 6 months because they don't go out, meet friends etc. For mrs buggerlugs many of her so called friends wouldn't even contact her during the first year of first little one because they thought she'd be stressed by seeing them. Personally I thought this codswallop and the very thing a new mothr needs is friends around to lighten the mood.
fishy at 10:18 AM JST - 3rd July

my parents live far away and they were not with me when i had my babies, but the first several months while i was on maternity leave, i had met other moms with little babies and it was nice sharing information and etc.

sure i was tired with not much help (husband leaves home around 6am for work and doesnt come home till 6pm) and sleepy, but to think about actually killing your baby is not right.. moms should seek some sort of help before getting to that point... i wish this mom had a girl friend who would have been willing to baby sit for even a few hours to give the mom a little rest because i always tell friends who are expecting or just had a baby that i'd be happy to babysit for a few hours.. i enjoy taking care of little ones and moms can get some sleep or maybe go out for a coffee and etc...

women should go out more while being pregnant and meet other prego moms to make a network before baby arrives.. maternity swimming, yoga, all sorts of classes are available in almost every city. NETWORK is important.
Monoflow at 03:22 AM JST - 6th July

10 years ago, I've lost my 4 year old son by cancer, so i'm always feeling extremly raged to read about such cases. For me, there is no reason to think about her. Just get her to prison forever...