Unpacking the Shocking Story of the “Ruling that Severe Punishment for Parricide is Unconstitutional” in “Wings of the Tiger”

Non-fiction writer Kanda Noriyuki shares his thoughts on the drama “Wings of the Tiger” (NHK), which features Judge Torako (Ito Sari) navigating the complexities of passing judgment on people through the law. In the final episode, a case from 55 years ago is revisited, where a woman was sexually abused by her father, gave birth to five children, was locked in her house after her marriage was opposed, and then killed her father who attacked her.

The Case that Made History

Kanda Noriyuki was surprised by the sudden plot twist in the drama, where a woman named Miiko (Natsumi Ishibashi) appears, claiming to have killed her father. This storyline is based on a real-life case that took place in 1968, where a woman was sexually assaulted by her biological father and later killed him in self-defense.

The Original Story

The original idea for the drama was based on Kiyonaga Satoshi’s book “Family Court Story”. Kanda Noriyuki was impressed by the book and enjoyed watching the drama, which explores the history of postwar legal systems in Japan.

The Real-Life Case

The Incident

The incident occurred on October 5, 1968, in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. A 29-year-old woman, who had been sexually assaulted by her biological father since she was 14 years old, gave birth to five children. Two of the children died, and the third grew up. Her biological mother left the house due to the unbearable situation.

Photo = iStock.com/taka4332

Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, where the first parricide trial was held (*Photo is for illustrative purposes only)

Conclusion

The drama “Wings of the Tiger” sheds light on a significant case in Japanese legal history, highlighting the complexities of the law and the importance of understanding the context of each case. The real-life story behind the drama is a powerful reminder of the need for empathy and compassion in the justice system.