Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-33757670-20171227143006/@comment-10733658-20171227212352

Death from Overwork is a serious issue in East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, so it really isn't unusual that his mother died in such a manner.

I personally think it's exactly as we've been told, that she worked herself to death. The primary reason I don't suspect anything sinister is because the major focus concerning Kaneki's mother was her inability to prioritize between her obligations. He's inherited that problematic behavior from her, refusing to share his burdens with others and thinking he has to do everything himself.

The abuse itself is also likely connected to her overworking, since domestic violence can be linked to severe stress and sleep deprivation. Those factors lower a person's threshold for losing their temper, and compromise their ability to make rational decisions or restraint impulses. A person that is overworked is more likely to lash out, because their inhibitions and tolerances are lowered.