crime

Woman who beat husband to death over affairs 36 years ago avoids jail time

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Married at the age of 20, the woman, who was not named, said she herself never had affairs. She knew for a long time her husband had cheated on her but did not confront him, fearing her children would see their parents fight.

A 71 year old woman is not named in a trial? Right...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

This would be true with very high percentage of older Japanese men who worked through the bubble Misu Shoubei (Water Business) days.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

She knew for a long time her husband had cheated on her but did not confront him

The typical subservient wife.

2 ( +5 / -4 )

The Thirty Six Year Itch.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This decision basically says that violence over reason is acceptable in Japanese society. She knew about the affairs and had years to just walk away from the guy and instead she decided to make an emotional and economic trade-off and put up with him. Then when it became too much, she again could have walked away and she didn't and instead solved her problem with the extreme use of violence against a physically weak individual. Why should this behaviour be condoned?

18 ( +20 / -3 )

It was deliberate homicide. All her families and neighbors know this and she walks?

5 ( +7 / -2 )

For a minute I thought she had committed the murder way back then and was getting off due to the statute of limitations they have here, but she JUST did it recently and she walks? I don't care HOW much of a putz the guy was for cheating (and we don't know the circumstances -- maybe she was extremely cold!), or 'how deeply remorseful' she was during the trial, it's absolutely farcical that she gets off with no punishment for committing cold-blooded murder! Quite the justice system in Japan.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Let's see a lot more copycat wives "taking action" upon such given mild sentence :)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

the strong regret she showed during the trial

Yep, you can kill someone as long as you regret it. And even better, she can say tomorrow that she actually doesn't regret it, and still her past apology is valid.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

So anyone can kill their spouse and just say that they had confessed to an affair!!! This sets a dangerous precedent. We don't know for sure whether the guy had in fact confessed to anything; all we know is that the old lady appeared to regret her action.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

I've seen some Jhousewives who are plain housewives thru out their lives without having to push daily time cards mending house chores and budgeting monthly salaries and big bonuses of their husbands, They never had to endure the bullying in workplaces that may even goes with those fat bonuses. Iam not glorifying extramarital affairs but if the man was able to do it without hurting the family budget then that won't bother me at all even if I didn't cheat at all. News like this bothers me really. Just to justify present day murder, all you have to do is rummaged some age old marital woe. And the shocking thing is, the court accepted her reasoning!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

So in Japan all you have to do is become old, bring up an old affair a quarter of a century or so back, then off the partner because "I've suffered for so long"... to get away with murder without spending any time in the pen?!?!?!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I was in a girls middle school when war was over. imy classmates quarreled like your father has a mistress, so what your father has 2, etc. I did not involve in such quarrel because I knew about all classmates; father had mistresses. That was male culture in Japan then.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

though a suspended sentence in a homicide case is an extremely rare occurrence in the country.

complete crap, in family murders always get light sentences in japan

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Beat somebody to death, show "strong regret" and walk away free. If I were a criminal, I'd be rehearsing my "strong regret" demonstration.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Her husband died last year, several days after she struck his head and face repeatedly at their home in Toky'

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

DR should notice concussion but she might used her hands. Japanese court sounds lenient to old faly member murderer.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Infidelity -- even 36 years prior -- can make victims react in ways those on the outside might view as irrational. Yet, I can completely see this woman knowing something was amiss, but swallowing every ounce of pride and self-respect she had for the better part of 4 decades in order to protect the hearth and home; Happens every day in Japan and around the world. But when the truth is brandished in your face... Well, like I said, unpredicatable things can happen.

At its core, infidelity is a fundamental betrayal of virtually every aspect of trust one can imagine when it comes to the practical, legal, and moral ramifications of a marriage contract. Short of treason against your people or country, I can think of fewer betrayals that run deeper in the long, complicated context of human civilization.

Honestly, I'm less inclined to fret over whether this 71-year-old received an appropriate sentence, and more inclined to take from this the lesson that cheaters wherever they be should keep one wary eye over their shoulder at all times. One never knows when the hen of selfish, piss-poor decision making may come home to roost.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I guess the takeaway is that if you kill somebody, but break down in court to show you are really, really, really, really, really sorry, you get off.

Hmm.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Wow! The world is boggling my mind. Like Toshiko says, I will know to practice my "strong regret."

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Prime real estate for female serial murderers.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

geez thats great for future husband beatings, they can cry mental anguish, strong regret and get off no problem

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Battle Roujin instead of Royale

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Then when it became too much, she again could have walked away and she didn't and instead solved her problem with the extreme use of violence against a physically weak individual. Why should this behaviour be condoned?

Compare this verdict to the instance of the wife's failed claim against her husband who was in an adulterous relationship with a hostess, on the grounds that it was business and not pleasure.

I strongly believe the term cognitive dissonance was coined with the Japanese in mind. The whole country should be on the psychiatrist's couch.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned."

0 ( +3 / -3 )

So she was faithful and loyal to him all the time. She went through the ordeal of cancer treatment with him - an incredible emotional burden that only people understand who have been in that terrible situation - and cared for him after surgery and that guy lounges around, watches her empty his bedpan and casually remarks how he used to have a mistress and 'damn, we used to travel, all fun and good times' and goes into detail about the whole affair and then wonders why the little lady snaps? I don't. Not saying it was right but pretty understandable.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

36 years of suppressed anger. Why do folks like that bother to even stay together? The wife could've left as soon as she discovered the affair. She could've left him even in during his cancer / surgery. Perhaps that would've been better for both rather than her beating him to an awful pulp.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

36 years of suppressed anger. Why do folks like that bother to even stay together? The wife could've left as soon as she discovered the affair.

And gone where and done what, with young children in the 70s and almost certainly no way of supporting herself and her children? She was worried about her kids seeing them even fight, never mind actually walking out.

Im not condoning his murder but what a lot of posters don't seem to understand is this case is the tip of the ice berg. Many many MANY women in Japan are living just like this, knowing about their husbands "fun", turning a blind eye to it because there is nothing they can do, nowhere they can go, worried about the trauma a split will cause the children, and so on. They smile and carry on every day, act as normal, serve their husbands as a dutiful wife, knowing his interest lies elsewhere, and over the years, what do you imagine that does to someone mentally? Humans, even Japanese humans, fundamentally need love and respect.

I am NOT talking about the cold as ice wives here, or the ones who have turned the supply taps off, or the ones who sit on their butts reaping in their husbands pay check and doing nothing, or the other "parasites" people love to bandy around. I'm talking about the many many loyal wives whose husbands do whatever the eff they want to just because they can, the culture allows it. And then this dude gets cancer and after everything else she nurses him through it only to have him reminiscing about his affairs. Yeah, I'd probably feel inclined to take a swing at him myself.

As Ayame M says and LFR articulates - not saying its right, but its pretty understandable.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

I personally think the judges in this case probably know nothing of the real world: finish law "skool" [likely how they spell it!], end up in boondocks Legal Training Institute for a while then start OJT at the courthouses. Japanese judges should be forced to spend 3 years volunteering at hospitals emptying bedpans {did they even consider giving this woman such "mandatory community service time" rather than a suspended sentence which lets her off scot-free?} while observing how the real world works. Oh and 2 years at a kindergarten since obviously these judges can't add or subtract well either!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This verdict is very bad in Japanese society. It will encourage numerous old women to copy her action.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Nathalie, BS. They could, you know, get a job? Kind of like what milliins of other women do in this country. Women get paid crap here because of attitudes like yours. Better to stay in an unhappy marriage for the kids? Yes because that doesn't teach the kids anything about relationships, right? Love and respect indeed. Many here should start with the selves and stop feeling sorry for themselves and become independent and find happiness. Is it hard? Sure but its not impossible.

I find it disgusting that this woman was so vindictive that she killed her husband - the man that put a roof over her head and fed her - and she walks. Is life here that poorly valued?

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Jesus tmarie! Read my 3rd paragraph and stop with your ranting! Where did I say they are better off staying? I didn't say that. I just said thats what they do. Where did I say they shouldn't get a job? Just that back then she almost certainly couldn't have done and still been able to support herself and stay where she was - and with children that is a big consideration. What upping and leaving would do to them versus faking a happy marriage for their sake. How is that selfish?

What is my attitude to this? You don't even know. My attitude - like you - is that they should get out. But they don't. Because that is not their culture. And that is why they are paid crap.

However, its not that simple. Because as a mother you have other peoples needs to consider, not just your own. Like taking children from a stable environment where they are happy, have friends at school, know the area, to a poorer cruddier area where they have no friends and a new school because that is all you can afford? Life isn't that simple, and that is why these women make the choices they do. Because it is NOT just about them. Anyone with children gets that.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If she had really wanted to Get Back at him there could have been a thousand other ways - now she has no way to return the cruel treatment she got from the unfaithful hubbie...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If you think a cheating dad is stable for kids we seriously disagree.

And anyone with kids gets what? Millions of moms file for divorce every year. They ARE putting their kids first by getting themselves out of an unhappy marriage. Unhappy mom isn't exactly the great model for kids.

You commented there was nothing these women could - and can - do. I call BS on it. Many do get out and more should. Many aren't thinking of the kids. Many are thinking its easier to stay and be looked after than go and work. Why do I know this? Because I've had plenty say it to me. You always like to think women here are the victims. Often they are not. Clearly in this case this woman is not the victim. The dead husband is.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

They ARE putting their kids first by getting themselves out of an unhappy marriage. Unhappy mom isn't exactly the great model for kids.

You commented there was nothing these women could - and can - do. I call BS on it. Many do get out and more should.

I understand the intense societal pressure to stay with the father of your child/ren is very strong, but in the end I agree with tmarie. I came from a 'broken' home, and I will never stop being grateful that my mother chose to take the hard route and raise us 3 without our selfish, cheating, abusive father. Sure it wasn't easy, but I am sure it would have been worse to watch my mother be treated poorly on a daily basis.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

An old 80's rap song by a group called "UTFO" had the refrain: "Treat your woman right, or get that burning bed at night." I guess that rings true in this case. I guess it is better to just keep it to yourself, no matter how long ago it occurred.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Woman who beat husband to death over affairs 36 years ago avoids jail time

Definitely thought she beat him to death 36 years ago. Great title..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

tmarie,

And anyone with kids gets what? Millions of moms file for divorce every year. They ARE putting their kids first by getting themselves out of an unhappy marriage.

Clearly, you have lost sight of the fact that this entire discussion is predicated on the entirely fair assumption that we're talking about how Japanese and Japan deals with divorce and infidelity.

Considering the total number of divorces in Japan in 2013 was a total of 231,000 couples (a rate that has actually been in decline since 2003, BTW),it would seem your "millions of women" example doesn't quite help in driving home any message that Japanese women somehow have a plethora of options after divorce in Japan.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Not at all. I have numerous divorced J mom friends. I also have a few that didn't get married when they found out they were pregnant. Nothing will change here if people use the old "staying together for the kids" excuse. Many here don't stay together for the same of the kids. They stay because for them its the easiest thing to do. Many would rather be in a miserable and unhappy marriage than get off their backside and work. And many men stay because they want to see their kids. Sorry but the whole "for the kids" is BS.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I have numerous divorced J mom friends...

Which is what is known as a statistical availability or "friend of a friend" fallacy. Just because some percentage of your friends are basket weavers doesn't mean that the same percentage of people are basket weavers elsewhere (obviously).

They stay because for them its the easiest thing to do. Many would rather be in a miserable and unhappy marriage than get off their backside and work.

Not only a wholly unsupported generalization, but also a patently offensive one, particularly when you characterize a person's decision to live with physical or emotional abuse as one of sheer laziness. Un-freakin'-believable.

From the World Economic Forum's 2014 Global Gender Gap Report:

This year, Japan ranks 102nd on the Economic Participation and Opportunity subindex, 93rd on the Educational Attainment subindex, 37th on the Health and Survival subindex and 129th on the Political Empowerment subindex.

Japan has the lowest percentage of women on boards of listed companies and is among the countries with the highest difference between female and male average minutes spent per day on unpaid work.

Japan is among the countries with the biggest differences between the percentage of female and male students enrolled and graduating in STEM studies. There is a similar situation for the percentage of PhD graduates.

It's not just the World Economic Forum that sees the glaring opportunity disparities that plague women in Japan. The World Bank, the OECD, the ILO -- they all report the same issues. Women in Japan, single, married, divorced, or otherwise, do not have access to the economic opportunities you seem to believe exist in abundance if they could but only "get off their backside."

It's becoming abundantly clear that you're bringing more personal baggage to this discussion than you're willing to be forthright about and are unable or unwilling to find a way to reconcile that baggage with things you already know to be true. For example:

Nothing will change here if people use the old "staying together for the kids" excuse.

You all but admit here that things are less than ideal. Which is precisely what other posters have been saying all along.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Whoa. You've gone from simple unhappy marriages to abusive relationships. Do not put words in my mouth please.

I'm very familiar with the gender index ranking. There are various reasons for lack of female participation. Hence my comments above a few posts ago as to why women don't get paid their worth here.

And yes, stats vs personal knowledge are often very different. I wouldn't deny that but suggesting Japan doesn't have an issue with women not wanting to work and rather staying in unhappiness is not true is laughable. Again, go back to the stats you listed with work participation. Care to offer up and suggestions?

I'm not denying "personal baggage" as you call it. I have first hand experience with unhappy parents. Though mine were smart enough to get a divorce rather than "stay together for the kids" which my mom had to go and get a job.

Less than idea? Can you can me an ideal country where women get paid their worth and unhappy marriages aren't an issue? We don't live in an ideal world. However, how one resolves and deals with those issues greatly differences. Here it seems many would rather stay put and try and ignore it all. Not the ideal for others.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

She is old. In her time, if a woman divorced or was divorced, they were called Demodori and were ostracized. In some upper class people have a girl and boy have first meeting (OMiAi) before engagements. Boy promise like "I will only have one Mekake). then they engage and married.

@tmarie: Not ideal country but in USA, often wives have more money than husbands. Some ambitious men marry to wealthy women. I think some Japanese do too. for instance Mrs Abe is heir of Morinaga while Mr Abe is just big politicians' descendents.

.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I am appalled that this woman could kill her husband and just walk free. The background circumstances are irrelevant - particularly since there can be no evidence that there is any truth in her version of events.

She committed murder; she should serve at least 10 years inside.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

She is old. In her time, if a woman divorced or was divorced, they were called Demodori and were ostracized.

Good point Toshiko san. Why do (did) japanese ostracized those divorcees so much? Yes, she is old. But that negativity still persists in contemporary japanese society. What a burden for most women, all just for saving face.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm guessing some here don't realize that before the war Japan had one of the highest divorce rates in the world. Just like so many other things that folks here claim are "traditional" it is nothing but BS. And yes, she's old. So what? You thikn that is an excuse to allow her out of jail for BEATING her husband to death? Just think, had she gotten divorced, with her determination she could have built a nice company and lived a happy life.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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