Police arrested a couple Monday in Toyoake, Aichi Prefecture, on suspicion of causing the death of their 2-month-old son by leaving him inside their car on a hot afternoon while they played pachinko.
The parents, being held on suspicion of parental negligence resulting in death, have admitted to the allegations, according to police.
Rio Takeuchi died in a hospital of heat stroke and dehydration after being left in a car in the parking lot of a pachinko parlor from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday while his father, Masato, 24, and mother, Rie, 23, played inside, police said. The hospital alerted police.
The mother reportedly told police she found the baby was unconscious when she returned to the car. It had been parked in an open area with no shade and the windows were closed. The temperature reached 25 in the area that day.
Initially, she told officers she had been shopping at a mall in Kariya, not playing at the pachinko parlor.
Security guards at the parlor, which bars children, had been patrolling the parking lot but did not see the baby.