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Famous suicide spot turned Pokemon Go hotspot reports zero deaths so far in 2017

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By RocketNews24

Tojinbo is a natural landmark in Japan consisting of a kilometer-long stretch of rocky cliffs along the Sea of Japan in Fukui Prefecture. The column-like volcanic rock standing defiantly against the particularly violent waves in the area make for a beautiful scene.

However, it also has the dark notoriety of being a popular place to commit suicide. Like with many suicide hot spots, the more people commit suicide there, the more it fuels its reputation inviting even more at the end of their ropes. It’s a stigma that knows no end.

This dilemma has plagued resident Yukio Shige for years both as a police officer and head of a suicide prevention NPO after retirement. In his experience of investigating dozens of jumping deaths and preventing four-times as many, he says that about 90-percent of the cases come from outside Fukui Prefecture, likely drawn in by Tojinbo’s grim reputation.

Since starting his patrols and awareness campaigns, Shige managed to lower Tojinbo’s suicide rate to an all-time low of seven in 2014. Unfortunately, since then that number has been steadily climbing to 12 in 2015 and 14 in 2016.

However, at the end of the first quarter of 2017, the number has held steady at zero. This is no small feat either — national suicide rates are at their highest from March to July, so having gotten through last month without any deaths is a significant achievement.

And who do we have to thank for this? Brave Pokemon hunters.

We reported on what is now being called the “Pokemon Go Effect” back when it first appeared shortly after the game’s release in Japan. Then it wasn’t clear to what degree these Pokemon players were actually helping, but with a four month streak in effect, we’re starting to get an idea.

Once it was learned that Tojinbo was a breeding ground of some of the most elusive Pokemon around, people arrived in droves and camped out over night causing the once desolate scenery to become speckled with the warm glow of smartphone screens. Plateaus where people once stood to contemplate death became gathering places of Pokemon hunters tapping away at touch screens.

Even though the game’s popularity has dwindled since the pandemonium of its release, people are still going to Tojinbo. Tomoko Wakabayashi, a writer for the website Dot, visited there recently and heard from locals that although the numbers of Pokemon Go players had dropped through the winter, they seem to be on the rise again as the warmer weather returns and students enjoy a spring break.

One player in his 20s told Wakabayashi he was visiting his parents who lived in Fukui and decided to swing by for a quick sweep of the area. Another mother and daughter team came to Tojinbo for a second time to catch rare Pokemon together and bond with each other.

So even now Pokemon players are still attracted to Tojinbo and, much like the suicidal people before them, nearly everyone is from outside of the prefecture. These Pokemon tourists don’t simply go to areas with good photo opportunities either. Scouring the entire kilometer stretch for a Lapras or Aerodactyl, they leave few places for those with dark thoughts to be alone.

Moreover the entire atmosphere of Tojinbo seems to have changed, from a tragic-yet-beautiful landform to a place for fun and frivolity. As a general rule, suicides are less common in places where people typically go to hang out and have fun.

Readers of the news were impressed that a mere smartphone game could have such a transformative effect on the area.

“Really?! That’s great!” “Thank you, Nintendo.” “Akita Prefecture has the highest suicide rate in the country. It also has the fewest PokeStops in the country. Niantic, please give us more PokeStops!” “The stupid mass media always reports bad things about Pokemon Go. Why aren’t they talking about this?” “This is great for Tojinbo, but people who want to kill themselves will just find another place to do it.”

The sentiment that this hasn’t really solved the underlying factors for suicide is valid, but the notion that suicidal people really want to kill themselves is possibly more complex.

“I have been given many suicide notes,” Shige told Wakabayashi, “but not a single one ever said ‘I want to die’ in it.” He also says that people who consider suicide usually have difficult problems and also have trouble asking for help, and that many are just searching for someone to help them. It’s when no one offers a hand that bad things happen.

Nevertheless, although he acknowledges the positive effect Pokemon Go has had the area, Shige isn’t letting his guard down. He plans to increase the frequency of patrols and is also looking into getting a drone to help.

We hope this trend does continue to reverse the fortunes of Tojinbo from here on out. We also hope this lights a fire under the butts of Niantic so they can finally bring in a decent tracking system and worthwhile battle features to game.

If you or someone you know is in Japan and having suicidal thoughts, there are people here to help. Click here for more info.

Sources: Livedoor News, Hachima Kiko

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Unexpected Japan suicide facts are equal parts depressing and uplifting -- Retired Japanese man who saved over 500 from suicide to become star of worldwide documentary -- Is Pokemon Go helping prevent deaths at one of Japan’s most notorious suicide spots?

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4 Comments
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good. maybe we can have pokemon go in Aokigahara as well? seems the players would be less of a nuisance there than in the stations. And they might curb the suicides there as well.

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If you are one of the 96,000 people that have watched my videos that try to be uplifting and helpful videos you know how much it means to me that we do everything to help our fellow men and women on this earth. What you may not know is that I am alsoo a lvel 31 Pokemon Go player. I agree with what the article is saying about how bringing people together - even in far off places, has helped people not to feel alone. When people find themselves having a bad day, and someone walks by playing Pokemon Go - It just makes everyone not be alone in this world. I hope that the number of Pokemon players in Japan continues to go up and the number of suicides continues to go down. ( example of my videos that many have seen. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuTASe4m678 - Life going sideways video )

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So far. The two key words in that phrase.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

An example of how technology can help!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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