It is a Crime to Sew Your Roommate’s Lips Shut

This is a strange one that I read about in several different news sources. None of the sources answered the WHY of this strange occurrence. 

Koga City, Ibaraki Police arrested 49 year old, part-time worker, Masae Sakurai, on a suspicion of assault for sewing together the upper and lower lips of her 42 year old room mate with a needle and thread on June 29th of this year. The two women had been living together since April 2025. They shared a home with other roommates. 

The day following the sewing incident, the 42 year old with her lips sewn shut and wearing a white face mask, went to a nearby shop and handed the store clerk a note with “Please help me. I cannot speak. Please call the police.” written on it.The police were called and the woman was taken to the hospital by ambulance.  The woman told the police she was afraid of her roommate and couldn’t escape right away. 

Police are questioning the other people living in the house. Neighbors said seven or eight people were constantly coming and going and no one knew what any of them did for a living. They also said the residents of the house refused to interact with the neighborhood association. 

I will be watching for updates on this strange story.

(Not actual lips - picture from the internet.)