A woman in Japan has been arrested after police say she allegedly sewed her roommate’s lips together with a needle and thread in a shocking assault.
Masae Sakurai, 49, was arrested by police in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, after her 42-year-old female roommate reportedly escaped the home and sought help at a nearby shop, according to multiple reports citing local authorities.
The alleged assault happened on June 29, when Sakurai is accused of sewing the woman’s lips shut. The victim, whose name has not been released, was unable to speak after the alleged attack.
A day later, around 1:30 p.m. local time, the woman reportedly managed to leave the home while Sakurai was out. Wearing a white face mask, she ran to a nearby store carrying a piece of paper with a desperate message written on it: “Please help me.”
Because she could not speak, the note was enough to alert an employee, who called police. Sakurai was later arrested on suspicion of assault, according to Japan Today.
The alleged victim had reportedly been living with Sakurai since around April 2025. She later told police she had been too frightened to leave right away.
“I was afraid of Sakurai, so I couldn’t escape right away,” she reportedly said, according to Japan Today.
As police continue investigating the disturbing case, people who know Sakurai have described a complicated situation inside the home.
Acquaintances told TV Asahi that Sakurai had allegedly allowed people “who ran away from their homes” to stay at her residence, according to The Japan Times.
One 49-year-old woman who previously worked with Sakurai said she learned about three years ago that Sakurai was “taking care of girls who have nowhere to go after reaching out to their parents,” according to Japan Wire. Sakurai also reportedly helped some of the people living with her find jobs.
Another acquaintance, 54, told reporters they visited the home in November and saw “two or three women and a male around the age of a junior or senior high school student,” according to Japan Wire.
Police are now reportedly questioning people who had been staying at the residence and are believed to have been present during the alleged incident, Independent reported.
Authorities have not released a possible motive. Police also have not said whether Sakurai has admitted to the alleged assault, according to reports from Asia News Network, Independent and Japan Wire.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Maybe the roommate should give her the same treatment
What’s wrong with that??
The roommate talked too much!!!