Helping, listening, caring: Japanese prefecture leads dramatic decrease in suicides


  • World
  • Monday, 08 Apr 2019

Taeko Watanabe, whose son Yuki who committed suicide in 2008, talks in front of his portrait at her home in Akita, Japan February 9, 2019. REUTERS/Elaine Lies

AKITA, Japan - Taeko Watanabe awoke one cold March night and found a trail of blood in the hallway, a bloody cleaver on her son Yuki's bed and no trace of him in the house. Then police discovered a suicide note in his bedroom.

"They found him in a canal by the temple and wrapped him in a blanket. After an autopsy, he came home in a coffin. I fell apart," she recalled, eyes welling up as she sat by a photo of Yuki and a Buddhist altar laden with flowers and Fuji apples.

Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM5/month

Billed as RM5/month for the 1st 6 months then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Bomber crashes in Russia, Interfax says
Meta's newest AI model beats some peers. But its amped-up AI agents are confusing Facebook users
Google is combining its Android software and Pixel hardware divisions to more broadly integrate AI
US vetoes bid to make Palestine a full UN member
Pakistan police kill bomber, militant to thwart attack on Japanese nationals
No missile attack against Iran, Iranian official tells Reuters
UK police say they disrupted cyber fraud network that stole personal data from thousands
AI-powered World Health chatbot is flubbing some answers
Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan
South Korea set to adjust medical reforms in bid to end walkout, say media reports

Others Also Read