group (of 7 ) suicide shocks Japan

[bobbieinok]

http://www.aftenposten.no/english/world/article888985.ece


Group suicide shocks Japan
Police found seven young people slumped over dead in a deserted van outside Tokyo on Tuesday, in what's believed to be Japan's biggest-ever group suicide. Another pair of women were found dead in an apparent suicide pact at a temple. The cases involved young people in their teens and 20s, and raise alarms over suicide agreements made by people who often meet over the Internet.


Anyone see this anywhere else?

[pinniped]

1. I just saw it on sfgate.com.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/a/2004/10/12/international0423EDT0427.DTL

------More than 32,000 Japanese committed suicide last year, a record. Between January 2003 and June 2004, 45 people committed suicide in groups after meeting over the Internet, according to the National Police Agency.------

I didn't know the suicide rate in Japan was that high.

[Chovexani]

2. It's a frighteningly common occurance

I saw a documentary on Trio a while ago about suicide in Japan. Apparently large numbers of people like to wander off into parks and other natural settings and kill themselves.

It's so common signs are actually posted in such areas asking people to reconsider their decision. Freaky.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Cultural demands for success in Japan are very high.

And, at one time, suicide was an honorable way out. It's hard to believe that it still is condoned, but it would explain why so many are making the same decision.

[Skittles]

4. also, people don't want to die alone

that could explain the group phenomenon