Police in western Tokyo have arrested a 79-year-old man on suspicion of killing his 100-year-old mother at their home on November 25. Authorities said the suspect, Masato Watabe, allegedly covered his mother Masako’s mouth and committed other acts of violence before calling emergency services to say he was tired of caring for her.
The emergency call was made around 2:10 p.m. local time. Masako Watabe was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Japan’s declining birthrate and rapidly aging population have contributed to growing social challenges, with elderly individuals increasingly expected to care for even older relatives, sometimes despite limited physical ability.
