WTF??? Japan man 'kept dead mother in a backpack'

[malaise]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11039196
<snip>
The remains of a Japanese woman have been found in a backpack, in the latest gruesome discovery by investigators searching for missing old people.

The woman's son told police his mother died in 2001 but he had not been able to pay for a burial.

A similar discovery weeks ago sparked a search for people who are registered as being more than 100 years old.

According to Japanese media, the audit has so far identified 281 centenarians who are missing or have already died

[marmar]

1. Yikes !!!!

:scared:

[hlthe2b]

2. bizarre... but how many in this country can't afford burials, cremation

or any other end-of life service... Not that putting remains in a backpack is at all normal, mind you, but just that the problem is undoubtedly emerging in this country as well.

[malaise]

4. Notice the welfare fraud at the end of the article

Many are hiding their elderly dead to collect the welfare benefits.

[hlthe2b]

5. Guess I should have read the article (and the "rest of the story)

;)

[malaise]

7. LOL

:evilgrin:

[MoonRiver]

3. Too much Mercury tainted whale and dolphin meat?

:shrug:

[mike r]

6. He probably couldn't afford the burial plot for the ashes

Cremation is standard in Japan, but the funeral industry there is notorious for gouging people with all the extras and crap. So the man didn't even bother.