11-year-old boy throws himself under train near Osaka

Words fail me.

That was pointless!!! In his mind all that made perfect sense, I know. How sad! Rip young soul. Mercy be with his poor parents!

Speechless.

There must have been a bully at the school he was supposed to transfer to. There's no way that a normal 11 year old boy would do this. There is more to this story than meets the eye.

It would be awful to blame the parents, but you have to wonder about the home life.

Don't know about a bully but agree there must be more to this.No normal 11 year old would do this

why blame bullies or his parents? he even thanked his mom and said he loved her. the boy wanted to be a martyr. he irrationally believed that sacrificing his life would "save" his school from being closed.

WTF?! Eleven? Why is an elven year old even thinking about things like this? There aren't words to express my horror at why a child of that age felt the need to do this.

RIP young boy, and I can't imagine the nightmare his parents are living right now. This is just horrible.

Wow.....

Flabbergasted! Just.........what the...........?!?!?!?!?

RIP little guy.

It would be awful to blame the parents, but you have to wonder about the home life.

What rickyvee said.

Why do people insist on making up stuff without anything to support it? Nothing in the article (unless it gets edited) says anything about the boy's home life or trouble, imaginary or otherwise.

Don't know about a bully but agree there must be more to this.No normal 11 year old would do this

What I said.

Child suicide? God forbid it becomes a trend.

This is sad, really sad, but a fact of life facing many municipalities in Japan. Even down here in Okinawa one formerly large elementary school in downtown Naha was forced to close and the students sent to another local school because of the lack of children in the area.

Typically speaking public ES and JHS are run by the local city, town, or village, and limited/lower funding is causing many to have to look to other ways to "educate" the students and this is sadly one of the results.

The school did a poor job of preparing these kids for this to have happened.

Media reports said the child was upset about a plan to close his elementary school and send its pupils to two other institutions, part of a rationalization made necessary by Japan’s low birthrate.

I HOPE there is a better translation or another source for this article because as it stands calling or referring to the school's as institutions sounds like there are schools for special needs children.

It would sound much better to say "send it's pupils to two other school's in the area"

Disgusting.

There must have been a bully at the school he was supposed to transfer to. There's no way that a normal 11 year old boy would do this.

Actually the romantic notion that a sacrifice will appease others is well written in Japanese fiction, including manga. This lad while probably not the most emotionally stable lad was probably fully rational in his decision to kill himself. Unlikely to be a bully.

What the hell.....?!?!??

why blame bullies or his parents? he even thanked his mom and said he loved her. the boy wanted to be a martyr.

And where did he get the idea that martyring yourself at 11 for a school is a good thing?

The school did a poor job of preparing these kids for this to have happened.

And once again, fingers are pointed at the school... How can you claim this? Do you know what the school did or didn't do? The fact that they were having a ceremony shows they were doing something. You wouldn't get this in many places. The kid was 11 and wouldn't had to go to JHS soon anyway. Obviously issues with this kid that we don't know about but to blame the school for this is unfair.

Perhaps if society treated families better their wouldn't be a shortage of births and kids who feel that suicide is the answer. His poor family, friends and teachers. 11. Far too young to think that school is worth ending your life over.

Actually the romantic notion that a sacrifice will appease others is well written in Japanese fiction, including manga. This lad while probably not the most emotionally stable lad was probably fully rational in his decision to kill himself. Unlikely to be a bully.>

How is suicide a form of romanticism? That is BS! Just plain stupid! I would kick **s than to kill myself!

And where did he get the idea that martyring yourself at 11 for a school is a good thing?

Who knows? It is irresponsible of you to blame the parents without any reason to suspect them. They just lost a son and you want to put more hurt on them? If you don't have a compelling reason to assume it was them, why are you so insistent?

Actually the romantic notion that a sacrifice will appease others is well written in Japanese fiction, including manga.

It is "well written" because it was a common occurence. Not that Japan is/was the only country to have people sacrifice themselves. It still happens in modern warfare, etc.

This lad while probably not the most emotionally stable lad was probably fully rational in his decision to kill himself

Again we are assuming about somebody we have never met, let alone were well acquanited with.

For many elementary school students, life revolve around the school... they spend more waking time with their classmates and teachers than their family. From the opening ceremony when they are in the first grade to their graduation in the sixth grade..the importance of their school is stressed. They take pride in their school with the school uniform, school song.. undokai and other activities.. It is almost like the military... I could see how a kid could go over the deep end...

For my elementary school days.. my mother dropped me off at the bus stop on my first day and the last day of sixth grade we just left with the sound of the last bell.. their was no graduation or any ceremonies that I remember.. RIP

He's a very brave young man, rest in peace! I think he's too young to understand that this isn't the right approach and answer to the problem but by taking this step he's showing us "voter" not to let this get any worse! I hope he does not die in vain.

“Eyewitnesses said the boy jumped onto the tracks by himself,” a Daito police spokesman said by telephone.

How many hundred more suicides and accidents do we have to hear about before they install those damn platform gates?

A horrible story. But I bet there is something we are not being told. For sure he was not a typical 11 year old boy. There really has to be something else here.

There's no way that a normal 11 year old boy would do this. There is more to this story than meets the eye.

I absolutely agree with you.

And once again, fingers are pointed at the school... How can you claim this? Do you know what the school did or didn't do? The fact that they were having a ceremony shows they were doing something. You wouldn't get this in many places.

And once again fingers are being pointed at the kid.

Here in Japan YES there would be a ceremony, anyone who has lived here for any length of time is acutely aware of the lengths that Japanese go to when it comes to ANYTHING starting or finishing, PARTICULARLY in a school.

The kid was 11 and wouldn't had to go to JHS soon anyway. Obviously issues with this kid that we don't know about but to blame the school for this is unfair.

His last year in ES was coming up, for him going to JHS soon, was not the point, he wanted to stay and graduate from his ES he was obviously attached it, and here you go blaming the kid.

I didnt "blame" the school, btw, but I stand by the comment because :just" a ceremony isnt enough, not to kids that age.

will his action bring about any of the outcome he wants? absolutely not

he shoulda just used his brains and organized a rally, a petition, rather than pulling this crap

11yrs old...seems like they getting lower these days

I am lost for words. I have an eleven year old boy. This gives me the shudders. Rest in peace poor kid.

He's a very brave young man, rest in peace! I think he's too young to understand that this isn't the right approach

Yeah, he is just following the lead of his peers - the other 100 odd people that commit suicide in Japan every day. It is both sad and ridiculous that this kid would come up with such a way of protesting. I dare say, there has been other suicides in his family or friends that have made him feel this was the answer. Was he a victim of society or a product of his environment, or both?

Japan has one of the developed world’s highest suicide rates.

yes, and it has equally high number of reasons e.g. economic hardships, health reasons, school bullying, family problems etc.. and here comes a new dimension i.e. an "impression of Martyrdom."

yes, and it has equally high number of reasons e.g. economic hardships, health reasons, school bullying, family problems

Um, you have just described every country in the world. What makes Japan special? Apathy?

11!!!??? Speechless.

Omg, this is just so sad. He don't need to go this far..... There is something wrong with how Japan's kids react on such things... I think this is the influence of media since most dramatic JDramas always have suicides on it.

Below 30,000 suicide.. Holy crap.... even in PH where poverty is common, suicides are so rare to see... how come such a first world country like Japan has issues like this......

-----Japan needs a prayer-------

Manuel D. Valencia IIIFeb. 15, 2013 - 06:18PM JST How is suicide a form of romanticism? That is BS! Just plain stupid! I would kick **s than to kill myself!

And you very elegantly sum up the difference between Asian culture and Western culture. Despite most Westerners calling ourselves "Christians" we would rather hurt someone else, either verbally or physically, than immitate Christ and suffer (and even die) to alleviate the suffering of others.

Asian culture, on the other hand, despises conflict and hurting others, and emphasises personal sacrifice as a means of alleviating others' suffering.

This little boy saw other children around him were upset about the school closing, and knew that any request for the school not to be closed would be ignored, so he took what he saw as the only sure course of action that would ensure his school would remain open. ... and it probably will. There is no way that the City Hall can now close that school, it would be unthinkable, an offence to the spirits of the dead and a mockery of the ultimate sacrifice possible.

I know this may seem insane to Western people with our "Me first and the devil with the hindmost" attitudes, but I invite you to examine the example of Christ, and then re-evaluate this boy's actions as an immitation of Christ.

P.S. Please note that I do not support this behaviour, I think it is a tragedy, however I also think that those criticising the child, the school, Japan in general, etc. are displaying a fairly shocking degree of cultural insensitivity.

He's a very brave young man

Nothing brave about offing yourself in front of others and putting their lives at risk. Selfish? Yes. Brave? Certainly not.

And once again fingers are being pointed at the kid. And why not? Coherent to leave a note and make calls... Are we suppose to think someone made him do this? If you was mentally unwell, still not the school's fault. The kid obviously had some sort of issue/issues but why don't know what so perhaps let's not blame anyone except the person who decided to off them self in public for a very silly call.

The school did a poor job of preparing these kids for this to have happened. You don't think you're blaming the school? The above sentence makes me think otherwise.

It was a waste of a life and it's a tragedy and things like this need to be prevented. Japan needs to face up to their romantic notions of suicide.

P.S. Please note that I do not support this behaviour, I think it is a tragedy, however I also think that those criticising the child, the school, Japan in general, etc. are displaying a fairly shocking degree of cultural insensitivity.

And you seem to me at least to be showing a fairly shocking degree of agreeing that this young child's actions are fine based upon his cultural background, no matter how much you protest or otherwise.

Um, you have just described every country in the world. What makes Japan special?

This board reports only Japan. My country has the same rate of child suicides, and it's increasing. Maybe like they make the characters of electronic games die, they can do the same... I mean I am not sure they measure the importance of death the way adults do.

I agree with your last post though Yubaru!

Why anyone would show "cultural sensitivity" to suicide is beyond me. The only thing suicide does is cause pain for others. Nothing honourable in that at all.

This is unbelievably tragic. The parents and anyone who knew the boy must be in shock.

I hope no one else does this.

I think some posters here do not realize how much of this child's life revolved around the school. Not only the students, but the mothers are dedicated to school activities with "mothers' clubs" and after school activities. I attended school in the U.S. and have not kept in contact with any of my primary school schoolmates. My wife however meets quite regularly with schoolmates from her elementary school 30 some years later. The child was probably influenced by the doom-and-gloom attitudes of the other students and the mothers. My son was attending SJIS when that school closed and the level of angst expressed by the parents was remarkable.

Asian culture, on the other hand, despises conflict and hurting others, and emphasises personal sacrifice as a means of alleviating others' suffering.

I'm sorry but this just sounds too much like someone who is living either been watching "Last Samurai" too many times or lives in history books and is unaware of today.

If Asian culture, Japanese included here despises conflict so much explain to me WWII Japan? Explain to me why do Japanese run crazy and slice up a bunch of innocent bystanders because they can't commit suicide on their own? Explain to me AUM and the sarin attacks, Explain to me all the hurtful things done to children daily here that make any normal person want to cry?

Your theory has some holes in it, and the personal sacrifice here doesnt alleviate anyone else's suffering not at all, it just compounds it with the loved one's left behind.

A useless death, the result of a centuries-old cultural aberration no one can do anything about, unless all references to such an act as suicide in the name of honour or shame is no longer inculcated from childhood. Remove all references to suicide from all video and reading materials (including history books and newspapers - not likely) and it will still take generations to wean the Japanese culture from considering it a 'solution' to anything.

Very sad news. Boy took his life for this... ;((

There are no words, other than to comfort the grevieing parents

YubaruFeb. 15, 2013 - 08:43PM JST Your theory has some holes in it

As many holes as Christian countries loudly declaring their Christian morals... while behaving most unlike Christ?

My comparison with Christ-like behavior was, I believe, apt. Most of us don't behave like Christ, just as most Japanese don't go to this extreme. Japanese people at work might tolerate a bully rather than cause a fuss by speaking out, and Western people might sacrifice for their families, but wouldn't do it for a stranger.

Someone earlier used the term martyr. I believe that's how this boy saw his actions, as an immitation of the highest standards of moral behaviour.

TrevorPeace2Feb. 15, 2013 - 08:47PM JST A useless death, the result of a centuries-old cultural aberration no one can do anything about, unless all references to such an act as suicide in the name of honour or shame is no longer inculcated from childhood.

You'll want to ban the bible then too? After all Jesus went to his death, able to stop it, able to forsee the consequences, able to perform a miracle at any time... but chose not to. It was suicide in all but name, but for a noble cause.

A child dying is tragic. A child wanting to die.... I can't even fathom. Seeing words like 'child', 'boy' and 'student' in such an article just breaks my heart.

As many holes as Christian countries loudly declaring their Christian morals... while behaving most unlike Christ?

Nice try, nothing to do with what you said or what I replied to, your attempt to justify his actions are way off.

An 11 yr old boy, no matter how precocious he may have been is not going to commit suicide with the idea that he and using YOUR words here;

, despises conflict and hurting others, and emphasises personal sacrifice as a means of alleviating others' suffering.

His actions were because it seems he was hurt, and disappointed as he had probably never been in his young life and even took the time to give a parting heart wrenching message of love to his mother.

There is no justification or explanation really, and it's just another sad death that probably could have been prevented.

To many Japanese this type of suicide makes perfect sense especially for a student.

“Please stop the plan to abolish and merge schools in exchange for the death of an innocent person,”

The boy reportedly sent a message to his mother’s cell phone, saying: “Thank you for everything. I love you all very, very much.”

A ceremony to mark his school’s closure had been planned for Sunday but it was cancelled after his death.

school was everything to this child. =It was unbearable to him to have his school closed.

Tears*

@Yubaru

You say there is neither justification nor explanation, but also that it could be prevented. How does one prevent mysterious events? Absurd!

The idea of hurting oneself, as opposed to allowing the pain to spread like contagion is only mysterious to only to the most insensitive of souls.

The solution to this and many other such tragedies is to NOT the lowering of personal expectations, but rather raising the standards of those whose inability/incompetence forces such a heavy burden on those who truly wish to create a better future for all.

Japans suicide rate is not about antiquated feelings of honor, but a rejection of a system/world-reality considered by many to be absolutely barbarous. Now, you would never hear this from those civilised enough NOT to force their emotional poison onto others, but its reflected clearly popular manga and other media.

That poor boy say no end to this Worlds degeneracy, no realistic way for himself to be a positive part. At 12, this decision may have been a bit premature; but Irrational, it was not.

YubaruFeb. 15, 2013 - 09:43PM JST Nice try, nothing to do with what you said or what I replied to, your attempt to justify his actions are way off.

Just for clarification, I'm not attempting to justify his actions. What I am attempting to do is help others to make sense of this tragedy by understanding how he saw what he was doing.

His actions were because it seems he was hurt, and disappointed as he had probably never been in his young life and even took the time to give a parting heart wrenching message of love to his mother.

Re-read his suicide note. There's no mention of his own sadness, and he clearly loves his family, and believes he is loved in return. Instead he clearly and simply states his reasons as he sees them.

Now clearly you want to believe something else, but you have no evidence to support your viewpoint, whereas his suicide note is quite clear, and suicide notes are normally very honest and forthright.

There is no justification or explanation really, and it's just another sad death that probably could have been prevented.

... and how would you prevent future incidences unless you try to fully understand why he did this? You can't. The first step to prevention is understanding. Understanding that this boy saw it as a martyrdom allows us to unravel the cultural phenomenon that caused this incident and to explain to others that this martyrdom actually hurts more than it heals.

On the other hand your "there is no justification or explanation" just leaves us in the dark with no clear path forward.

Saddest story I have read in a long, long time. How could an 11 y/o even contemplate suicide? You'd think 30,000 suicides a year would be far, far, far more than enough to take a step back and say 'hey... let's freekin do something about this!'.

Terribly sad. I can't understand why some here are desperately trying to pin the blame on the parents so soon with no information to suggest it. People should be very careful how they comment on these types of situations.

Also trying to turn it in to a Japan problem is just silly. Yes this country has a disproportionate number of suicides but as fa r as child suicice goes and just to put it into perspective in the last two weeks the UK has suffered two cases of this. One involving a 12 year old boy and on Monday a 9 year old boy took his own life due to suspected bullying at school.

... and how would you prevent future incidences unless you try to fully understand why he did this? You can't. The first step to prevention is understanding. Understanding that this boy saw it as a martyrdom allows us to unravel the cultural phenomenon that caused this incident and to explain to others that this martyrdom actually hurts more than it heals.

You need to understand that first this person was a child and any parent knows that children sometimes can make poor decisions or even mistakes -that is part of the learning process. All I would say is that in his mind he felt that his actions were justified to the circumstances in his life. For that age, being a student in Japan, I understand his actions and they have justification.

Obviously these schools that are closing need to do more for these students. And parents of these students need to take extra precaution.

I also feel the school canceling their closing ceremony was justified. For adults that do understand this or this child I have no explanation/justification.

Typical Japanese behavior. Even the way he committed suicide is unimaginative. Like eeeevrybody else, he jumped in front of a train. In every other country he could have:

gathered signatures started a protest within the school gathered support from the parents and teachers sent protest letters/emails to the city mayor distributeed flyers organizeed protest events...and many other ideas

Only in Japan teenagers cannot protest about anything, don't have a voice and release their frustration either by bulling or killing others or by killing themselves. Only in Japan this news doesn't stir a furor, does not become front page news and doesn't provoke discussions on the media. Why? Because it happens so often. From the salariman protesting against his company's whatever decision by throwing himeself in front of a train to the kid who is doing exactly the same thing. And the society remains totally indiferent. Dozens of shocked gaijin and plenty of embarassed Japanese who feel that news like this tarnishes the disneyland image of their country. Japan needs to lie down on the shrink's sofa, urgently.

A lot of the ppl at the top were saying it must be bullying or bad parenting, but you know,

I can imagine a pure innocent little kid taking a notion into his head and thinking that this thing made sense. He may have just really loved his school or his friends and not wanted everything split up. I remember a tree cut down b/c it was too close to our house when i was a kid. I was really really upset because I loved that tree. I went up into it and wouldn't come out several times in the days before the cut. Never got suicidal but I was really really sad and can imagine a little kid not knowing a lot about the world and being really attatched to something..

Of course it could be for the reasons others are saying, just saying it is possible, not that unthinkable.

Very sad....gone too soon

Really sad news once again. Shouldn't more precautions be implemented to prevent such tragedies from happening again? It takes time to install safety barriers in stations throughout japan but they should enforce other measures such as recruiting more train conductors to patrol and frequent each station, keeping an eye on suspicious behaviour and making sure nobody stands too near the edge of the platorm whenever a train is approaching. Although such measures will never be 100% full proof, if it can increase the chance of saving another life; no matter how slim that chance is, why not give it a go?

The kid offered his life to a cause he believed in to save his school. What a noble gesture. No matter what others might thinkand say, I still think his gesture is noble. "Kawaiso"

He have a courage for doing that at such young age. Truly Yamato spirit!!

Only in Japan teenagers cannot protest about anything, don't have a voice and release their frustration either by bulling or killing others or by killing themselves.

-this child was 11.

Another day in Japan another suicide. This is very sad...but happens too frequently w/out anybody doing anything about it.

And for all saying that this is a "noble" gesture, it's NOT. It's selfish. He didn't consider the family's feelings, his friends, his teachers. He could have done something about the closure when he was a live...like rallied people together and protested. This is a selfish act. Throwing your life away, instead of using it to actually make a difference.

Pointless to the point of he just made the school MORE likely to close. If they're closing and combining schools because of low enrollment, how is reducing the enrollment even MORE by commiting suicide going to help? If you want to prevent your school from closing, you do things to INCREASE enrollment.

I realize this was just a 6th grader and what's obvious to us adults isn't so clear to them, but SHEESH! A wasted life for no reason. I hope you find whatever peace you can in the afterlife, child. Most religions' versions of "heaven" don't roll out the red carpet for suicides.

Another suicide! I just can't understand how can a 11 year old boy end up with a "SUICIDE" conclusion when something is not going like what he wants. But yeah, might have been from his environment too. The suicide rate in Japan is high so he is just following the trend.

The real question is why this is happening Japan that is richer, more stable and more influential than at any time in its history? In Japan, from the beginning of childhood, the importance of money and achievement are emphasised by their parents, so they feel that unless you are successful in school grades and a good job, good prestigious college, you're not successful, and the parents behave as if 'you're not my child'. People in Japan seem less happy than during the years of hardship after the WWII. The parents have abandoned traditional values in favor of one single goal. Basically in Japan, kids don't have childhood that they remember fondly.

Most young children in Japan typically work from early morning until late at night, and often at weekends too, to get into the best university they can and eventually secure a well-paying job. The pressure is intense, and the routine relentless for years on end. Parents pressure to push their children even harder for the wrong reasons. Most parents in Japan want to help their child work harder, to have better grades because the school performance is so important. Most children and adults in Japan keeps their feelings of depression from those around them, and that when they discovered attempts at suicide, her family and friends blamed you for your depression.

Wow, that is just tragic. I agree that there is a lot of pressure on kids in Japan - and on adults. But it depends on the family too. But killing yourself at 11? That's really harsh.

This boy obviously thought that this was the only way that he could be heard. A shame that any child would think that suicide was the way to be heard. I am not Japanese and was not raised in the Japanes culture so the thoughts and behavior of Japanese are not mine. I am not judging; however, Japan is a modern country and has come a long way from the samari code of seppuku. One person likened this boy's death to that of Christ's. Christ died so that people like this boy and others could have hope and a belief to find strength in. I am sure this boy loved his school but now he has no hope and no future. In Western and Asian culture, there are just too many suicides. Children or adults. If a person is alive there is always the hope of change for the better but suicide ends everything. It is just too final. Please let us find a way to help our people Western or Asian find another alternative to suicide.

I have been to Japan on numerous occasions for long periods of time and the beauty of the scenery and ancientness of the culture continually amaze me as does the still prevalent belief that suicide will solve some thing or make amends for an inequity...this is another tragic loss of life that will make little difference in course of thing's but will bring untold suffering to the survivors...RIP young man!

bajhista65Feb. 16, 2013 - 03:16AM JST

The kid offered his life to a cause he believed in to save his school. What a noble gesture. No matter what others might thinkand say, I still think his gesture is noble. "Kawaiso"

It wasn't noble at all. It would have been more courageous to LIVE and organize a protest. kids as young as he all around the world face harsh problems and don't think "since I can't change anything I'll kill myself and guilt them into doing what I want". this kid didn't even try. he could have gathered the other students and had a rally to prevent the school closing. he could have asked the school how can we keep the building open? would it help to raise money? killing himself should not even have come up as a solution. but i'm more outraged that people are thinking of him as a hero taking a stand against oppression. his actions need to be condemned so other kids get the message that suicide is NOT acceptable. with their already low birth rate, japan needs to address the mind set that suicide is an honorable solution for every problem, especially in it's young people. they should focus more on problem solving and conflict resolution skills. babies should not be dieing over school related issues.

Japan that is richer, more stable and more influential than at any time in its history?

Actually not even close, that was more like 20 some years ago during the bubble. Japan is in decline on many levels, socially, economically, morally, you name it,

Yes, unfortunately this boy may have been a pure idealist who in his own innocent mind saw his sacrifice as benefiting society. I wish there had been someone around to talk him out of this. He might have grown up to be a real asset to the betterment of society.

I sympathise with Frungy's post but I don't think that the school will remain open. If it were to remain open then it would legitimise suicide by 11 year old as a means to achieving their ends and I don't think that the education board will do that.

timtakFeb. 16, 2013 - 03:59PM JST I sympathise with Frungy's post but I don't think that the school will remain open. If it were to remain open then it would legitimise suicide by 11 year old as a means to achieving their ends and I don't think that the education board will do that.

No offence, but I think you don't grasp the Japanese mindset very well. Wait and see, the school will remain open. Any attempt to close it will be squashed. What may well happen is that another school will be closed to keep that one open, but that particular school cannot be closed now.

No offence, but I think you don't grasp the Japanese mindset very well

I don't think you grasp the reality of the situation. Your belief of what you THINK is the Japanese mindset vs reality are not one and the same.

YubaruFeb. 16, 2013 - 07:44PM JST I don't think you grasp the reality of the situation. Your belief of what you THINK is the Japanese mindset vs reality are not one and the same.

They cancelled the school closure ceremony. This means the school hasn't closed. The public feeling might die down in a year or two, but in the next few weeks and months nothing will change.

Once again, there's evidence to support my viewpoint... and none to support yours. If they were going to close the school, as you suggest as a message to young people that committing suicide will change nothing, then they would have announced it by now. Instead the first and only public announcement has been that the school closing ceremony was cancelled.

Clearly I have a better grasp fo the Japanese mindset than you do.

It would be unprecedented if this student suicide saved this school, but the sad reality is there are not enough students. Will see when the end of March comes. Maybe these young students can petition to save their school.

Sad loss of a life.

Very, very sad indeed. The message to the mother, the feelings that must be there from the parents the school board etc. One thing though are those that knock Japan and suicide, even child suicide. It is not a Japan thing get off that, quite harping on Japan for everything negative. One county in Montana state alone had 6 suicides in less than nine months under the age of 11 that the government named the county a federal disaster area. Child suicide is not a Japan only problem so stop shaping it out to be a social Japanese disease.

They cancelled the school closure ceremony. This means the school hasn't closed. The public feeling might die down in a year or two, but in the next few weeks and months nothing will change.

Of course they will cancel a ceremony. Typically speaking and all depending upon where one lives, that school where the boy came from will keep things subdued for a period of time, however it doesnt mean it isnt closing. They may wait a year, but dont be surprised when your supposition proves wrong.

Child suicide is not a Japan only problem so stop shaping it out to be a social Japanese disease.

Just because it happens somewhere else doesnt mean it isnt a social disease or problem here. Suicide is a HUGE problem in Japan with nearly 30,000 a year, most by the elderly, but some by youngsters like this, it hurts more when it's a child.

Japan DOES have some MAJOR problems with dealing with the issue of suicide.

This is just sad. I mean Japan could not withhold their closing until this child "Graduated"? I mean geez, they could of have at least done that much just that much withheld their plans to close until "Graduation"?

Japan needs to be better at making plans for such as this at a better time. Because of Japan's worst decision to close down the school an 11yr old child attempted "Suicide".

May God Be With This Child & R.I.P.

This poor kid seemed to have a high resistance to change. Which is apart of every person's life on this planet. He wanted everything to remain as it was, when he believed it was'nt going to happen, he felt his life was over and he could not go on. Brave? No, Misguided? Yes.....even if he thought he was helping his fellow classmates, he ended his own life and destroyed his parent's, and his classmates will not forget eigther. RIP

It pains my heart to hear such a story. The boy truly loved his mother and the life she gave him, but thought his life would be better spent dying for a cause he finds dear. I truly wish and pray that the family and friends come together in their time of need to comfort one another. It is always very hard to loose someone you love, especially at such a young age