One Japanese husband was so jealous, he refused to speak to his wife for 20 years — despite sharing a house with her. The couple’s 18-year-old son, Yoshiki, reached out to a TV show for help after explaining his father had spent 20 years living with his wife, Yumi, in silence.
Their three children recall watching their father rebuff every one of their mother’s attempts at conversation in the past two decades. Instead, Otou would only respond with grunts and nods. When the TV show forced him to finally speak, his reason stunned many: he envied the attention Yumi gave to their children.
“I was kind of … jealous,” he said on the show. “I was sulking about it. There’s no going back now I guess.”
Yet perhaps not all hope is lost. The show forced Otou into meeting with Yumi at the same park in which they had shared their first date. There, it appears, he revealed he may have realized the error of his ways.
“You were so concerned about the kids,” were some of Otou’s first words to his wife in 20 years. “Somehow it’s been awhile since we talked. Yumi, up until now, you have endured a lot of hardship. I want you to know I’m grateful for everything.”
While his children looked on with happiness, many worldwide expressed their shock and anger on social media, with many calling the man “immature.”
“Is this intended to be a ‘feel good’ story?” asked one YouTube user on a video of the incident posted by Online News. “Because it isn’t. This petty f*** ignored his spouse for 20 years out of jealousy against his own children … Honestly, these levels of selfishness are usually reserved for fictional cartoon villains. “
Others debated whether or not the mother should have left. “Why waste 20 years not talking to your other half?” wondered one user, echoing the sentiments of many others.
Yet another user, however, disagreed.
“Older Japanese still feel a great sense of moral duty,” the user said. “Perhaps a little too much — it’s good she didn’t leave him, but it’s bad they never talked.”
H/T: Daily Mail
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