The injured woman escaped a home in Koga and sought help at a nearby store while the suspect was away.
KOGA, Japan — Police arrested a 49-year-old woman after she allegedly sewed her roommate’s lips together during an assault at their home in eastern Japan, leaving the injured woman unable to speak when she escaped and sought help.
Masae Sakurai, a part-time worker in Koga, was arrested on suspicion of assault following the June 29 incident, according to reports citing the Koga Police Station in Ibaraki Prefecture. The alleged victim, a 42-year-old woman whose name has not been released, left the residence the following afternoon while Sakurai was away.
The woman reportedly covered her injuries with a white face mask and went to a nearby store carrying a handwritten message that said, “Please help me.” A store employee contacted police after seeing the note and realizing that the woman could not speak.
Investigators allege that Sakurai used a needle and thread to close the woman’s lips in several places. Authorities have not released a complete account of how the alleged attack occurred, and detailed descriptions of the woman’s injuries have been withheld from this report because they are not necessary to understand the case.
The injured woman told investigators that Sakurai became angry during a dispute before the alleged assault, according to Japanese media reports. Police have not disclosed the nature of the disagreement or announced a confirmed motive.
The woman reportedly said she had been too frightened of Sakurai to leave the home immediately after the attack. She escaped at about 1:30 p.m. June 30, roughly one day after the alleged assault, when Sakurai was no longer at the residence.
Reports said the two women had shared the Koga home before the incident. Accounts differed on how long they had lived together, and authorities had not publicly clarified the exact date when the arrangement began.
People acquainted with Sakurai told Japanese media that she had allowed women who had left their homes or lacked stable housing to stay at her residence. Some acquaintances also said she helped residents search for jobs. Those accounts have not established what happened during the alleged assault.
Police were also questioning other people believed to have stayed at the house or been present around the time of the incident. Authorities had not said whether anyone witnessed the alleged attack or could provide additional information about the relationship between Sakurai and the injured woman.
Investigators had not publicly disclosed whether Sakurai admitted or denied the allegation. No additional charges, court date or detailed update on the alleged victim’s recovery had been announced.
The case remained under investigation as police worked to establish the events inside the home, determine whether anyone else was involved and clarify the circumstances that led to the woman’s escape.
Author note: Last updated July 11, 2026.