Dad’s 20‑Year Cage‑Sentence Finally Comes to an End
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Japan’s police drop the arrest warrant on a dad who kept his 42‑year‑old with a mental health condition locked inside a wooden box for over two decades.
What Happened?
- Location: Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
- Key players: 73‑year‑old father Yoshitane Yamasaki and his son, who turned 42 in 2022
- The “cage”: 1‑meter tall, 1.8‑meter wide wooden crate, tucked into a prefabricated hut beside the main house
How the “Cage” Operated
The father said he fed his son and let him bathe every other day. He insisted the confinement was a “necessary measure” because, as he explained to city officials, his son had “mental problems” and would act up. Nothing about a vow to “cure him”; fate was sequestered in a cabin of concrete wood.
Was the Son Ok?
Despite the unusual living conditions, the son was reported as stable, yet suffering from a bent back. His story has yet to be entirely told—his name remains off the record—but reports indicate he’s now housed in a welfare facility.
Arrest
Early on Saturday, police took the dad to a local station on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment. According to a spokesman, the investigation remains ongoing and details will be released when they’re ready.
Why This Matters
In a world where parents step in to help their children cope with mental health challenges, this case underscores the fine line between care and unlawful restraint. The law no longer permits a one‑father‑plus‑wooden‑cage solution.
What We’ve Learned
- The importance of mental‑health support for families.
- The need for clear legal definitions about bounded care versus abandonment.
- A reminder that no one should be locked in a wooden box, no matter how long the “needs” may be.
Ultimately, the boy’s release and the father’s arrest have sent a clear social message: we must replace cages with counseling, empathy, and partnership—no more family prisons.
