A man died after being hit by an oncoming train when he fell off the platform at JR Akihabara Station on the Keihin Tohoku line in Tokyo around 7:10 a.m. on Monday, police said.
According to a JR East Japan employee, the man purposely jumped in front of the Keihin Tohoku line train, which was heading to Ofuna in Kanagawa Prefecture. Police are still investigating the case, but said it looks like a case of suicide.
The accident caused a one-hour delay in transportation during rush hour and influenced approximately 99,000 commuters, JR East Japan said. JR’s Yamanote line was also affected, but resumed operations approximately 20 minutes after the accident.
© Compiled from news reports
26 Comments
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oikawa
He didn't really "fall" to his death
haran3375
Souldn it read that 'he jumped' to his death?
That might be more accurate
This type of 'accident' happens almost every week in Japan. I pity the train drivers in Japan they need counseling big time.
papigiulio
why are trainsuicides so popular really? its freaky, scary and disgusting. Isnt gas more peaceful, less painfull? seriously....
Godan
Where I come from they are referred to as "Chuocides" and they are not illegal. And they happen on the Chuo LIne on more or less of a daily basis. Very sad way to call it a day.
taj
"more or less of a daily basis"
fortunately for most of the year, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I've always heard that April / May are the worst months. People starting new jobs, new schools on April 1st suddenly feel homesick or overwhelmed after the initial euphoria has worn off. I've never seen the statistics to back that up, but it fits with my experience of commuting here over the past couple decades.
I'd also venture to guess that the numbers of deaths by Chuocide have dropped in the last 20 years, but I have no stats - just a gut feeling. What do the rest of you think?
NeoJamal
Darn right, those overcrowded Y/K platforms around 7AM are dangerous. The outer circle platform at Nippori is freaking small.
I hate to be the new Aprile JR grad who's doing the clean up..uhehehehu..
Disillusioned
He went out with a 'BANG' on the front of a train. These pathetically selfish individuals do this in peak hour vos they know how muh trouble it will cause. Now, there will be renewed calls for barriers on platforms, but that is not treating the problem, only the symptoms. The hundred or so people who commit suicide in Japan everyday will just find other ways to upset the ebb and flow when they off themselves.
BurakuminDes
Good question, we need some psychs on here to answer this. My theory is that these people are intent on shocking/causing as much trouble to as many people as they can. Heck, scores of others here seem able to finish themselves - sadly - in a less selfish way (if there is such a thing). The suicide issue really needs addressing in this joint...
IvanCoughalot
Is it true that the rail companies bill the family for the cost of clean-up?
Tom DeMicke
If I were standing on a platform waiting for a train and witnessed someone being mangled by a train, I think I would need counseling. This is terrible!
Gebeson
Why do they always call such event "an accident" and not "an incident"?! If the man jumped intentionally or was pushed, then that wasn't an accident.
stevecpfc
IvanCoughalot+ yeah true and many on this site agree with this policy. If it was one of my loved ones and i was asked for money the person who asked or authorised asking may well get their head kicked in.
rhyhl
sad news, but you know whats impressive, trains resuming after 20 mins, here in melb,australia, if that kind of incident occured, I believe the trains would stop for the whole day and forced to use buses or other means to try and get home.
tmarie
Am sure his family will be happy to pay for the clean up! Why do people insist on off themselves this way??
littlebird
@stevecpfc I think the reasoning behind the policy is that if the would-be suicider knows that s/he will bring distress, expense and thus "shame" down on their family's heads, it might stop the person from jumping. Very Japanese thinking.
IvanCoughalot
And about as effective as lots of other "unique" aspects of this place. i.e.proven wrong any number of times yet inertia keeps them in effect.
cactusJack
I have seen those clean-up crews at Tokyo station. About 10 JR guys appear from nowhere to remove the body, using the famous light blue tarp. They seemed very experienced.
TuxedoMichael
I hope an pray the poor fellow wasn't an Otaku. This is in Akiba station.
USNinJapan2
Another thoughtless and selfish person chooses to end his life at the inconvenience of others. Sad.
tokyochris
followed by
Don't they contradict each other somewhat?
Moderator: Not at all. Only one person said the man jumped. He may have indeed jumped or fallen or was pushed.
SpanishEyez37
This is the reason I literally stand against a wall or something when I'm in the train station. You never know what whack job will try to push you just for shoots and giggles.
cyan77
From a legal standpoint, JR is entitled to ask for damages but the policy is never enforced out of respect for the already embittered relatives.
Nonetheless, if a person jumps but survives with just a few minor scratches, I suspect he/ she will be asked to pay for some of the delay cost.
cadmium
If someone wants to top themself, then why not an alcohol overdose? A liter of vodka should do it for a regular non-drinker. First coma and then death, nice and easy (and a lot cheaper for everyone).
oikawa
Neo Jamal
That's not what I meant! He didn't "fall" to his death because his fall didn't kill him, it was the bloody great big train that did it.
ninjastar
Curious as to why this is news when there are so many throughout Japan each day.
Patricia Yarrow
Disturbing. I was at the other end of the Akihabara Tohoku-sen at that exact moment, along the stretch of platform that is so narrow they have signs IN ENGLISH that basically say: "Narrow here, please move along". Going to keep an alert eye from now on.