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14-year-old boy jumps to death in front of train at Funabashi Station

25 Comments

A 14-year-old boy died after jumping from the platform into the path of a train at JR Funabashi Station in Chiba Prefecture, police said.

According to police, the boy, who was wearing his school uniform, was hit by the Narita Express arriving at the station at around 7:15 a.m. on Thursday. TBS quoted police as saying the boy died instantly.

According to eyewitness reports from passengers and the train driver, it appeared as though the boy jumped in front of the train.

Following the incident, trains along the JR Sobu and Uchibo lines were delayed, affecting over 52,000 commuters.

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25 Comments
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14? So young! I was one of those 52,000 commuters and I was peeved, but after reading this my only emotion is sadness.

11 ( +12 / -2 )

His family is already paying in tears. They will be made to pay in yen as well.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

There is no problem ever too great where the only course of action is to kill yourself, especially at the age of 14. It saddens me to hear such a thing.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

Rest in Peace my friend. Perhaps a warm word at the right time could have made a difference...

12 ( +10 / -0 )

Must be bullied at school

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Slight correction JT editorial - there's no such JR East service as the 'Haneda Express', since JR East do not serve that airport - trust you mean the Narita Express which operates on that line.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

There is always someone who you can talk to - a counselor, a parent, a sibling, a friend, or even a suicide hot-line. Someone out there will listen. Someone out there cares. Someone out there loves you and will suffer immense pain if you choose to take your own life. Some kind words of encouragement will put some sunshine in anyone's heart.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Going on 'the norm' I think it's pretty safe to assume there was some kind of bullying and/or intimidation behind this young kid's suicide. Whether it came from his classmates, teachers or parents I guess we will never know. The only thin I do know is, 14 is way too young to be jumping on front of a train!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Poor little man. My condolences to his family and friends!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If the boy was being bullied I wonder if the bullies even feel any remorse when they hear about this trajic loss of a classmates life. RIP

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Very sad indeed.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

14 is way too young to be jumping on front of a train!

As is any age.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why he do it...he live in a cool place...yet he do it.....why????!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

14... oh my. What a waste of a life.

For a 14 year old to feel that his only way out of whatever going on in his life, is suicide, is incredibly sad. Poor, poor child. And poor family.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Never so simple as being bullied. The problem is always deeper, when one is taught, thinks and believes that the opinions of others, of blogs, of Facebook, of other idols mean more than God. It happens everywhere and certainly someone let him down. Parents and teachers must teach that society's "spawnings" are never to be idolized, that people are precious and they should be loved. Even if mistakes were made parents need to correct and confess, asking forgiveness. Teachers must teach as if there is something more important than "trendiness" and 'trending' society.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

IF it was bullying, I hope the bullies realilze that they are murderers. And when they grow up and realize it more deeply, their minds are tortured and they cannot enjoy life. And when they have kids and the kids turn 14, I hope that they see the dead boys face in their own kids every every day.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Very sad. And sadder still that the family will be sued and forced to pay millions for the delays the suicide caused.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So young and why ??? I wondered about his life before this..so sad..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

We need to wait and see what caused this poor young man to kill himself. If it is bullying then the bullies' families should pay for his death.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Very sad news. RIP.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A result of Japan's culture of extreme conformity and stress. Japan's birth rate is low as it is and its getting worse when you have the next generation jumping in front of trains.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So tragic. RIP young man. Although I can't say that I understand the pain he was in, I just wish that someone would tell these young people that their troubles now (at such a young age) may seem impossible to overcome, but if they work through it, they will realize later in life that anything is possible.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

May he rest in peace. :(

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japanese society set a very high standards and expectations. Failure is not an option. This attitude has to change to save the younger generation from burnout. Rest in peace my friend!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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