Husband's Regret After Wife Dies in Kumamoto Mall Explosion: 'Why Didn't I Tell Her Not to Go Back?'

A 39-year-old woman perished in an explosion at the AEON Mall in Kumamoto after a powerful earthquake struck the region. Her husband, also 39, shared his grief and lingering guilt in an interview with Japanese media.

The couple had spoken briefly by phone shortly after the earthquake, confirming each other's safety and their son's well-being. The call lasted about three minutes before the mall's explosion. When the husband tried to call back, his wife did not answer.

He believes his wife, who managed a clothing store on the mall's second floor, returned to the site due to her strong sense of responsibility, possibly to check on the store or prepare for its reopening. "Why didn't I tell her not to go back on the phone?" he lamented, consumed by guilt for not preventing her return.

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Why didn't I tell her not to go back on the phone?

After receiving news of her death three days after the incident, he finally broke down in tears upon seeing her severely injured body. Police believe she was crushed by falling debris near an exit, suggesting her death was likely brief and painless. The couple, who met in junior high and married 15 years ago, had postponed their wedding. The husband expressed regret that they never had the chance to take wedding photos, a dream they had planned to fulfill.

At her funeral, he honored her memory with a wedding dress she had always wanted and her favorite rice ball shop's egg rolls, which she had praised. Looking at the sky, he wished the explosion had happened just 10 seconds later. He vowed to fulfill their shared dreams with their son.

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If the explosion had happened 10 seconds later...