"Disrupting Manga Viewing"... Japanese Parents in Their 60s Murdered and Bodies Abandoned

After Killing Father, Also Murdered Mother... Body Abandoned in Refrigerator
Court: "Extremely Malicious" Sentences to Maximum 30 Years

A man in his 60s in Japan was sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his parents in their 80s, claiming they disturbed his manga reading, and then disposing of their bodies.

According to local media such as NHK and Yomiuri Shimbun on the 11th, the Fukuoka District Court sentenced Junji Matsumoto (60) to 30 years in prison on June 6 for charges including murder.

On June 20, 2021, Matsumoto killed his father Hirokazu (88) and mother Mankie (87) at his home in the Nishiku area of Fukuoka, then disposed of their bodies in a refrigerator.

After abandoning his parents’ bodies, Matsumoto fled but was caught by police about two weeks later at a hotel in Kyoto city. It was reported that he admitted to all the murder charges during the trial.

On the day of the incident, his father, who had difficulty moving, asked Matsumoto for help to go to the bathroom. The father requested, "Since it’s hard to go to the bathroom, please bring a bucket to relieve myself." However, Matsumoto, believing his father was disturbing his anime watching time, killed his father and then also killed his mother who witnessed the act.

Police investigations revealed that Matsumoto had spent 35 years without much social activity, staying at home watching DVDs and anime. Local media described Matsumoto as a 'hikikomori' (recluse) who lived for over 30 years receiving allowance from his parents.

The court pointed out that "the fact that he committed murder without hesitation is extremely malicious," and sentenced him to the maximum prison term of 30 years for imprisonment with labor. The court added, "During this very long imprisonment, we hope he reflects on how his parents raised him with what kind of feelings."