Three bodies were found after an apparent arson fire destroyed a house in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, early Thursday, police said.
The 19-year-old son of the owner was rescued from the fire with burns all over his body. He told investigators that he had intended to die over problems at home and poured a flammable liquid in the house and ignited it, police said.
The homeowner, 56, a plasterer, was working away from home in Kanagawa Prefecture, and the bodies are believed to be those of the man's 49-year-old wife, son, 23, and their 13-year-old daughter, police said, without providing names.
The fire broke out at around 2 a.m. Thursday.
Other residents of the house were the owner's 84-year-old mother and his oldest son, 26, both of whom were rescued and taken to hospital for treatment of burns.