[user104658]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I think you have to appreciate Japanese culture to understand why this can occur, i expect the man would be trying to save face and honour and its a different world their in terms of how they view disability etc

You cant just think about it from a UK pov

And this happens an awful lot in China for example

I was going to say that, Japan has a very "honour based" society and that may well play into this. I don't think it's so much that it would be seen as shameful to have a disabled family member... But stoicism and the ability to cope with stress / challenge is highly valued. So if someone is NOT coping, they might consider it dishonourable to ask for help or to just give up.

(That's also a big part of the high suicide rate; its seen as more honourable to end it than to admit to mental health struggles and ask for help)

That said, it still doesn't excuse it nor does it explain locking him in a painfully small cage, rather than just in a bedroom or something.