A 56-year-old Japanese man, Nobuhiko Suzuki, is under investigation after police discovered the skeletal remains of his father.
Suzuki reportedly concealed the body since January 2023 in his wardrobe to avoid the high cost of a funeral — about 1.3 million yen ($8,900 USD).
The incident came to light after Suzuki failed to open his Chinese restaurant for a week, prompting neighbors to alert authorities. Upon investigation, police found his 86-year-old father’s remains in the home. Suzuki told police he discovered his father dead and chose to hide the body because of the funeral’s expenses.
Police are now investigating Suzuki for alleged pension fraud, suspecting he continued to collect his late father’s pension.
Online reactions in Japan were mixed. While some condemned Suzuki for exploiting his father’s death, others sympathized with the financial and emotional toll of planning funerals.
