Update on Lip Sewing Case

I first posted about this story last July, then a follow up with more information. The first hearing of her trial was held November 11th in the Mito District Court in Ibaraki Prefecture. 

During the hearing, 50 year old Masae Sakurai admitted to threatening her female roommate and forcing her to sew her own lips shut with a needle and thread. When she was arrested last July, she denied the allegations. 

In their opening statements, the prosecutors said that the 42 year old roommate had skipped meals after the defendant told her that “those who do not work, shall not eat”. The defendant became angry when the victim was caught eating without permission, which led to the crime. 

The prosecutors presented evidence, which included footage from a security camera installed in the shared home. Sakurai forced the roommate to sew her own lips shut, saying, “If you let me do it, the pain will be double.” The defense said it would not contest the charges or object to the admission of evidence. 

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for February 2027. I hope both of these women are getting help from mental health professionals.

Autumn Festival at Fujinomiya Sengen Shrine

This is one of my favorite fall festivals and I have attended quite a few times. It has a wonderful local feel, with families and traditional activities. It is a beautiful setting, usually in Mt. Fuji’s shadow. This day, Mt. Fuji was hiding in the clouds.

This fresh cold water comes down the mountain from Mt. Fuji. People bring containers to fill and take home.

My favorite food here is Fujinomiya yakisoba. 

There is usually some kind of martial art type demonstration at festivals here. On this day, there were sword demonstrations, with two participants cutting rolled tatami mats with their super sharp swords. I don’t know the name of the musical instrument that the woman in the kimono was playing, but the sound was perfect for this demonstration.

Below, the newspaper is being sliced.

Below is rolled tatami slicing.

Mt. Fuji is behind these clouds.

A highlight of this festival are these huge wood carts that are pulled around the streets near the shrine by the participants.

Snow on Mt. Fuji

We had a day of rain (at sea level). Mt. Fuji (at 3776 meters or 12,389 feet) got a lot of snow.

View from my apartment. I love it!

Work In Progress Wednesday

The Great Wave progress

Sneek Sampler progress

90 Year Old Japanese Body Builder

(Photos from Japan Today)

Toshisuke Kanazawa, 90 year old Japanese bodybuilder, competed in the 2026 IFBB World Fitness and Bodybuilding Championships in Santa Susann, Spain. 

Mr. Kanazawa was born in Shimane Prefecture in 1936 and was a gifted swimmer in high school. At the age of 24, he won the Mister Japan title, which he won again three years later. In 1967, he competed in the Mr. Universe competition in Montreal, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. Mr. Kanazawa finished fourth in that event. 

Since turning 80, he has won six World Masters championships. He credits clean living for his longevity and his physical abilities. He has never smoked or drunk alcohol, and gave up meat and fish decades ago. He has never been seriously ill. He currently trains at a gym in Hiroshima two hours a day, six days a week. He said he wants to be a bodybuilder until the day he dies. 

Amazing!

National Parks Quilt-a-Long - Block 8

 I read about this interesting quilt-a-long on this Piecework magazine website. This article directs participants to the Park’s website for instructions for blocks 7 - 10. 

The eighth block is the Carolina Lily. I thought I would have this finished, but I haven’t yet finished it. Getting all these triangles to fit together is difficult.  

Maybe next week…

Other Stuff - 

Around 1 am yesterday, the earthquake alarms started going off. I live in the light yellow area on the map where the tiny green circle is. The shaking didn’t last long, but I got dressed and put my “Go” bag by the front door. It was scary and I didn’t know what would happen, so I couldn’t go back to sleep.

My view of Mt. Fuji, from my apartment. There is just a dusting of snow.