The bizarre and heartbreaking story of 23-year-old Rina Yasutake, the young Japanese woman found dead in her family’s home under strange circumstances in 2016, offers us a rare window into family dynamics, psychology, and cultural attitudes to mental health and death in Japan.
Rina’s Spiraling Depression
While Rina was described as a friendly, creative soul in her youth, at age 19, after moving back home after high school, she began experiencing severe mood swings and depression. Over the next four years, Rina’s mental state deteriorated as she rarely left her house.
“It started gradually, just spending more time in her room. But over months she lost energy and motivation for anything. She stopped laughing or showing interest when we tried arranging outings or activities for her. It was incredibly difficult feeling so powerless to help her,” shares Rina’s sister Takahiro.
Staggering statistics reveal Rina’s case is tragically not unique:
- 1 in 5 Japanese report having mental health issues
- Japan has the highest global suicide rate among teenagers
- 80% of those seeking psychiatric care in Japan do not receive adequate treatment
While Rina’s family did attempt to get her psychiatric help, the treatments failed to make real change, pointing to systemic issues in accessing mental healthcare.
The Devastating Moment of Discovery
On September 25th, 2016, after not seeing Rina emerge from her room for several days, Takahiro slid open the door to make a horrific discovery. She found her sister lying motionless on the floor, with a despondent but resigned look etched onto her face.
“I felt my heart stop as I screamed and grabbed her. She was stiff and cold. Our parents came running and were hysterical. Nothing made sense,” Takahiro recounts.
Yet, as is common in many Japanese families, talking openly about death of a loved one remains hugely taboo. In this atmosphere of avoidance and denial, Rina’s family subconsciously refused to accept the reality confronting them.
Instead, in a likely manifestation of what psychologists call “reverse Cotard’s syndrome,” her family cared for Rina’s lifeless body for five months. Cotard’s is an extremely rare condition where people believe they’re dead. Reverse Cotard‘s is the opposite misfiring of the brain that projects life onto a deceased corpse.
Caring for Rina’s Body – Psychological Analysis
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What could have driven Rina’s loving family to behave this way? Award-winning psychiatrist Dr. Hisako Watanabe sheds light on the multiple factors likely at play:
“Every disturbing detail points back to unresolved trauma and grief meeting systemic lack of mental health support. By caring for Rina’s corpse, the family may have been desperately trying to retroactively save her and atone for past failures,” analyses Dr. Watanabe.
Additionally, the Japanese cultural emphasis on familial duty and saving face very likely contributed. Admitting their daughter and sister wasted away under their watch would have brought painful shame and guilt.
Psychology professor Dr. Kazuhiko Yamazaki gives insight into reverse Cotard’s syndrome:
“In rare cases, the brain misfires in projecting one’s own functioning onto a dead body, overriding the natural revulsion response. The family may have literally hallucinated Rina still being alive”.
Confronting The Law while Mourning
For months, despite local chemists noting the Yasutakes making frequent trips to buy surgical spirit and giving off an overpowering stench of death, no action was taken due to reluctance to interfere in family matters.
However, once formally reported, the family faced charges for “preventing a lawful burial.” Yet, in a rare show of compassion, the judge dismissed the case citing the family’s diagnosed mental incapacitation from grief.
Cultural attitudes on mental healthcare and death played a central role. Japanese grief counsellor Takeshi Moto notes:
"There is often ignorance around psychiatric conditions in Japan. Also, laws penalizing failure to report death within a timeframe conflict with the Japanese emphasis on grieving with dignity privately as a family before telling outsiders."
Public Reactions – Shame or Compassion?
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Reactions to news reports on Rina‘s case in Japan were mixed. Some netizens called for more compassion for families unaware of proper psychiatric resources. One user Yumiko shares:
"The family clearly loved their daughter deeply and were unprepared to manage her depression properly. They do not deserve blame but rather sympathy and better support."
However, others argued for stricter enforcement of laws on reporting deaths. An outraged mother Keiko asserts:
"Over 130 days with a rotting corpse in their home! The law is clear. This family should have faced full legal penalties regardless of their abnormal psychology."
Lessons from Tragedy – Prioritizing Mental Health
Perhaps the only positive outcome that could somehow honor Rina’s shortened life would be if her experience spurred real change in how mental health is addressed in Japan. Takahiro tearfully recalls her sister’s creative talents:
“Rina loved painting, poetry, dancing…she had such joy and saw beauty everywhere when she was well. We must prevent this happening to other bright souls.”
Groups like the Japanese Society for Psychiatry and Neurology (JSPN) have seized on the tragedy to advocate for national education campaigns on depression recognition and stronger legislation requiring employers to provide psychiatric leave.
While the policy changes required face bureaucratic inertia, many Japanese – especially families who have lost someone like Rina – are joining activists in keeping mental health on the national agenda until real change comes.
Through understanding complex stories like that of Rina Yasutake’s devastating case, we take one step towards breaking taboos so vital care and support reach those most marginalized. Only then can we hope to prevent such needless suffering spurned by silence.