Visually-impaired man killed by train after falling from platform

That sucks. R.I.P.

How sad.

The textured paving, which I haven't seen elsewhere (also haven't BEEN elsewhere lately), is one of the things I respect about Japanese stations and crossings (with the sounds accompanying street-lights), etc. It's a shame he could not have simply stopped and asked for help, but I can understand the desire to try and back-track and find your way on your own. Very bad luck, and very sad. RIP.

Doesn't sound like there was any wrong doing on anyone's part, save if a bunch of people watched him and just let him be without trying to help, or if he fell long before the train came and no one did anything.

How long before he fell and when he was hit by the train. I'd hate to think a bunch of people were standing around and watched a blind man walk off the tracks and did nothing to help him.

Train platforms in Japan seem downright barbaric, with huge locomotives speeding into stations crammed with people inches away.

Seems strange because long-term visually-impaired people know their way around these kinds of platforms very well. Unless it was the first time for him to use a train, it seems he might have been disorientated for some reason.

Train platforms in Japan seem downright barbaric, with huge locomotives speeding into stations crammed with people inches away.

Well, I'd hate to be a train driver here. My heart would be in my mouth every time I approached a station. It must be very traumatic for drivers involved in these kinds of incidents. I wonder if they get counseling.

I had a hear-stopping moment a few weeks ago ,when I saw a visually -impaired person too close to the platform at my home station. I was about to grab her,because she looked like she was going to fall,but she seemed to figure it out and backed up.

I always make it a point to look out for blind folks, just in case. You just never know.

Poor soul... RIP

This is the fault of Railway operator. Simply put gates on all platforms. If you notice some stations have it. Many many have fallen and died. Whats taking them so long.

My mother has less than 10% remaining vision, and thus I know very well about the dangers people with such severe impairment have to face. Very sad indeed.

However, as noted previously, gates would have prevented this needless loss of life. Also, since there are almost always bystanders, there should have been someone to push the panic button and stop the trains. What about the security cameras? Where they switched off?

Sad story.

Yup Gates would prevent this type of accident from happening again, hurry up and install them at all stations.

Export - I was told by a JR employee just the other day that all JR stations will have the barriers up by 2014. Too late for poor Hashimoto san, though.

Good news Serrano, but yes too late for Hashimoto most definitely

I'm in awe of the way people like him catch trains. Always makes me realize I don't have much to complain about. I often walk beside a person like that to give them a rest from having to figure it out for themselves. This makes me realize I should do it more.

Sad. We need more of the old fashioned boy scout mentality these days.

(And I'm all for barriers - but we could do a lot better with helping old people, pregnant women, not serving people obviously too drunk to walk etc)

Yasukuni - absolutely. I have been ill recently and it has left me with only a minor disability (Im now deaf in one ear, dont know if permanent yet) - it can be difficult sometimes to hear properly and yet it is so minor. I am totally in awe now of people who are deaf, or blind, or some other such serious disability who go about their daily lives as best they can. It puts it all into perspective and makes me realise how lucky I actually am!

RIP brave Hashimoto san.

ooooohhh - Every time I'm on the track waiting for the train, I always watch out for the blind and disabled.

Damn, he never even saw it coming...

Gates are good, but I think we could use a couple more eyes at the stations. Not many stations have staff looking over the tracks at normal hours, so in many incidents, we tend to expect bystanders to come to the rescue. I remember the student from Korea and one Japanese cameraman who lost his life trying to save a soul. Nothing will be perfect, but I sure hope they can do better.

no escorts??

How terrifying .... the fall alone is a good 5 feet isnt it? Then to get hit by a train. ....rip

I mean i think that its wonderful that they have the texture on the ground here in JP. when i first got here i thought it was one of the most awesome things out here along with the bell or chime sound in stations. Although on the other hand I think that there is still a low level of awareness here. I mean people dont really acknowledge the needs of someone who is unable to get around unaided. I've only seen one seeing eye dog in japan and it was with a foreigner. You barely see people in wheelchairs outside in japan as there is almost nowhere they can go. I mean i here the buses with wheelchair access primarily stop only at hospitals.