Mother, 1-year-old daughter drown in hot spring in Toyama

Tuesday 15th July, 09:49 AM JST

TOYAMA —

A 30-year-old mother and her 1-year-old daughter were found dead Monday night at an open-air spa facility in Asahi, Toyama Prefecture. Shizue Fujii and her daughter Juri were found drowned in the spa around 6:40 p.m.

According to police, the mother, who came to the spa with other families, had been feeling unwell and she seems to have lost consciousness in the spa, while holding her daughter in her arms.

Police said the two were the only ones in the spa at the time of the incident.

Latest 15 of 44 Total Comments Show All

farhaan at 01:25 PM JST - 15th July

I guess the water temperature must be above 42 degrees and she must in water for more than a hour and lost consciousness by heat exhaustion.

Being in 42 degrees for lond time is not safe for adults but safe for children.
serindipity at 03:02 PM JST - 15th July

Awe, c'mon! Murder/suicide? Don't be so bloody ridiculous. Clearly she was murdered by the onsen fairies!

It's just another tragic accident that should never have happened. It was more than likely she passed out from heat stroke and drowned with the baby. A consequence of two very stupid mistakes. 1) going to an onsen while ill 2) taking a baby into an onsen.
LFRAgain at 03:47 PM JST - 15th July

Drowning oneself isn't exactly an easy feat. Doing so while holding a baby can't be much easier. Of course, an autopsy may prove otherwise, but it sounds like this was just a tragic accident.
Apsara at 03:59 PM JST - 15th July

I agree with the above- your body and brain's instinct for survival will pretty much prevent you drowning yourself in shallow water- you have to be out of your depth. Once you try to inhale water your body spasms violently and you would have a hard time staying under water as shallow as in an onsen. Only small children, or unconscious people drown in shallow water. It's pretty easy to conclude that she just passed out, and was not trying to kill herself or her child.
romulus3 at 09:27 PM JST - 15th July

I bet you she has been going to an Onsen when ill most of her life and felt better afterwards. All the gaijins here who judge because they have seen pictures of onsens in brochures and heard stories from their pretend Japanese friends should mind their own business. this was an accident or a horrible murder, but definitely not mother/infant suicide. the fact that is even mentioned is a disgrace. Cleo called it right down the middle.
Betting at 09:59 PM JST - 15th July

How many of us have entered a hotspring and then when we got out, felt dizzy? I think it might be rather common. I believe this was just an accident from an unfortunate combination of events that resulted in the death of two people.
usaexpat at 11:16 PM JST - 15th July

Tragic accident, I'm sure the mother didn't bank on passing out and drowning with her child. Get real people this wasn't a murder suicide.
lipscombe at 01:04 AM JST - 16th July

no-one knows what happened EXCEPT the mother showed a terrible lack of common sense.
Smythe at 04:39 AM JST - 16th July

Betting you do have a point. I use to do a quick dip in the Upper Hot Springs in Banff, Alberta Canada, during the skiing season, & yes often felt a bit dizy.

Thing is finally the light came on THAT was the reason I was with head colds for even in the coldest days, like others, I was hiking in for a shower with my hair all white from being under & above water. Yes I was a bit dumb in my 20s.
Molenir at 05:43 AM JST - 16th July

Yeah, like others have said, this is either a tragic accident or a murder. The murder/suicide thing just doesn't hold up.
kokuryu at 06:59 AM JST - 16th July

I am guessing she just felt relaxed and fell asleep in the hot springs. Other family members should have gone in with her, but I guess they never thought about that...
TheguyNextdoor at 11:12 AM JST - 16th July

FOr those of you who seem not to understand that the onsen is hot and while sitting there, you dehydrate your body, that is why some feel dizzy after standing up to exit. This seems nothing more then an accident, regretful but it is only that. If you are feeling ill of anykind, the onsen is not the way to go, lay down in your bed.
Zen_Builder at 11:26 AM JST - 16th July

To me it looks like an accident.

Ok, scenario here: She started to feel dizzy/sicker stood up slipped and hit her head becoming unconscious. Just as viable as the murder/suicide and even murder scenarios posted here.

Like I said before, I have been on such trips before. Sounds like she and her child traveled alone to spend a weekend/day with friend/families.

She hit the spa by herself as she had no other female companion with her, who most likely had a great time with their kids doing other stuff. Guys and gals bath separate here(most times).

I know that because I am　asked to go this year because I am available and can take care of the 6+yr olds guys who can no longer join their mothers on the womens side.

Bad situation as NOBODY else joined the spa at a time that could have saved her. Which also excludes murder as those outdoor spas are freely accessible and people can come and go at any moment.

Just my view.
dennis0bauer at 03:28 PM JST - 16th July

Nobody around to notice her? or was she in a seperate bathtub (some onsen have those) Otherwise i am clueless how this could have happened and usually Onsen workers regularly come to check and clean stuff.
cleo at 03:43 PM JST - 16th July

She was found at 6:40pm. Most of the other guests would still be at dinner, and the baths would be pretty empty. She may even have chosen a slack time so that having the baby with her wouldn't inconvenience other bathers.