A new case of domestic violence has shaken Japan and raised concern among citizens. In the city of Osaka, a 23-year-old woman was arrested after mutilating her partner, allegedly motivated by jealousy and fear of losing him. The case, revealed by the Japanese media The Sankei Shimbun, has once again brought into debate the limits of emotional attachment, control within relationships and the recidivism of aggressors who do not receive treatment or follow-up, the story has generated great repercussion in social networks, where thousands of users express their dismay.
A crime of passion in Japan: woman cuts off her boyfriend’s finger
Police in Japan’s Sonezaki district of Osaka reported on April 23 the arrest of Saki Sato, a 23-year-old unemployed woman facing charges of inflicting serious injuries on her partner. According to the police report, Sato was living with the young man in his 20s and they were in a romantic relationship, albeit with a history of domestic violence.
According to the Japanese authorities, between September 2024 and January 2025, the woman allegedly perpetrated multiple violent acts against the man, including repeated blows to the face, cuts with scissors and a particularly serious injury to the left ring finger, which was cut off with an axe. This finger, a symbolic key to the marriage, was found inside a bottle with preservative liquid stored in the refrigerator, suggesting a premeditated action.
During his statement, the victim explained that he was attacked after being accused by Sato of an alleged infidelity, the motive behind the act was blunt and disturbing. According to the young man’s own words, he stated: “She hurt me because she didn’t want me to be able to marry another woman,” said the young man, still shocked by the experience he had because of this act performed by Sato against him.
Japanese authorities confirmed that this is the third time that Saki Sato has been arrested for similar acts against the same person. The two previous arrests also involved physical violence, but neither reached the levels of brutality of the recent attack. However, the Japanese authorities, on previous occasions, she was prosecuted but released on probation.
So far, the defendant denies the charges, but the prosecution has already initiated the process of formal accusation due to the criminal history and the severity of the injuries, and is also analyzing whether she could face additional charges of premeditation or attempted murder, depending on the progress of the psychological and testimonial expertise.
This case in Japan has set off alarm bells in victims’ defense organizations, which are now calling for greater psychological monitoring of people with a history of violence and more effective protection mechanisms to prevent repeated aggressions within the same relationship. The case of Saki Sato has generated a wave of reactions both in the media and in social networks.
Where public opinion is divided between repudiation of the act and criticism of the authorities for not having acted more forcefully in previous arrests, this fact highlights the urgent need to strengthen prevention systems, mental health care and protection for victims of violence in relationships. Because love, when it turns into obsession, can become a real threat.