Japanese Woman Sews Housemate's Lips Shut with Needle and Thread

Masae Sakurai, a 49-year-old woman from Koga, Japan, has been arrested for sewing her 42-year-old housemate's mouth shut with a needle and thread. The incident occurred on June 29 around 1:30 PM at Sakurai's residence. The suspect repeatedly pierced the victim's upper and lower lip, forcing her to live with her mouth sewn shut for nearly an entire day.

The victim managed to escape on June 30. Unable to speak due to the tight stitches, she put on a face mask and quietly asked for help at a nearby shop using a handwritten note. Her life is not in danger, but the extent of her injuries remains unclear.

The two women had been living together since April 2025. The victim stated she was too afraid of Sakurai to flee earlier. The suspect's home had been functioning as a shelter for runaways and people in difficult situations, with Sakurai often helping them find work. A former colleague described her as someone skilled at making people dependent on her. Neighbors recalled that Sakurai had previously lived in the area with a foreign husband, but he has not been seen for a long time. Police suspect there may have been more people staying at the residence and are investigating the living situation further.