Additional Coverage:
- Woman ‘sewed roommate’s lips shut’ as victim alerted store worker with ‘help me’ note (themirror.com)
A 49-year-old woman in Japan has been arrested on suspicion of sewing her roommate’s lips shut with a needle and thread, police say.
Masae Sakurai, from Koga city, was taken into custody on July 6 following the disturbing incident that occurred on June 29 at their shared residence. The victim, a 42-year-old woman whose identity remains confidential, reportedly endured almost a full day with her lips stitched tightly together.
According to authorities, Sakurai pierced the victim’s upper and lower lips multiple times, effectively rendering her unable to speak. The victim managed to escape the home the next day but was still unable to talk due to the stitches. In a desperate plea for help, she wrote “help me” on a note and showed it to a nearby store worker while concealing her injuries behind a face mask.
When questioned by police, the victim said she delayed fleeing out of fear of Sakurai. “I was afraid of Sakurai, so I couldn’t escape right away,” she told investigators, as reported by local media. Authorities confirmed the woman’s injuries are not life-threatening.
Further investigation revealed that Sakurai had been running a communal living arrangement at the residence, reportedly providing shelter and assistance to vulnerable individuals who had fled their homes. Some neighbors mentioned that Sakurai had initially moved to the area with her husband, described as a foreign national, who has not been seen recently.
Police have interviewed several other residents who lived at the property. Those familiar with Sakurai say she was known for helping people in difficult circumstances by offering accommodation and even helping them find jobs. A former coworker from a restaurant described her as someone “skilled at drawing people to her side.”
Authorities continue to investigate the case, looking into whether others may have been affected by Sakurai’s actions.