17-year-old girl hit and killed by train in Saitama Pref

Oh dear, how very sad.

Wow!Looks like Abe's ''Beautiful Japan' is working out well.Even the youngsters have had enough.

These ‘death by train’ suicides happen a lot more after than is reported in the news. In fact, there are two or three (or more) every day somewhere in Japan. It’s onky the very young or very dramatic that make it to the news. Like that woman that bounced off the front of an express train at Shin-Kiowa station a couple of years ago. She bounced 5m into the air and took out the platform kiosk injuring another five people. It’s completeky boggling why they spend so much money putting up barriers at train stations, but do not address the reasons why so many Japanese opt for suicide. Yes, suicide has decreased in recent years, but youth suicide still remains high. A bandaid or just throwing a blanket over it is not going to change anything.

Do the hustle, there is absolutely no evidence of your claims.

Belrick - Do the hustle, there is absolutely no evidence of your claims

I beg your pardon! There is plenty of evidence. You just refuse to believe it. At present, the suicide rate in Japan is around 25,000 people per year. Down by 10,000 people from ten years ago. The over all suicide rate has dropped by around 30%. However, the youth suicide rate has only dropped by less than 10%. Look it up for yourself.

I gather (correct me if I'm wrong) that the family of the deceased usually receive a bill from JR (or the Train company concerned) for damages/losses incurred. In other Countries I'd imagine the grieving family would receive some form of Support/Counselling, but seemingly not here in Japan, quite the opposite - which seems terrible to me.

I think there is some confusion about this train, an Utsunomiya line train wouldn't pass through Ageo, it was likely a Takasaki line train.

The procedures are difficult to learn since train companies refuse to discuss them, but I have been told they may seek damages up to a million yen.

Remember that it happens nearly every day and that each incident affects 20 000 - 50 000 passengers and causes damage to both material and personnel.

Suicide is one of the highest causes of death for children in Japan.

Suicide is one of the highest causes of death for children in Japan.

Is it? Where does it rank, and how does that compare to other causes of death?

The headline reads as if this were somehow the train driver's fault.

Suicides like this use innocent people, to carry it out.

It's a sad commentary on family life,

when the only indication of their child's troubles

comes in the form of damages from a train company.

Here ya go, table 1-28 https://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-hh/1-2.html

Data is from 2017. Suicide is the #1 cause of death for males 15-44 years old, and females 15-29 years old. Suicide stays in the top 3 causes of deaths for both males and females from 10-54 years old.

The train driver told police he saw the girl on the crossing and applied the brake, but was unable to stop in time.

That poor girl, that poor driver...

I do have a lot of sympathy for the childs parents, 1: there child has just taken there life, with is very sad in its own right and then 2: you get a bill for damages from the train co, talk about rubbing salt in the wounds.

Does any one agree or disagree with the train co charging for the alleged damage?

@ Magnus Roe. The far western side of Ageo city does reach the Utsunomiya Line around Higashi Omiya. I live near the area.