A 37-Year-Old Woman Who Abducted a 16-Year-Old Boy She “Loved”… The “End” of a Nearly One-Month-Long Escape from Chiba to Hiroshima

The four of us—including his parents—talked it over, but…

“I liked him and we were dating, so I wanted to do something to help him.”

The 37-year-old woman who abducted a 16-year-old boy without his parents’ permission explained her motive in court as follows.

“On March 31, ’26, the Chiba Prefectural Police announced the arrest of defendant Eri Shirane (37), an unemployed resident of Hiroshima City, on suspicion of kidnapping a minor.Shirane is suspected of abducting A (then 16), a resident of Chiba Prefecture whom she met on social media last November, by taking him to her home in Hiroshima City—knowing he was a minor—and allowing him to stay there overnight.

A missing person report was filed by A’s guardian that same month, and as a result of the investigation, A was found at the defendant’s home. After she took him away again in February of this year, A’s parents filed a criminal complaint, leading to her arrest.Although Defendant Shirane admitted to the charges, A reportedly stated, “I’m in a relationship with Ms. Shirane. If I’m separated from her by even 1 mm, I won’t say a word.” (Social Affairs Reporter, National Newspaper)

On July 2, ’26, the first hearing for Defendant Shirane was held at the Chiba District Court, and the trial concluded on the same day.

Shirane’s crimes, as revealed in the indictment read by the prosecutor and her opening statement, were the result of her obsession with a boy about two age groups younger than her—despite opposition from A’s parents and repeated warnings.

Shirane, who entered the courtroom wearing a light blue shirt and black sweatpants, is petite, standing about 150 cm tall. With her fair complexion and hair tied back in a single ponytail, she appeared, at first glance, much younger than her actual age.

Around July of ’25, Defendant Shirane met A through TikTok. Then, in November, she allegedly allowed A to stay overnight at her home in Hiroshima City without his parents’ permission. The incident came to light when A’s mother filed a missing person report, and A’s parents subsequently learned of the relationship between the two.

Although A’s mother had asked her to “wait until A turns 18,” the defendant repeatedly took A away. Consequently, in mid-February of this year, a meeting was held at a police station in Chiba Prefecture involving the defendant, A, A’s parents, and police officers.At that point, A’s mother had not yet filed a criminal complaint regarding the November abduction.

Reuniting with A, Who Had Run Away from Home

The prosecutor read out the details of this conversation in his opening statement as follows:

“A’s mother and father informed the defendant that they did not approve of her relationship with A. A police officer present at the meeting explained to the defendant that if she were to take A away again without his parents’ permission, it would constitute a crime and she could be arrested; the defendant acknowledged this.”

During the discussion, Defendant Shirane told A, “I wanted to have a healthy relationship, but since both of your parents told me not to, it’s impossible for us to be together,” and broke up with him. She then reportedly promised that same day that she would “return to Hiroshima.”

However, immediately after the discussion, A shoved his mother and ran away from home. He contacted Defendant Shirane and met up with her at the home of one of A’s acquaintances. The next day, when a police officer called Defendant Shirane, she lied, saying , “I’m at an acquaintance’s place in Tochigi, ” and concealed the fact that she was with A.

After that, the two began their journey toward Hiroshima.

First, Defendant Shirane contacted a man in Aichi Prefecture whom she claimed to have met on TikTok. She had him drive to Chiba to pick them up, and they then spent about two weeks at that man’s home together with A.Then, they had a woman in Hiroshima City—whom they had also met on TikTok—drive to Aichi to pick them up. After staying with her along with A-kun, they returned to Defendant Shirane’s home. During this time, A-kun’s parents had filed a missing person report.

Then, on March 25, someone called 110 to report that the two were fighting. Police officers who rushed to the scene took A into protective custody on the spot. Defendant Shirane was subsequently arrested.

According to Defendant Shirane, A had been having trouble getting along with his parents and had wanted to leave home. When she told A , “You should talk things through properly with your parents first,” he reportedly replied:

“Even if I talk to them, they’ll make me break up with you, Mr. Shirane. I’m scared that I’ll never be able to see you again.”

Despite having told A, “I won’t get close to you,” Shirane stated regarding her feelings when she met up with him and headed to Hiroshima : “I was scared. I knew this would constitute kidnapping.”

“From now on, I want to really focus on my child.”

Since there were acquaintances in Hiroshima who were connected to A-kun via TikTok, Shirane stated , “A-kun seemed to be having fun playing every day.” Following that, Shirane offered the following words of apology:

“I am an adult, and he is a minor, yet I am truly sorry that I could not stop myself from going that far and that I could not send him home.”

Defendant Shirane has a husband from whom she is separated, and they have a young son in elementary school. She stated that she would sever ties with A-kun and live with a sense of responsibility as a mother for the sake of her child, who is currently in a foster care facility.

“Being arrested and facing this situation has allowed me to think calmly. My top priority now is to move out of my current residence, relocate near the facility where my child is staying, and focus on raising my child properly from now on. My current resolve is to fulfill my responsibilities as a mother.”

In his closing argument, the prosecutor stated , “The abduction in this case lasted for a long period—just under one month—and the degree of infringement on custody rights was significant.”“Despite receiving stern warnings from police officers, she repeatedly engaged in similar acts, and given her strong fixation on the victim, there is a high risk she will commit similar crimes again, ” and sought a “sentence of one year and six months in prison.”

On the other hand, the defense attorney stated , “This is a case in which the victim, with a very strong determination, sought to accompany and live with the defendant,” and argued , “The defendant has promised not to contact the victim in the future, not to use social media or similar platforms, and to reassess his living situation, including changing his residence and phone number,” adding, “We therefore hope for a suspended sentence.”

When asked by the judge , “What would you do if A were to contact you in the future?” Defendant Shirane replied , “I will not respond at all. If he shows up nearby, I will call the police.” In response to the defense attorney’s question, “Have you ever received money from A, or have you had sexual relations with him?” she answered , “No.”

As mentioned at the beginning, she stated that it was not merely a matter of having feelings for A-kun, but that she “wanted to do something to help A-kun, who didn’t want to stay at home.” However, will she be able to make a fresh start following this arrest?

The verdict is scheduled to be handed down on July 15.