"I knew she had died in the bathroom when her body was cold and unresponsive," Miyawaki told police. "But I didn't dare call the police or a hospital."
Miyawaki, unemployed, had left home and become homeless. His mother's death came to light in late May when a local official encountered him on the street and inquired about his family's well-being. Miyawaki's refusal to provide information raised suspicions, leading the official to contact the police.
In early June, police investigated the apartment registered in Miyawaki's mother's name in Kobe. They found the apartment filled with trash and a human skeleton in the bathroom.
DNA testing in early July confirmed the remains were Miyawaki's mother. Police said there were no signs of foul play, but the cause of death is still under investigation.
The incident has sparked outrage and speculation in Japan. Many expressed anger, questioning Miyawaki's motives. "He hid his mother's death to continue receiving her social security benefits. Social anxiety is just an excuse," one commenter wrote.
Others questioned the community's lack of awareness. "How could neighbors not know she had been dead for so many years? Wasn't there any unusual smell coming from the apartment?" another asked.
Some, however, suggest the case reflects a darker side of life in Japan, where mental illness and social anxiety (hikikomori) are prevalent.
"Perhaps he truly suffers from social anxiety. It's heartbreaking that someone would rather live with the dead than face the living," one netizen shared.
Similar cases of family members concealing the bodies of deceased relatives, primarily to continue receiving pensions or social security benefits, have occurred in Japan.
In 2010, a Tokyo man was discovered to have been dead for 30 years, yet his family continued to claim he was alive to receive his pension. That same year, in Osaka, a woman kept her mother's body in a freezer for two years to avoid losing her income.
In other instances, relatives admitted to social anxiety or not knowing how to handle a loved one's death, leading them to "ignore" the situation.
These incidents partially reflect the consequences of Japan's severe aging population, where nearly 30% of the population is over 65, and millions of elderly individuals live alone without family care.
Social isolation, coupled with economic pressures and a lack of community connection, has contributed to many deaths going unnoticed for extended periods.
Nhat Minh (Theo mbs.jp/SCMP)
