Fukuoka Prefectural Police headquarters (Mainichi)

KASUGA, Fukuoka -- A 39-year-old woman was arrested in this southwestern city on March 8 on suspicion of abusing her 6-year-old son after video of the incident was posted to Twitter, police said.

The woman's eldest son, a junior high school student, is thought to have taken and posted the video, and several people across Japan called police at around midnight on March 7 after seeing it online.

The unemployed woman was arrested for allegedly abusing her youngest son at their home in the city of Kasuga around noon on March 5. The assault included kicking the 6-year-old's back, stomach, and other parts of his body. The boy did not sustain any serious injuries.

According to the Fukuoka Prefectural Police, the woman has admitted to the allegation and explained that she was frustrated because the little boy had lied. She was quoted as saying, "I physically attacked him several times."

Police say the video shows the 39-year-old scolding and kicking her son, who was collapsed on the floor, crying and screaming. Osaka Prefectural Police analyzed the video to determine who uploaded the video and other information, and informed the Fukuoka Prefectural Police.

The woman lives together with her husband and two sons. The prefectural police visited their home last April after a neighbor reported that the eldest son was being beaten by a family member. Officers informed the Fukuoka child consultation center about the case after questioning the boy's parents.

The consultation center instructed the parents to stop the abuse and also alerted the junior high school that the eldest son attends. The center has taken the two boys into temporary care following the latest incident.

(Japanese original by Yuta Hiratsuka and Takashi Miyazaki, Kyushu News Department)