Two elementary school girls, aged 11 and 12, apparently jumped to their deaths from an apartment building in Tokyo's Ota Ward, police said Saturday.
According to police, the girls -- who were classmates -- were found dead in the asphalt parking lot near the entrance to the building at around 3:30 p.m. Friday, TBS reported.
The building is nine stories high. Police said the girls appear to have jumped from the stairwell between the 7th and 8th floors. TBS quoted police as saying the girls' shoes and a suicide note were left at the scene but declined to give details about what the note said.
Police said the 11-year-old girl lived with her family in the apartment building, while her 12-year-old classmate lived nearby.
A school official told media that he was unaware of any bullying incidents involving the girls who were both at school on Friday.
© Japan Today
45 Comments
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NathalieB
How do you possibly comment on this? Just lost for words :(
Mirai Hayashi
Of course they weren't. They're never aware of anything are they...
Denise Nisurai
This is so sad. To commit suicide at that age. What can be so wrong in a 11-12 yr olds life to end it like this? Condolences to the parents and friends of both girls.
Americanhonor
japans culture isnt one where people can express their feelings openly, others do not listen or simply brush them off. the other issue is one where the value of life isnt really considered, many believe suicide solves all.
when youngsters like these hirls commit suicide, its testimony to family and social problems in society here.
Value of life is not taught, just good manners and to grin and bear it.
Sasoriza
Japanese media drops hints that the reason might have been the excessive stress around their JHS entrance exams. They were supposed to go to juku, which they went to together, but missed today. They were described as excellent students, leaders in their class, but recently used to complain about their increased workload, and decreased time for sleep. Sorry, this is one aspect I don't want to subject my kids to, that's why I'm considering Europe for their education.
Jon Turner
School is tough in Japan. Bullying doesn't have to be physical doesn't even have to be verbal. Simply ignoring or neglecting someone can be bullying. It could have been anything from something someone in their family said or didn't say to a teacher being harsh in their criticism knowing they could do better and they just took it the wrong way or something as simple and believing they were going to fly to another planet. Though no one will truly know what they were thinking without the suicide letters. Maybe there is still an ongoing investigation depending on the content or way is which the letters were written. It is sad to think that someone so young could fathom their life having no meaning when they haven't even begun their life yet.
KINGJACOREY
Don't start blaming schools and teachers!! Parents have to start taking responsibility. They should know what's going on in their child's life! Stop solely depending on teachers! It's your CHILD, it's only their STUDENT!!
Fouxdefa
I hate to think what they must have suffered to the point they thought jumping off a building was the best thing to do. They were failed by the adults around them.
CrazyJoe
You shouldn't base this suicide on any individual factor. We have to be careful how we interpret this, that we don't extrapolate to predict the future. Many young people are willing to discuss things they're asked. The main thing is we don't always ask.
choiwaruoyaji
I want to cry...
No, I am crying.
Row Bur
Children all over the developed world are killing themselves through drugs,risky driving,violence ,gang activity and ennui.There is no meaning beyond financial gain, no future worth striving for in many societies. The way has been lost, youth need ideals, not platitudes and lies. Adults used to be respected, and worth respecting for the most part.
Paul Richards
A real tragedy, of consequences and life conditions beyond the two elementary school girls control.
One issue no one on this thread has mentioned is the culture of bullying modelled by the political leadership. It exists, is adversarial and quietly accepted.
So why is anyone surprised this is acted out in their school?
Really that school community is just a reflection of the values held within the wider culture.
Which is shocking when we see such innocence and vulnerability affected unfairly.
Jessica Lal
Lack of parental guidance... Sad news:-(
nath
I'm at a loss of words. This is awful. Imagine what their schoolmates are going through as well. Sad day. Rest in Peace little ones.
lilibe
When is this war on bullying going to be tempered with some education and firm steps to arm children with the skills to deal and seek help with their problems? These are two different issues that need to be addressed independent of each other. I find the moral of much ethics study aimed as my kids as being, 'dont bully someone, they may kill themselves' as totally in appropriate. We try to teach our children, in the home, how to deal with bullying and to respect others. Until schools start talking frankly and quit with this one sided subliminal message aimed at only curbing the bullies, children on the recieving end will continue to knock themselves off because they see it as the natural course of action as inadventantly sanctioned by 'well meaning' anti bullying propaganda.
Christelle Rojano
What saddens me about suicides is that maybe, the last things that they saw in their head are the awful things in life... and now they don't have a chance to change that perspective. They won't be able to taste and feel the beauty of life T_T
Iluisa U. Tarlit
So sad about what happened, here in japan why they end up their lives, is there no possibilities of having a councelling?
David Hughes
Tragic, so sad! : (
Die Intellectual
Japan needs a social revolution. The meaning of life is superficial and degraded to an eventual corporate worker to them. They see no solution other than suicide to their problems, no God or deity to turn to.
StormR
Sad and terrible for the parents to have to live with what's happened.
To think that these young kids could do this when counselling and help could have helped them with any stress or mental anguish they were going through. They could have perhaps gone on to lead happy fulfilling lives. Everything is only temporary and situations thoughts etc all pas with time and circumstance to throw your young life away like this is so sad.
Absolute waist of young lives
MarkG
So young and full of potential for so much in life. Two families now grieve for likely a silly reason for suicide.
wgrundon
I just cannot imagine what could be so terrible to cause this. My heart goes out to the families and friends of these two young girls.
Tokyo Joe
So very, very sad.
KariHaruka
I'm just totally lost for words :(
I've got a daughter that's only a few years younger who's full of innocence and happiness and I can't understand how 2 girls that aren't much older have somehow lost that childhood innocence and decided to end their lives.
serendipitous
Perhaps it was the parents forcing the kids to study ridiculously hard to pass some exams to enter junior high school. But the notes left by the girls would probably tell the story. Either way, it really is sad when kids that age even consider suicide, let alone actually do it. Are kids growing up too quickly these days and do they have too much access to information that can be found too quickly and easily?
Triumvere
So young...
Juanjose Santibañez
Please:stop this suicides!!. Please take care for our childrens!!!
Gem Ofa Person
This is terribly sad news. The point is that these are children doing this and not adults who can justifiably kill themselves as they like. Children are supposed to be innocent and have a new world opening for them. I feel so bad for them since I am sure something could have been done--maybe just a day trip to Disneyland may have helped. This is all screwed up.
pkgupta
It is really sad news
Devie Ikesue
At this age,this decision! Oh no .... im really lost words. RIP girls.
AlexCook
Oh my goodness never heard such a thing. So sad and painful to know this.
kyushubill
Behind every child's suicide is a bunch of guilty adults who never cared enough to notice a child's pain.
kaimycahl
@Paul Richards One issue no one on this thread has mentioned is the culture of bullying modelled by the political leadership. It exists, is adversarial and quietly accepted.
The reason why most readers here have not mentioned the word bullying is we or I haven't heard or read about the contents of the note that was left: Most loyal readers here read about this often and out of just speculating we are waiting for some answer other than it was bullying or the parents or the schools fault.
turbotsat
Similar case in China 2011, three elementary schoolgirls jumped off because they missed turning in their homework, but they survived:
http://www.chinasmack.com/2011/stories/unfinished-homework-leads-3-chinese-schoolgirls-to-suicide.html
John Carl Smith
RIP!
Juan Rodriguez
Maybe some of you have thought of this but have not said it outloud or here yet. If I were committ suicide, I would bring my aggressors with me.
Paul Richards
kaimycahl wrote; "The reason why most readers here have not mentioned the word bullying is we or I haven't heard or read about the contents of the note..."
Why do you need a note to analyze the scenario? It is outrageous two prepubescent girls have suicided, this is a community responsibility and there is no excuses.
Scapegoating the school, teachers, parents or students is just diverting attention and avoiding the overarching reason for a generation with rising feelings of despair. Yes there would have been contributing factors, but the government is elected with a duty of care toward future generations.
So ultimately the political leadership is responsible for shaping these students future. Instead of creating hope and purpose for the Japanese community, they have been ready to latch onto any diversion from their lack of future vision. Choosing instead to create through media a climate of fear to keep their respective voters in a state of compliance.
It is a political tool used by the elite for thousands of years, in this case the atmosphere created has been tragic.
chuichi
So sad... they're so young... what could possibly be so wrong in their short lives that pushed them to jump off a building? RIP...
Tessa
How puzzling. I am so sad.
Manuel D. Valencia III
Of course no one notices anything; especially the teachers. I hate to say this, but typical of Japanese society. I feel very sad for the two student. Nothing for the teachers. I also hate to say this, but suicide here appears to be typical, too.
kaimycahl
This is so sad and tragic both girls had a lot in common both went to the same school both probably shared common interest both decided to take their lives for probably the same reason. People say blame the parents, blame the teachers both girls had different families I doubt this was a family problem but I would seem to think somewhere peer pressure was involved a note was left it would be interesting to know what it says. At 11 and 12 you are just starting your life these girls loved one another probably new each other all their lives and for some reason decided to just end it all just as they shared their entire lives from the start to finish. Innocent lives gone Why? RIP
danalawton1@yahoo.com
A month or two ago there was a double suicide reported at a train station. I wonder if suicides should be reported at all.
TheRat
Let's look at this way, these girls were not going through anything worse than anyone in Iraq or Syria right now. Sometimes one gets lost in the context and fail to compare their situation with what others are going through.
Disillusioned
Oh, don't be so harsh! This happens every day all over the world, NOT! What was wrong with the lives of two young girls to make them want to kill themselves? It's odd they go straight to bullying being the cause. I'd be inclined to look at their family situation. It would be very interesting to know what was in the suicide letters.
Cortes Elijah
Sick. Probably both murdered.