The grandmother's panic attack

The mother-in-law’s panic attacks are a recurring family crisis in the account of Mr. Kurumizawa’s disappearance. They begin after her husband dies, seem especially likely during rain, and leave her dependent on her son and daughter-in-law for reassurance; when her son vanishes, the attacks worsen and become part of the strain surrounding his disappearance.

Onset and Trigger

After her husband dies, the mother-in-law begins having panic attacks. Her daughter-in-law observes that they seem worse when it rains, probably because her husband died on a rainy night. The account presents this connection as a plausible explanation rather than a confirmed diagnosis: weather appears to reactivate an association with the bereavement.

Episodes and Family Response

During severe episodes, the daughter-in-law describes the mother-in-law as seeming as though a screw has come loose in her head. The mother-in-law calls the couple, and her son goes down two floors in their building to look after her, trying to calm her and assure her that everything will be all right. If he is not home, the daughter-in-law takes his place. The attacks therefore shape an established routine of care, with either member of the younger household responding when the mother-in-law needs help.

Worsening After the Disappearance

When the daughter-in-law speaks with the volunteer investigator, she explains that her mother-in-law’s nerves have become worse since her husband disappeared. She regards the disappearance as a shock to her, while also asking the investigator to keep the matter from the neighbors because she has not told them that her husband is missing. The account thus links the mother-in-law’s deteriorating condition to a second disruption in family life, while showing that the disappearance itself is being kept private.