Man leaves dead mother to play pachinko in Kanagawa

Saturday 03rd January, 02:51 PM JST

KAWASAKI —

A 37-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of abandoning a corpse on Friday, after his 61-year-old mother died in late December, and he left her in the home to play pachinko.

Hiroki Watanabe, a plasterer in Kawasaki City, is suspected of abandoning the body of his mother, who was suffering from diabetes, at her home around Dec 24. Watanabe has admitted to the allegation, saying: “I went to play pachinko over the New Year, even though I knew she had died.”

News reports

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Latest 15 of 28 Total Comments Show All

likeitis at 09:00 PM JST - 3rd January

24th was a Wednesday. He was arrested on the 2nd. That means he had about nine days to take care of the situation.

How did anyone know that he left his mom alone? Did he come forward to the police or something?

My guess is that he finally got off his tuckus after 9 days and reported his mom dead. Then when asked about when she died and when he knew, he answered honestly, maybe not realizing he was legally bound to report the death immediately.

You would be surprised the things people don't realize in dealing with the dead. Its not exactly an everyday happening they prepared us for in high school. You might think its a good idea to call an ambulance, but when you know granny is dead, that option is just going to cost you. So what do you do? Are there options? Can't say as I know.
seesaw at 09:09 PM JST - 3rd January

I wonder how he was raised...
nutricycle at 09:41 PM JST - 3rd January

i wonder if he played pachinko with the allowance she gave him. i wonder if it will turn out that he had a hand in her death
jwills79 at 09:50 PM JST - 3rd January

He must have thought there was nothing he could do -except play pachinko, the ultimate solution to all social problems.

Presto345,

No, that is Janken!
MeanRingo at 10:23 PM JST - 3rd January

He should be arrested for NOT abandoning the corpse. He probably wanted her pension money to keep coming in. Then the body began to stink and he rethought the idea.
herefornow at 10:25 PM JST - 3rd January

No doubt after pachinko he went to the nearest shrine and threw in his money and clapped to give himself good luck for the year.
Potsu at 10:47 PM JST - 3rd January

At least he didn't kill her...
Weasel at 11:38 PM JST - 3rd January

Well, I guess you know what his main priority is.
Mark_McCracken at 11:58 PM JST - 3rd January

No, that is Janken!

LOL. So true, jwills79
mrhog123 at 02:51 AM JST - 4th January

Thank God his name wasn't Odeiphus Rex.
airrunwesker at 07:28 AM JST - 4th January

...maybe the thought of her being dead, right on the 24th (Christmas Eve) was too much for him to deal with!
bamboohat at 11:49 AM JST - 4th January

Maybe he looked on the sheet they give you for what day to take out what kind of trash, and didnt' see a little picutre of a dead person being hauled out by a smiling family, and was confused.

Seriously, burnable? chipped? recylable glass? WTF?
mindovermatter at 08:38 PM JST - 4th January

Ridiculous...

They are going to waste tax payer money and police resources prosecuting this knucklehead, when there are plenty of other crimes they could be working on...

What are they going to charge this guy with....? Being an Idiot...? Lacking common sense?
samsarks at 09:37 PM JST - 4th January

there is a missing link in japanese families ,love.i cant ever imajine going to work or play when my mom is dead.Japan needs christ,the saviour
SiouxGirl at 04:04 AM JST - 6th January

Maybe he's just the ultimate procrastinator, "Oh, I'll make a call when I get back home ...," or do the Japan pachinko parlors have "drawings," like our casinos do? At 9 p.m. on certain days they draw a name out of a barrel for a free car. You gotta be there or you lose out!