27-Year-Old Woman’s Life Story Uncovered Amid Yamanote Line Stabbing Trial

Severe Abuse Suffered in Childhood

In January 2024, an unemployed woman, defendant Maki Ono (27), was charged with attempted murder and violation of the Swords and Firearms Control Law for stabbing and injuring five passengers with a kitchen knife aboard a moving JR Yamanote Line train. The sentencing hearing in this case was held on December 12 at the Tokyo District Court, where she was sentenced to 12 years in prison (the prosecution had sought 18 years).

The key issue at trial was whether Ono possessed full criminal responsibility. Presiding Judge Akira Arai stated in the reasons for the verdict:

“Her criminal responsibility was not significantly diminished,”

thereby recognizing full criminal responsibility. He further condemned the act, saying:

“This was an extremely malicious crime based on a firm intent to kill.”

At the same time, however, he also noted:

“It cannot be denied that her harsh upbringing affected her mental state.”

So what exactly was the harsh upbringing of the defendant Ono? At the hearing on November 27, the defendant was questioned, and her harrowing life story was revealed in her own words.

Entering the courtroom wearing a gray sweatshirt top and bottom, Ono’s hair hung down over her eyes, making it impossible to read her expression.

In its opening statement, the prosecution read aloud Ono’s personal history.

Born in Akita Prefecture in 1998, Ono lived with her parents and three older sisters, a family of six. Her mother abandoned her childcare responsibilities, while her father shouted at the daughters with phrases such as “Don’t call me Dad,” “Don’t eat,” “Don’t bathe,” and “Don’t walk,” and routinely subjected them to physical abuse. They were not given meals and instead licked salt to stave off hunger.

At the age of six, all four sisters were taken into protective custody and placed in a children’s care facility. However, from the first grade of elementary school, Ono began exhibiting problematic behavior. She reportedly developed conduct disorder (editor’s note: a condition involving repeated acts that violate the basic rights of others), including habitual shoplifting, playing with fire, and urinating and defecating on cardboard boxes left in parks.

She continued shoplifting after entering junior high school. After being bullied, she developed persecutory delusions and inappropriate emotional expression, leading to increased friction with those around her. Feeling unable to cope with life, she attempted suicide by drinking bleach.

After entering high school, she again attempted suicide by consuming large amounts of water and salt. She later dropped out of high school and went to live with her second-oldest sister, who had offered to take her in, but the relationship broke down. Living alone thereafter, Ono worked as a security guard, supermarket stock clerk, and in delivery health services, but none of these jobs lasted long.

She later entered a public assistance facility but was forced to leave for failing to follow the rules. In 2020, she attempted suicide using aconite poison. In 2023, she moved into a group home, but her problematic behavior continued there as well.

On the day of the incident, January 3, 2024, she entered the room of a male resident at the facility. Being reprimanded by staff over this incident became one factor that led to the crime.

I wish they had investigated the defendant more deeply

Ono listened motionless as the prosecution read its opening statement, but during questioning, she began speaking in her own words.

Regarding the abuse she suffered from her father, she said:

“He held my feet upside down and dropped me.”

At the same time, she expressed:

“I think my father is a kind person. Very kind, but so kind that it became cruel.”

When asked about repeatedly shoplifting as a child, she answered:

“I stole books even though I didn’t like them. I think it was because I didn’t want to. I didn’t like stationery much either.”

She also reflected on the day of the incident.

After being scolded for entering a male resident’s room, Ono was shocked. She borrowed money from the man, left the group home, bought a kitchen knife with the money, and entered a karaoke room. After spending a few hours there, she left, bought snacks and cigarettes at a convenience store, headed to a Yamanote Line station, and committed the attack. Below is a question-and-answer exchange between Ono and her defense attorney:

Defense attorney: “Why did you choose the Yamanote Line as the location?”
Ono: “I thought a train would be good. Because there are lots of people.”

Defense attorney: “After the attack, did you feel less troubled in life?”
Ono: “No, I didn’t.”

Defense attorney: “Do you want to do it again?”
Ono: “No, I don’t.”

Regarding the verdict, we asked Dr. Masafumi Usui, a professor of social psychology at Niigata Seiryo University Graduate School, for his opinion:

“Considering her harsh upbringing, it’s true that her personality was significantly distorted. She was not in a healthy state, but that alone does not justify a reduced sentence, so I think the 12-year prison term is appropriate. Even considering the possibility that her mental state was affected, she understood that killing someone is a crime, right? She could have stopped herself, right? That’s what the judgment seems to imply.”

Dr. Usui also said that this case and trial need to be widely known:

“When we think about how society can prevent such crimes, I feel this trial was insufficient. I wish they had investigated the defendant more deeply. Living by licking salt seems impossible in modern society—but there are still many children today who are forced to endure such circumstances.

In the defendant’s case, it’s possible that no helping hand was ever extended. Of course, not all such people become criminals. Most remain victims. Because these things are so rare, people cannot relate to them personally. But that doesn’t mean we can just blame the defendant and move on.

We need to understand that this actually happens in reality and think about what to do next. For that reason, cases and trials like this need to be widely known. Japan’s social systems themselves are not bad, but there are people they don’t reach. We need to consider how to connect those who truly need help to the various support channels that already exist. I hope this case serves as one such opportunity to think about that.”

Crimes like this must never happen again.