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4 women found dead in apartment in Kitakyushu apartment

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Smith

The point is they sought each other out, which means they had a desire and motivation to do something and accomplish a goal. You seem to think this is the limit of their capacity and their sad story was decided after that, and will search for all sorts of excuses to blame anyone but themselves.

No, Smith... that is not what was said or thought at all.

I, on the other hand, will continue to assert that if they had so much motivation to seek out like-minded people, they could easily have found a way out with the relevant support, regardless of any trauma suffered.

You don't know whether they could have found an 'easy way out', so that means you can't inject your own thoughts on whether they MIGHT have found an easy solution into the conversation.

"Anxiety and depression are more common than you think..."

Do all those people look for a group to kill themselves? Thanks for making my point.

No, you think he is making your point, because that is what you want to believe. His point was that on top of her mental illness, she was going through puberty, which is hellish for any kid.

"An old girlfriend I dated when I was in college suffered from all the issues and more you listed above, and she was diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 14 - when her estrogens were kicking in and she was developing from a girl into a woman. "

Every single woman in the world has "estrogens (sic) kick in", but they don't kill themselves.

Not all women suffer from mental illness either, this woman's case was unique to her. Which is one thing that you to not understand...... Not all are the same.

Wrong. An inability to blame the fact that you just let it happen instead of actually working for change, are the real problem.

I was never anywhere near them, nor have any connection to them. So, laying the blame or responsibility at my feet does little to show your understanding of the issue..I have worked with abused, suicidal kids as a mentor since my early twenties.... What do you do to inspire change in a system or another person's life? Or do you go around calling them all cowards? Is that your idea of counselling?

Feeling sorry after the fact accomplishes what, exactly, Kaishu? In your own memories, where you wish you could have done more, what does that accomplish? what does not examining the system and trying to change it accomplish instead of just lamenting the result?

Feeling sorry after the fact is a human emotion, do you not feel the same? It gives motivation to inspire change. Did you go around calling your friends cowards because they decided to top themselves?

I support people, I don't wait until it's too late.

Do you really?

I just wish the government here, and people like yourself, didn't do that. Would have been easier to prevent. There could have been umpteen hotlines for these girls, that the family could have called too, instead of... "Shucks... haven't heard for a while from the daughter who said she might kill herself. Can you come check on her? I can't.".

Me too....... Have stated numerous of times about the lack of mental health support here in Japan. That is why I continue to do mentoring work. It is slowly getting better, and unfortunately there are going to be a few casualties along the way, while the system and stigma changes..... You are trying to change generations of thinking, just like in your or my homeland, of which neither are perfect.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kaishu: "Who knows what issues these young women had faced"

No one does, including you, and that means you can't inject your own thoughts on what they MIGHT have suffered into the conversation. They might have faced sexual assault, yes. They might have been forced to give up their cell phones, too. The point is they sought each other out, which means they had a desire and motivation to do something and accomplish a goal. You seem to think this is the limit of their capacity and their sad story was decided after that, and will search for all sorts of excuses to blame anyone but themselves. I, on the other hand, will continue to assert that if they had so much motivation to seek out like-minded people, they could easily have found a way out with the relevant support, regardless of any trauma suffered.

"Anxiety and depression are more common than you think..."

Do all those people look for a group to kill themselves? Thanks for making my point.

"An old girlfriend I dated when I was in college suffered from all the issues and more you listed above, and she was diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 14 - when her estrogens were kicking in and she was developing from a girl into a woman. "

Every single woman in the world has "estrogens (sic) kick in", but they don't kill themselves. I am sorry that someone you know did. I know others who have, too. They didn't go above and beyond looking for others to do it with them; it was something they suffered silently because they felt they had no one, despite the fact that that was not the case.

"There is no defence of suicide"

Except your defense of it.

"Attitudes like yours and Smith's; a lack of understanding and empathy - compound the problem. "

Wrong. An inability to blame the fact that you just let it happen instead of actually working for change, are the real problem. Feeling sorry after the fact accomplishes what, exactly, Kaishu? In your own memories, where you wish you could have done more, what does that accomplish? what does not examining the system and trying to change it accomplish instead of just lamenting the result?

"Here is hoping that you won't have to face the same, either directly or with a family member. "

I support people, I don't wait until it's too late. I just wish the government here, and people like yourself, didn't do that. Would have been easier to prevent. There could have been umpteen hotlines for these girls, that the family could have called too, instead of... "Shucks... haven't heard for a while from the daughter who said she might kill herself. Can you come check on her? I can't.".

"... but when in the throws of a mental breakdown due to whatever reasons, any form of coherent thinking goes out the window."

That's what happens when "Shouga nai" replaces actual help.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Do the Hustle

It’s quite odd that, all those defending suicide quote the pressures of society as a reason. Up until 4 years ago there were 30-35,000 people killing the selves in Japan every year. Now, that number has dropped to 20-25,000 every year. I guess those blue lights are working.

There is no defence of suicide, just an understanding of why people do it. Suicide is not the answer nor should it be, but when in the throws of a mental breakdown due to whatever reasons, any form of coherent thinking goes out the window.

Attitudes like yours and Smith's; a lack of understanding and empathy - compound the problem. It's not just a matter of get over it, toughen up sister or I have problems too.

Here is hoping that you won't have to face the same, either directly or with a family member. Those around you might just show the same attitude.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Can't rule out cult activity. Let's hope all electronic correspondence is scrutinized, it could prevent further deaths and possibly lead to arrests

Any other conspiracy theories? Can't rule out that maybe they were having a yakiniku party inside the house with the shichirin and weren't too smart and forgot to open a window too! Can't rule out aliens dropped in on them and did it for them either!

If you have been here for any amount of time you will realize that this method of committing suicide is rather common here in Japan. Usually folks do it in an enclosed space like a car, and not in an apartment where it could cause a fire and affect others.

They obviously succeeded in their mission to kill themselves, but they get an F for the location and method, but it's typical of many young Japanese today, they don't give a crap about the folks around them and are oblivious to common sense!

If you commit suicide, you should at least leave a note. Otherwise loved ones will suffer forever without closure.

Right, why not give these 4 the message. I mean come on after the fact? You in the business of giving people who want to commit suicide advice on what they should or shouldn't be doing? That's pretty damn low!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The morbidity stats include thousands more every year who kill themselves more slowly through extreme overwork and associated causes.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It’s quite odd that, all those defending suicide quote the pressures of society as a reason. Up until 4 years ago there were 30-35,000 people killing the selves in Japan every year. Now, that number has dropped to 20-25,000 every year. I guess those blue lights are working.

If you calculate the number of suicides in Japan over the last 50 years, it is five times more people dead than in all the wars Japan started last century. It would seem that Japan’s worst enemy is itself.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

People who commit suicide have a mental illness -- they cannot make fully rational decisions. Please don't criticize them as cowardly or stupid for ending their lives. When you are in your 20s suffering, longevity does not hold the same value.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

A long-term solution to a short-term problem - suicide is never the answer

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

SilvafanToday 06:59 pm JSTI wonder how long they knew each other. If they are recent acquaintances or they all met online then there is a good chance it was a mass suicide.

I have never heard of large group of close friends deciding to kill themselves. Two maybe but never 4.

It's been thruout history and there are some recent examples.

Jonestown, Guyana - nearly 1000 dead in a mass suicide. A cult of people that lived together as a close family-like setting from the 1950s-late 1978. They all killed themselves together. It was a scary thing to see on TV and I was 12 years old at the time and too impressionable.

Various cult suicides in 1996-1997 in Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Canada, U.S.A. New Age cults like the Order of the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate had their members commit suicide, esp. after Comet Hale-Bopp made its grand apparition in our skies. I was older but I found nothing funny about of this like some of my cohorts in work, college and church did.   

There was a massive suicide in Uganda in late 1999-early 2000 too. Hundreds, maybe thousands died in a mass suicide. Very tragic, horrifying and just plain sad.

In all these cases and others these people were very close to each other and they either decided they couldn't go on or their guru/teacher/whatever told them it was 'time to go'.

KaishuToday 10:29 pm JST

Another that thinks suicide is the cowards way out. What a total lack of understanding of the complexities of suicide and mental health. As for being bright, might say they could have been a damn bit brighter than some. Who knows what issues these young women had faced...Sexual abuse, extreme pressure from parents to perform at school or any myriad of issues. Yeah life is precious but when in dealing with anxiety or depression or other issues, it just doean't seem so. Get down off your high horse, you might fall one day.

You're absolutely right. I've had friends who committed suicide who had great barriers and responsibilities and pressures in their lives, much work but not getting satisfaction. Anxiety and depression are more common than you think and it can get so deeply ingrained the person cannot express the feelings or emotions in words. So yes, people need to get off their high horses. An old girlfriend I dated when I was in college suffered from all the issues and more you listed above, and she was diagnosed with a mental illness at the age of 14 - when her estrogens were kicking in and she was developing from a girl into a woman. She took her own life in late 2016 and remembering of when we were dating and thinking of my helpless feelings now makes me cry. I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

smithinjapan

So has their cowardice. Life is hard, but unless you have some terminal disease that is absolute agony, or unless it is to sacrifice yourself for others, there is no glory, and no justification for suicide. These women were Young, and obviously not very bright -- they wasted the most precious things you can have; life, and time. TIJ

Another that thinks suicide is the cowards way out. What a total lack of understanding of the complexities of suicide and mental health. As for being bright, might say they could have been a damn bit brighter than some. Who knows what issues these young women had faced...Sexual abuse, extreme pressure from parents to perform at school or any myriad of issues. Yeah life is precious but when in dealing with anxiety or depression or other issues, it just doean't seem so. Get down off your high horse, you might fall one day.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

I wonder how long they knew each other. If they are recent acquaintances or they all met online then there is a good chance it was a mass suicide.

I have never heard of large group of close friends deciding to kill themselves. Two maybe but never 4.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

maybeperhapsyes: "RIP ladies...your pain has ended."

So has their cowardice. Life is hard, but unless you have some terminal disease that is absolute agony, or unless it is to sacrifice yourself for others, there is no glory, and no justification for suicide. These women were Young, and obviously not very bright -- they wasted the most precious things you can have; life, and time. TIJ

Japan needs to do a LOT more to help people BEFORE these things happen. Enough of the lip-service, AKB gatekeeper crap with manned hotlines open during business hours and maybe one or two nationwide open longer. Disseminate information better and let people know there is help. Hell, I wish these Young women knew they could have helped each other instead of just forming a pact to off themselves together.

-11 ( +6 / -17 )

If you commit suicide, you should at least leave a note. Otherwise loved ones will suffer forever without closure.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Oh, common! How often do these mass suicides have to occur for Japan to wake up and realize there is a huge problem in society? These were young women who had the rest of their lives in front of them but, obviously, what life they saw was absolute crap. Japanese society really has to address this problem of suicides. Blue lights, funky music and manga posters are just not cutting it. What is wrong with a society where groups of young people think they are better off dead than living in it?

8 ( +11 / -3 )

This story should, but won’t, be on the front page of every newspaper in the Western world, drawing the connection between their deaths and an ends justifies the means, utilitarian, greater good ethos that underpins them. 

4 women killing themselves in Japan will not make it onto the front page of western newspapers. Not sure what your pseudo philosophical point is.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

This story should, but won’t, be on the front page of every newspaper in the Western world, drawing the connection between their deaths and an ends justifies the means, utilitarian, greater good ethos that underpins them. Whatever other issues they were confronting, the most insurmountable one is the engrained, strong eat the weak, prevailing mentality that accepts and excuses official policies that are directly implicated in this. Feel free to speculate, but high on the list of what contributed to this outcome is Japan’s refusal to accept that the mental health of its people is being threatened by policies that are deliberately designed to put obstacles in their way.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Can't rule out cult activity. Let's hope all electronic correspondence is scrutinized, it could prevent further deaths and possibly lead to arrests

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

So sad. The parents must be inconsolable.

RIP ladies...your pain has ended.

Your parents on the other hand...

14 ( +15 / -1 )

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