22-year-old woman arrested for attempted murder of 6-month-old son

saying the child wouldn’t stop crying and she found child-rearing stressful.

Sad for the baby. But I bet she found all of the little baby clothes and other little items so "kawaii" when she was with her friends doing baby shopping. I feel sorry for the kid.

So, do we blame her for her actions or family services for their inaction?

If the a baby is crying for very long periods of time, there is a medical problem of some kind.

There is an old saying: "Having and raising children is, was and always will be the providence of amateurs."

This means that the first child is always born to inexperienced parents. It is neither good nor bad, just simple fact.

This story is sad for all involved.

@Disillusioned - Both !

I know I got a thumbs down for my comment, and I was not being insensitive to the death of this kid. My point being was that this woman was way too young for having a kid, and taking on the responsibility of working and raising a child. Where was the husband (if there is one) or the father helping her out? We have seen on JT just today another case of a young woman who let a guy give her 3 month old stimulants that wound up killing the child.

From what I have seen in Japan, these young girls may think it is "cute" to go shopping for baby clothes and seeing all of the cute little toys and dolls (based on my observations of seeing them when I am with my 2 yr old and watching the "kawaiis" fly out of their mouths at ever other word), and realizing that they really have no idea of what they are getting themselves into.

I feel sorry for her that she felt she had to strangle the kid rather than seek more help.

Just finished reading about the boyfriend who killed his girlfriend's 3 month old baby. I am so pissed off right now. My whole day is ruined.

22 years old. stopped crying by strangling? once you decided to continue the pregnancy and kept the baby, should be fully aware of the responsibility. naive, brainless, uncontrolled emotion cost life.

There needs to be a baby rearing simulator in Japan and everyone when they get married needs to experience it.... a baby cries, it is what it does, how can you be stressed over something that you should have expected?

I thought it was a baby's job to cry. So sad. I hope the father is okay too...

"her 6-month-old son... wouldn’t stop crying"

Nothing further to add!! :-(

Similar stories everyday. I see Japanese people as kind and patience people. Why all these domestic problem?

So, do we blame her for her actions or family services for their inaction?

wth could family services have done to prevent this? from the article, there is no mention of abuse, physical or mental on the child. there are no grounds to remove the child by the gov't.

@Alphaape, you're not wrong, and I can't understand why you're getting the thumbs-down, so I upped your comments once each - what she did was pitiless, cruel, self-serving and unforgivable. This excuse of 'stressful' blows me away, every time I read it. Makes me want to give her real stress, but mental and physical torture aren't my style. So what to do? Give up, or just shake our heads and hope it stops someday?

There are many ways to stop a baby from crying. A little internet search does wonders

jeeps…. only the other day I was reading about "The Hold" position.

@gogogo

There needs to be a baby rearing simulator...

For most mothers, it seems quite natural for a baby to come without "instructions"... Nobody ever taught me what to do with a crying baby I somehow just knew how to find out if he was hungry, needed "changing" or simply a bit of cuddly-love however, in Japan there really doesn't seem to be anywhere to go when a young mother needs some help. Especially lately, there have been so many stories of the "appropriate services" being too busy to help. I guess it does take a pretty strong character not to "crack up" and do something uttely foolish...

@ TrevorPeace: What I find interesting is that sometimes the posters don't really want to state the obvious at times and let past opinions cloud the issue. But, in any event you said it spot on about the mother.

We can see today on JT two cases that are the polar ends but the same thing in terms of family dynamics in Japan. Here we have this and the other case of the woman allowing her boyfriend to give a 3 month old stimulants, and then we see the case of a 44 yr. old woman who killed her mother because she was stressed out from taking care of her and was mad at her for not being able to make it to the bathroom in time and soiling herself.

In both of these cases, we see the same sad song of a parent/child unable to cope with assisting with the care of a sick or infant. I have done both, cared for an infant and sick relative, and yes it is not an easy task to do, but I didn't think it was weak to ask for help from social services or from other family members to support. In Japan it seems that to ask for help is something to be ashamed of or that there is not a support structure in place to assist in these cases.

I didn't think it was weak to ask for help from social services or from other family members to support.

Exactly. The first time I ever truly welcomed help was following the birth of my first child. Whether help is available, though, is a problem.

One more reason why that "Yutori kyoiku" was bs.

See how many "adults" (early twenties to early thirties) are "protagonists" in this kind of crimes lately... all of them are product of the "Yutori"

And they say japan is a safe country... not if you are a baby obviously

I am not even, at any time, saying that "there are studies"... since I don't know there are... is just my opinion.

@ Daniel, not sure what the study you are referring to, but I take it you are saying that the teaching in schools today is much different from previous generations, and that this "new approach" and not sticking to some of the basic social life skills is what may be causing this issue in Japan. I think that could be said for any other place, including my own USA where it seems that students graduating from high school and college seem to be lacking some basic social skills which seem to be leading to a lot of issues that we are seeing.

I think that this type of behavior may have been a part of the past, but unlike today, there wasn't a wide spread method of instantaneous news of these stories being reported in such a rapid manner like we have with the internet today. Web sites need to generate hits, and unfortunately these types of stories bring them. A lot of bad things that happened in the past stayed hidden because people were less inclined to report and the media was also less inclined to report news that may have made institutions and society look bad.

I see Japanese people as kind and patience people. Why all these domestic problem?

Because not all is what you see. Don't be fooled.

I know I got a thumbs down for my comment, and I was not being insensitive to the death of this kid. My point being was that this woman was way too young for having a kid, and taking on the responsibility of working and raising a child.

Says who? You? In my opinion if you are posting and worry about the thumbs up or down you are probably too young to be posting here too! Not mature enough to take on the responsibility of knowing that it doesn't matter.

She's prolly suffering a post partum ,we can't judge her.

@ Yubaru: I have a half-century of life behind me. I don't think I am too young. The point I was making is that when people tend to post here on JT comments that may seem to point directly to a root cause (i.e. a young girl too concerned with "kawaii" and not being fully aware that being a parent is more than just buying cutesy baby clothes and toys), a sometimes harsh comment gets a thumbs down. Doesn't bother me at all personally, but I think it goes along the lines of what I posted later in the thread that maybe these types of things have been going on in Japan for sometime, and now with the rapid advances in information technology and the word getting out much faster and sometimes a lot less controlled, people tend to vote negative when they see things that may have some merit but refuse to accept.

Since she is an adult and the mother she is solely responsible.

Daniel Neagari: "One more reason why that "Yutori kyoiku" was bs."

This has NOTHING to do with kids no longer going to school on Saturdays. In fact, if you want to mention changes in society since yutori kyoiku that actually matter, how about noting that Japan has gone from being No. #1 in terms of young people killing themselves to #2, now behind South Korea that... wait for it... now has the highest number of hours spent in schooling.

How about the woman yesterday who clubbed her bed-ridden mother to death? How about the guy who stabbed his sixty-year-old father and 40-year-old brother the day before? Will you blame the yutori kyoiku system for those murders, too?

No, this is NOT about yutori kyoiku, which clearly you are against, but is about a young mother who murdered her baby. She says it's because she snapped, and if she snapped it's because she was stressed out and had no help. Given the recent announcement by Abe and Co that their ridiculous pat-on-the-back plans to change Japan for women fell through, and one of the reasons is the complete lack of support for women in this nation, you CAN blame one of the sources of stress on lack of a support system.

@Alphapee

Sorry, it seems you got my comment out of context (?).. There is no such a study that I am aware of. The reason I was mentioning a "study" was that because there was one person in here asking for me to support my comment with scientific research.... To which my reply was in essence "it is a comment based on my point of view, hence there is no need to me to present a paper that supports my comment".

Of course my comment is based on my observation and what we have at sight. In this case a high rate of homicide and/or child abuse from the parents and/or custodians of a child.

This parents/custodians ages (mostly) goes around the ages fo 20 to 30-ish, which fits to the age of persons who grew up entirely on the Yutori system. Hence my observation that there is a lot of people unfit to take care of a child who has being raised in Yutori.

That combined with some first hand experience of working with "yutorians" and having a child raised in that system make me very awry of it.

Is it a generalization, yes it is, because I have good friends and in fact two of the most intelligent women I know are from that generation, so there is also a prove that what I am saying is not definitive.

The education system affects human behavior, yes it does and I think part of the today society problems (in young people at least) is caused by that, the murder of children is for me a big proove.

I could be wrong, but up to the moment there has be nothing that can change my mind in that matter.

@Smithy... please be kind, you know it cost me much to follow your tide.

Daniel Neagari: "I could be wrong, but up to the moment there has be nothing that can change my mind in that matter."

You were given facts PROVING you are wrong -- yet you chose to ignore them and even tell the person who gave them to you off (so much for being 'kind', right?). But answer my question, please. If this is about "yutori kyoiku", then why so many murders by other people of their family members in YOUR generation (if you are not part of yutori kyoiku)? Again, how about the murder of the mother by her 40-year-old daughter yesterday, and the murder-suicide (attempt for the latter) by a man also in his forties if this is all about yutori kyoiku?

"Of course my comment is based on my observation and what we have at sight. In this case a high rate of homicide and/or child abuse from the parents and/or custodians of a child."

Where are the stats? You can't just read one news article, see a few cases of it yourself, and then state definitively that something is the case and then not only refuse to back it up, but then scoff at the people who back up the fact that you are wrong.

"Is it a generalization, yes it is, because I have good friends and in fact two of the most intelligent women I know are from that generation, so there is also a prove that what I am saying is not definitive."

So, your point was completely moot, in other words. Saying you don't like Yutori Kyoiku is opinion. Saying this is the result of yutori kyoiku is NOT opinion. You need to learn the difference.

There are most certainly a lot of criminal cases of negligence and abuse going on, as well as murder, but there's nothing to indicate it's because kids aren't going to school on Saturdays. There is EVERYTHING to indicate that most of these cases occur in low-income situations, and in society today there is a growing gap between the rich and the poor, with the middle class sinking into the latter category, and with no help to be found. There's also increased awareness of what constitutes abuse, and a higher likelihood, despite the people of the older generation not doing their jobs at welfare centers, and politicians ignoring the situation, of crimes being reported.

In the UK we have a system where school kids take home a robot/interactive/ baby, it does all of the thing a normal baby would do, like wee, cry, scream, and sleep, it is to demonstrate to school kids that having a baby is not fun, but what comes with having a baby like responsibility, caring for the robot child, it monitors all of the childs action and then it can be down loaded on a computer to show the teachers what has been happening, or not, it goes to show what having a baby is really like, mainly sleep deprevation, and how it can affect you, and as a parent we all know its not plain sailing! may be Japan should have something like this, or does it?? as for this lady, well I am not going to throw the first stone, but where was her husband/boyfriend? but yes she needs help and support, I hope the child has no long term health issues and has a speedy recovery.

@Smithy

Do you have some problem in comprehend the meaning of the word "opinion"... seems a common deficiency in these kind of forums.

Daniel Neagari: "Do you have some problem in comprehend the meaning of the word "opinion"... seems a common deficiency in these kind of forums."

Not at all. Look in the mirror to see where the deficiency starts and ends, my friend. You think Yutori Kyoiku is wrong -- THAT is an opinion. Saying it is the cause of why this woman murdered her baby is NOT opinion, nor is saying that you know it is because of "hands on experience" (of seeing a few 'Yutorians'). You are trying to back up your judgement -- not opinion -- based on your personal stories (not documented fact).

@Smithy

OK.. I am always grateful of your wisdom thank you.

Daniel Neagari: "OK.. I am always grateful of your wisdom thank you."

You're welcome, Daniel. Always happy to help you.

Disillusioned

We blame HER. She did it - no one else. "Wouldn't stop crying" and raising a child is "stressful" are not red flags for, well - anything OTHER than usual child-rearing. What a generation of weak-minded buffoons. Everyone's a victim and there is always somebody else to blame. Pathetic.

This parents/custodians ages (mostly) goes around the ages fo 20 to 30-ish, which fits to the age of persons who grew up entirely on the Yutori system. Hence my observation that there is a lot of people unfit to take care of a child who has being raised in Yutori.

FYI the "yutori" system started basically when my daughter was in 6 grade in a local elementary school, she is now 28, so it was around for roughly 15 years. People her age had the benefit of getting their basic education in the "old" system. People today who are around 20 to 22 years old grew up with the yutori system from the start and society is paying the price for how that went.

Do you have some problem in comprehend the meaning of the word "opinion"... seems a common deficiency in these kind of forums.

If you would learn to use the words "In my opinion" or something similar, it would be easier to take what you say as an opinion vs you coming across as if it were a fact.

Words do make the person.

Basically we (humans) are all gradually getting more and more selfish. TV, gaming, the Internet, and Smart phones help us escape, and anything or anyone that interrupts that escape becomes the enemy.

Basically we (humans) are all gradually getting more and more selfish. TV, gaming, the Internet, and Smart phones help us escape, and anything or anyone that interrupts that escape becomes the enemy.

Speak for yourself now! I am not selfish nor self-centered. I just know better. Don't like it? I'll sue ya!

In the UK we have a system where school kids take home a robot/interactive/ baby, it does all of the thing a normal baby would do, like wee, cry, scream, and sleep, it is to demonstrate to school kids that having a baby is not fun, but what comes with having a baby like responsibility, caring for the robot child, it monitors all of the childs action and then it can be down loaded on a computer to show the teachers what has been happening, or not, it goes to show what having a baby is really like, mainly sleep deprevation, and how it can affect you, and as a parent we all know its not plain sailing! may be Japan should have something like this, or does it??

Doesnt work though, does it? We have one of the worst teenage pregnancy rates in Europe.

Raising babies is stressful. It's not meant to be a picnic in the park. A lot of young women (and older ones) realize that too late. And actually, I include myself in that and I remember the night I punched the hell out of my pillow because I was at my sleep-deprived wits end. But I never laid a finger on the 8 month old next to me. Who actually now I think about it was in awe of mummy punching the pillow and actually shut up for a second! He's a totally adorable 6 year old now and I continue to love him to bits and spoil him rotten.

So no - no sympathy from me for her.

And as for family "support". Please. I remember with my second getting post natal depression. It was awful. A horrible black cloud that descended and never left. I wanted to kill myself (not the baby though). I got a survey in the mail from the ward office. I ticked all the boxes that I was feeling crappy, suicidal, crying all the time, etc etc. Never heard back from them. Not one thing. Eventually my husband sent me back to the UK and my mum made an appointment at the GP's office. I went in there and said "I live in Japan, and..." He sat and listened to me for 10 minutes before finally holding up his hand and saying "You had me at 'I live in Japan'. Here's a prescription for a years supply of Prozac. And here's another one for a second years worth. Take it and don't worry about a follow up appointment. You won't need one." Best bloody stuff I ever took! 8 weeks later (it takes that long to get into your system) I was giving out love and dancing in the street. Japan needs Prozac!

Japan really need to stop stigmatizing post natal depression. It's real. And its really freakin hard, especially when your friends with no kids talk like everything is 'ok' and once you 'take a break', it will be fine. Well it isn't fine. And if you don't have a baby, and you aren't a woman, keep your opinion to yourself.

She probably did have post partum... Its really common in the US for women to go on depression medication and there are support groups that help women out. In Japan it is really rare for the state to help people with mental illness because it is embarrassing for the families if someone is diagnosed, also health care rarely covers things like that(among other reasons)... Its not uncommon at all for women to try to kill their new borns even though it is a deplorable act. Check this out and educate yourselves: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/postpartum-depression

@NathalieB - "the 8 month old next to me... was in awe of mummy punching the pillow and actually shut up for a second!"

I think the BABY was SCARED!! ;-)

I would ne pissed off too if it's screaming all the time things like this happen if nobody helps the woman :) I bet they just said : oh it's normal that a baby cries and didn't take her serious - needless to say that's not an apologize strangling a little Baby -.- I think this girl needs a mental threatment and people who support her-

Give the child to the father and let the mental mother take her medicine...

THE BABY IS NOT DEAD! READ THE POST BEFORE YOU JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS!

anyway, i feel for both mother and child. 22 is not exactly a good age to have a baby, especially when you have no help. remember, the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child' is very true. one cannot do it alone. Japan has such poor support when it comes to women, mothers, and children in general. men are not that hands on because they are working such long hours. the woman called someone for help, only to be given none. this does not mean it was right for her to take such drastic measures. help is sorely needed on all levels in Japan.