Man dies after setting himself on fire in Tokyo's Hibiya Park

Who does this kind of thing? I can see if you were a strict pacifist of some sort, but this is a pretty painful way to go for nobody to pay attention...

Pointless waste of life.

Scipantheist: Who does this kind of thing? Monks in China resorted to this form of protest. Obviously for different causes but their objective were the same, to raise awareness of what's going on.

Not a waste of life as he apparently didn't succeed. Pointless gesture though.

Pointless gesture???

Seems like he is pointing the finger squarely at Abe and his administration.

Was it worth it? Well, here we are reading about it. Would we have heard his voice otherwise? Probably not since the government has control over the media now. (State Secrets Law)

Its unfortunate that it had to come to this. But then again, how deep is your conviction?

Aaaanddd... let the copycats oouuutt!!

Like some speculated earlier, the guy who did this to himself in Shinjuku earlier this year would create copycats.

I suspect we'll see even more of this as Japan slowly sinks in terms of democracy, economic stability and social welfare.

Everybody has the right to his own body. If he chooses to commit suicide in this horrible way, that is entirely up to him.

Hm, I've been thinking about committing suicide a lot but burning? ... That's just too painful. According to this site it has the highest agony http://lostallhope.com/suicide-methods/statistics-most-lethal-methods

Would we have heard his voice otherwise? Probably not since the government has control over the media now.

That's complete rubbish. There has been opposition to the government's defence plans. Those media outlets that haven't opposed it have not taken that position because the government told them to.

Besides, what happened to blogs, youtube, etc in Japan? Last time I looked they were fully functional. If this guy wants to set himself on fire because he doesn't think anyone would take notice on him, I guess that's his choice. But if no one were to take notice of him if he just spoke out, that's not the government's fault.

He didn't manage. so his "voice has been heard". and, so what? Think Honest Abe and the boys are going to change their policies because some old geezer sets light to himself in the park? Dream on.

CGB Spender, You should go out and talk to Japanese women. I'm sure many would want to talk with you. Teach them your jokes.

Man dies after setting himself on fire in Tokyo's Hibiya Park

Instead of voicing his views and using his vote in the next election he sets himself ablaze.

The far left is always doing the most insane things when they want to force their views and will on the majority.

He knew his party (DPJ, CPJ or SPJ) wouldn't win the next election so he tried to become a martyr for his cause.

Talk about completely insane.

Think Honest Abe and the boys are going to change their policies because some old geezer sets light to himself in the park? Dream on.

Not that I'm advocating it, but if enough people do it - more international scrutiny will fall on Japan, and outside pressure - perhaps from the US - will be brought to bear

I haven't seen ANYTHING on any of the TV news programs about this.....and I watch many of them. Typical....

It's time Japan stepped up and picked up more of its own defense burden. As an American, I am sick of paying taxes so they can freeload.

If this guy wants to disagree and burn himself that's up to him, but I hope he left everything he has to the US Treasury to pick up some of the costs he wants to stick us with.

'The far left is always doing the most insane things when they want to force their views and will on the majority'

Of course, the far right in Japan have always been models of restraint and respecters of the democratic process.

It's one hell of a way to protest. Sadly, I think many Japanese feel the same way as this guy did about the recent changes to the constitution and the government in general. The yearly average for suicide is around 80 per day. I wonder how many of these are dup to disgust with the government.

kawachiNov. 12, 2014 - 07:29PM JST I haven't seen ANYTHING on any of the TV news programs about this.....and I watch many of them. Typical....

Reporting these kinds of insane acts only motivates more insane people t do the same.

DisillusionedNov. 12, 2014 - 08:35PM JST It's one hell of a way to protest. Sadly, I think many Japanese feel the same way as this guy did about the recent changes to the constitution and the government in general.

Yes, and they are all in the minority.

JimizoNov. 12, 2014 - 08:22PM JST 'The far left is always doing the most insane things when they want to force their views and will on the majority' Of course, the far right in Japan have always been models of restraint and respecters of the democratic process.

Please, by all means point out the last time a right winger set himself/herself ablaze because he/she didn't want to vote.

TravelingSalesNov. 12, 2014 - 08:09PM JST It's time Japan stepped up and picked up more of its own defense burden. As an American, I am sick of paying taxes so they can freeload.

Oh boy, another one.

Let me help you out a bit, the Japanese actually pay for our forces being here in Japan. Part of the agreement.

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/index.php?id=2443

TravelingSalesNov. 12, 2014 - 08:09PM JST If this guy wants to disagree and burn himself that's up to him, but I hope he left everything he has to the US Treasury to pick up some of the costs he wants to stick us with.

Again, Japan pays the US to station it's forces here in Japan. It's a sweetheart deal.

Wow, there are tons of information out there, all you need to do is do the research.

I hope you did not mean what you wrote JBG Spender ... "I've been thinking of committing suicide a lot." Just that thought makes me cringe. Hope you have friends around you.

It's not a pointless actually it's worth it maybe for the next election they will use him as an example?

'Please, by all means point out the last time a right winger set himself/herself ablaze because he/she didn't want to vote.'

You got me there. The nutters on the right tend to prefer to spill their guts or firebomb media outlets when they get their panties in a twist over something. But I do agree, they don't usually set themselves on fire - just other people.

CFB spender - I've thought a ton about suicide just because it's so strange to me , I've researched it like crazy but my interest is only in how can people do something like that ? I don't know if your interest is the same or if you are considering it . I must say that I have had a very unfortunate life and yet so many good things have happened after my lowest points . In 10 years everything in your life could be amazing , marriage , children , job change , everything could drastically change for the better . If you need someone to talk to please message me

@JoeBigs: Though Japan does pay some for the US bases, it would cost a lot more for them to field a real force capable of deterring the likes of Russia, China, and N.Korea. The only sweetheart deal here is in Japan's favor.

CGB Spender: This might be useful for you. http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international/japan-suicide-hotlines.html

Desperate and painful but not a pointless gesture, as what he did and why he did it is being reported internationally.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30015841

Self-immolation has a long and honored history. Sometimes it is the result of a long thought-out decision based on a firm belief that sacrifice of one's body is an extremely strong message towards a particular person or persons to obtain some result. Although I wouldn't do it myself, I understand the strength of someone's conviction to do it. Do you really think a vote equals the message sent by someone who sets themselves on fire? Do you really think it is a waste of life? Is it pointless? The only thing I don't understand is why they don't give this man's name. Also, what is the name of "the bespectacled man who appeared to be in his 50s or 60s"?

To Joe Bigs: you're right. No right winger would ever get caught doing this. Sacrifice for other people is just not in their nature.

If you're having trouble understanding what I am trying to say read about Thich Quang Duc: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thich_Quang_Duc

it is a form of protest used by people who feel they no longer have a voice

so sad

With China rising i see the need for the expansion, yet i do not wish to see Japan change - for change it will even with the limited expansion of the law.

People in the rest of the world do not understand how much Japan has turned away from the sword, and are now being, by events surrounding the country, being forced to embrace it again

so sad

Another nutjob, cant blame your prime minister or anyone else for doing this type of thing, you can only lay blame on your self.

No doubt I'd never do that but I give the guy credit for actually protesting something he felt strongly about. He offed himself... didn't go out and try to bomb some military base or govt building. I only feel sorry for anybody that might have seen what he did. I wouldn't want to witness it.

Mental illness and desperation make whatever the protest intent was a sad and useless suffering to achieve nothing of value except horror and revulsion.

There is no shame in this death.

"The political party that is in power is doing something that I disagree with, so I am going to commit suicide by immolation."

And so there's one less voice to object the government's policies - not that the voice that was lost was capable of reasoned objection. The "if you're not going to play the way I demand, then I'm going home" method of negotiation doesn't work for children, so why would a supposedly sane adult think it would work?

John Carl SmithNov. 13, 2014 - 03:32AM JST There is no shame in this death.

Yes there is, he set himself on fire and not many people really cared why he did it. This was a pointless act that very few people find heroic or meaningful. But, when someone is insane they will do insane things to get attention.

warispeaceNov. 12, 2014 - 09:39PM JST Desperate and painful but not a pointless gesture, as what he did and why he did it is being reported internationally.

No, this was an act by person who had given up because his views were in the minority. So, instead of trying to change minds within the process he did a crazy thing like setting himself on fire. He was a nutter who thought he would be remembered. But, in fact he will just be remembered as some crazy Japanese guy who offed himself for something.

Being mention internationally means absolutely nothing, he wasn't even a footnote.

B.B.Q.DemonNov. 12, 2014 - 09:27PM JST @JoeBigs: Though Japan does pay some for the US bases, it would cost a lot more for them to field a real force capable of deterring the likes of Russia, China, and N.Korea. The only sweetheart deal here is in Japan's favor.

Actually the Japanese Military is very a capable one. The problem is Article 9, Article 9 ties the hands of their military and forces them to rely on us. If Article 9 was done away with Japan could actually start flexing it's muscle and expanding it's role throughout the world. But, until that day comes we will have to do what we promised we would do.

We have ourselves to blame for tying Japan's hands.

JimizoNov. 12, 2014 - 09:04PM JST You got me there. The nutters on the right tend to prefer to spill their guts or firebomb media outlets when they get their panties in a twist over something. But I do agree, they don't usually set themselves on fire - just other people.

Really, have you forgotten about the terror groups on the left? Everyone of those actions have also been committed by leftist groups throughout the world. That's why it's called terrorism.

Both the far right and far left commit acts of terror when their ideals are in the minority.

Everybody who has posted here - please read about the varied history of self-immolation and rethink your comments. Wikipedia has done a fairly good job of presenting it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-immolation

Everybody who has posted here - please read about the varied history of self-immolation and rethink your comments.

No.

OK, Fadamor. You're an idiot.

"The political party that is in power is doing something that I disagree with, so I am going to commit suicide by immolation."

And so there's one less voice to object the government's policies - not that the voice that was lost was capable of reasoned objection. The "if you're not going to play the way I demand, then I'm going home" method of negotiation doesn't work for children, so why would a supposedly sane adult think it would work?

This shallowness of the thinking behind this comment is all the more reason you need to study more, Fatamor.

Yukio Mishima's shocking suicide stopped nothing and only stirred the hearts of both sides of this 55 plus generation.

I expect we will see more of these dramatic and political suicides as TPP and globalization barges full speed over the last of bushido Japan

Peter, give us some details of how his suicide stopped nothing and stirred the hearts of both sides. I know, at the time, that many self-defense force people and others jeered at him when he made his speech just before he killed himself. Bushido is long gone. I suspect these suicides are not based on its tenets although I could be wrong, at least in some cases.