According to the Koga Police Department in Ibaraki Prefecture, Masae Sakurai attacked her 42-year-old friend at their home around 1:30 p.m. on 29/6.
Masae, a 49-year-old part-time worker, allegedly used a needle and thread to sew together the victim's upper and lower lips, causing injuries that prevented her from eating, drinking, or speaking.
On the afternoon of 30/6, the victim, wearing a mask, attempted to flee the house while Masae was out, heading to a store about 300 meters away. Unable to speak due to her sewn mouth, she handed a handwritten note to a store employee that read, "Please help me". Staff immediately contacted authorities.
Police announced the arrest on 6/7 but have not yet disclosed whether the suspect admitted to or denied the assault charges.
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Masae Sakurai when arrested. *Photo: FNN*. |
Investigations revealed that the victim, who is unemployed, had been living with the suspect since 4/2025. When questioned about the abuse, the victim reportedly told police, "I was afraid of Masae, so I didn't dare to run away immediately".
Police did not disclose the extent of the woman's injuries but stated that her life was not in danger.
Authorities are investigating the relationship between the two women, the motive, and the circumstances of the incident, and are questioning other residents of the house.
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The house where the incident occurred. *Photo: Abema News*. |
Acquaintances of Masae told TV Asahi that they heard she offered shelter to runaways and helped them find jobs, suggesting that multiple people may have stayed at her house at different times.
According to neighbors, Masae had been living in the house where the incident occurred for two to three years. When she first moved in, she lived with her foreign husband and two children, but the husband was no longer seen later. Some neighbors reported seeing many other people coming and going from the house, whom Masae claimed were relatives.
The motive for the crime has not been disclosed. However, initial investigation details suggest this may not have been an impulsive assault but rather an act that occurred in a context where the victim was controlled by and dependent on the suspect for a long period.
Tue Anh (according to Tokyo Reporter, FNN, Japan Times)
