21-Year-Old Japanese Woman Sets Fire to Her Ex's Father's House After Feeling Abandoned

A 21-year-old woman from Kusu City in Oita Prefecture, Japan, was charged with arson after setting fire to a two-story apartment building. According to court documents, she used a lighter to burn a blanket in a storage area in May 2025, causing the entire building to be destroyed. The woman, who had a six-year relationship with her ex-boyfriend's father that began during her middle school years, admitted to the crime. She claimed she felt abandoned and betrayed, believing her partner was seeing someone else. Her lawyer argued that the act was not a premeditated crime but a result of extreme emotional distress, noting that she had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The case is being tried publicly, with sentencing expected around February 12, 2026.