Japan woman, 49, arrested for sewing together lips of female roommate, 42

A woman, 49, has been arrested in Japan for allegedly sewing together the lips of her roommate, a 42-year-old woman, using a thread and needle.

The victim only managed to seek help when she ran to a nearby store and showed the store employee a piece of paper with the words, "Help me".

According to Japanese news portal News on Japan, the incident took place in Koga, a Japanese city which is about an hour's drive north of Tokyo.

The suspect, Masae Sakurai, is supposedly a part-time worker.

She is suspected of sewing together the lips of her 42-year-old roommate several times at about 1:30pm on Jun. 29.

The victim told local police that she was unable to flee immediately as she was afraid of Sakurai.

The woman had apparently been living in Sakurai's home since April 2025.

Police did not disclose the extent of the woman's injuries, but said her life was not in danger, News on Japan wrote.

A nearby resident shared that Sakurai had little contact with neighbours and expressed surprise at the incident.

Local police investigations are ongoing.