MIYAGI (TR) – Miyagi Prefectural Police have arrested a 24-year-old woman for fatally burying her newborn in snow after giving birth at her home in Shiogama City earlier this month, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Jan. 20).
On the morning of January 11, Tsunami Sato, a temporary worker, allegedly buried her baby girl in snow shortly after giving birth.
The child was later confirmed dead at a hospital. The results of an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was acute circulatory failure, police said.
Upon her arrest on suspicion of murder on Monday, Sato denied any intention to kill the baby. “I hid the baby in the snow,” she said. “I was in a panic at the time and didn’t think that far ahead.”

Dressed in pajamas
With a strong cold front flowing into Miyagi Prefecture between January 8 and 10, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency announcement regarding heavy snow.
When Sato buried the child, she was dressed in pajamas. A witness saw her behaving suspiciously and called police. Officers rushed to the scene and discovered the baby.
Sato needed hospitalization after giving birth. Police arrested her upon her release.
Sato’s parents were also living in the home, but they said that they were unaware she was pregnant.
Police are currently investigating the details of the incident.