Two junior high school students in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture, were arrested Wednesday for allegedly trying to murder the mother of one with an ax, local police said.
The boys were only identified as being aged 15 and 14. Their identities are protected under the Juvenile Law.
The mother sustained injuries to her skull in the attack, police said.
The 15-year-old boy had stolen a bicycle a few days earlier and conspired with his classmate to kill his 52-year-old mother because he was afraid of being scolded, according to investigations.
At around 6 p.m. Tuesday, the classmate called the mother to the front door of her home. While she was distracted, her son sneaked up behind her and struck her in the head several times with an ax, according to police.
The boy's father heard his wife screaming and stopped the attack.
The teens fled, but were arrested Wednesday after the 15-year-old boy came to the house of his classmate in the morning, investigators said. Police said the boy was quoted as saying he had been "fed up" with his mother's constant nagging about such things as studying.