“If you walk as fast as possible, you can probably walk at around 7 ft/sec (1/4 mile in 3 minutes); and run at about 17 ft/sec.” (4 football fields end to end);
The World Book Encyclopedia. “A nonracer walks 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) in 15 to 20 minutes. A heel-and-toe expert can do it in 6.5 minutes”

The International Journal of Cryptozoology had a peer reviewed article on a Japanese highly venomous snake unrelated possibly to any other classified snake. It resembled a cross between a chunky Gaboon viper & a garden slug gastrapod or planaria worm.

So if the snake in the report was taxonomically related but a large sub-species, the snake may have been 15′ long (or less), while still being 3′ in circumference for most of its entire length, unlike a gradually changing in diameter 30′ python.

Still the 15′ snakes weight would be nearly as much with very large fangs able to inject copious amounts of venom far in excess of a King Cobra in a possibly 5′ or smaller petite Japanese woman nearly the size of a Caucasian child, with the venom reaching the vitals quickly to immobilize her for immediate swallowing.

Although a large non-venomous constrictor of 30′ long with her in its coils may not take much longer particularly if she was lying down in the field & the snake’s jaws seized her by her head initially.

Still, interesting (yes if very fishy) story. I didn’t even think Japan had such huge snakes.

So he must have had an axe with him.

hmmm… probably took his own good time to go to the village to round up help, as she wasn’t “another pretty face” anymore.

No doubt opportunity to acquire a younger new wife & more money now to spend on the geishas.

Back on target 12″ in diameter makes for at minimum 30 feet long, does it not?