Retired policeman Yukio Shige, who makes a daily patrol of Tojimbo cliff in Sakai, Fukui Prefecture, which is one of the best known suicide spots in the nation. He has opened a small cafe near the cliff edge and established a nonprofit group to support people going there in distress. (AFP-Jiji)
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You can see what people are here for just by looking at the way they stand on the edge. Most of them look relieved and soon break down in tears when I just say 'Hi.'
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neverknow2
He has opened a small cafe to profit from people's suffering. Good idea.
AlfGarnett
Well at least he is doing somethink innit. Doing better than when he was a copper, sitting on his backside all day drink coffee and smoking cheap fags.
Got to give people credit for making an effort and all that.
borscht
Knowing the huge flow of traffic along those cliffs, I'd venture to say his cafe is hardly profitable. And he set up a non-profit to help suicide wannabes. I guess complaining about it online is more constructive and saves more lives. I wonder what the name of his cafe is; several inappropriate names leap (er..) to mind.
medievaltimes
"Recently, a retired police officer, Yukio Shige, began patrolling the cliffs and has so far convinced 129 people to not jump and seek help; he keeps in touch with every one of them to this day."-Wikipedia
An example of a great human being.
tkoind2
A great man! A hero in the most pure and humanitarian form.
I seriously wish the nation as a whole would take this problem with as much compassion and care as this single individual.
nath
:)
I would like to visit this place for a coffee and the view.
Dollhopf
neverknow2 said:
"He has opened a small cafe to profit from people's suffering. Good idea."
With the same logic you could say that physicians, fire fighters and many others only profit from suffering of others. Only you, you give away your endless wisdom for free here.
ca1ic0cat
There is an example of a person who is doing something with their retirement rather than just playing pachinko. Hats off to him. Heaven knows with the economy going down hill he is going to be busy.
neverknow2
Thats 100% true. At least it is in Japan. Thats why hospitals here close at night time. Its a business the same as any other business. If it helps people along the way, great! But its still there to make money.
TokyoXtreme
Compare the Japanese annual suicide rate to the annual number (if any) of Japanese victims of terrorism, and see how misplaced the society's priorities are. There's an average of A HUNDRED PEOPLE killing themselves every single DAY; maybe the koban cops ought to be replaced with suicide counselors like Shige, and directly save some lives.
Dollhopf
neverknow2,
specifics of the Japanese health system can as well be examined without animosity. Your breach of objectivity is unbearable!