YOKOHAMA, Japan – In a tragic incident that underlines the growing mental health crisis among Japan’s youth, two people lost their lives in Yokohama when a 17-year-old high school student jumped from a shopping centre, falling onto a pedestrian below. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening in one of the city’s crowded shopping districts, sent shock waves throughout the community and reignited discussions about the pressures faced by young people in Japan.
A tragic incident in a busy city
The heartbreaking incident occurred around 6:00 pm local time (09:00 GMT), when the teenage girl jumped from the upper floors of a popular shopping centre. She tragically fell onto a 32-year-old woman who was enjoying an evening in the busy district with friends. Both were rushed to hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical teams, the young woman died within an hour. The pedestrian, who was also hit, also died shortly afterwards.
This double tragedy has not only devastated the families involved, but has also left many in Yokohama and across Japan grappling with the broader implications. The incident has brought back painful memories of similar events and has focused attention on a disturbing trend that has been steadily increasing in Japan: rising suicide rates among teens.
A crisis among Japan’s youth
The tragic deaths in Yokohama come at a time when suicide rates among young people in Japan are becoming worryingly prevalent. According to government statistics, the highest number of suicides among children under the age of 18 occur on September 1, just before the start of the new school term. This statistic points to a grim pattern – last year alone, 513 children in Japan took their own lives, and “school problems” were cited as the most common contributing factor.
The pressures of academic life, combined with social and family expectations, can weigh heavily on the shoulders of young students. Japan’s educational environment is notoriously rigorous, and the culture surrounding school often leaves little room for those who struggle to cope. Students who cannot bring themselves to attend school are referred to as “futoko,” which roughly means “people who don’t go to school.” The reasons for their absence can range from family issues and interpersonal conflicts to severe cases of bullying.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education sheds light on the root causes of why these students, or “futoko,” choose to stay away from school. Many feel overwhelmed by family circumstances, personal conflicts, and, most troublingly, bullying. As schools prepare to reopen for the new term, these stresses can become unbearable for some, resulting in tragic consequences.
Efforts to Raise Awareness
In recent years, both government agencies and media organizations in Japan have tried to raise public awareness of the challenges students face, especially during late August and early September. Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, launched a campaign on social media called “Night of August 31st” aimed at reaching out to vulnerable students who may be thinking about self-harm or suicide.
The campaign encourages students to share their feelings and ask for help rather than suffer in silence. It emphasises that they are not alone and that there are people and resources available to support them. Despite these efforts, the heartbreaking incident in Yokohama shows that more needs to be done to effectively address the issue.
A similar tragedy from the past
The incident in Yokohama is reminiscent of a similar tragedy that occurred in 2020 when a 17-year-old boy in Osaka jumped from the roof of a shopping centre, killing a 19-year-old female student. The case attracted widespread attention and sparked public debate on how such incidents should be handled. The boy was charged with posthumous manslaughter, meaning his family was held financially liable to compensate the victim’s family. However, the charge was later dropped.
The legal complexities associated with such incidents add another layer of difficulties for the families involved, who are already dealing with the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one. In the most recent Yokohama case, authorities have not yet announced any plans to assign blame for the deaths, but the situation remains fluid as investigations continue.
Japan’s rising suicide rate among youth
While Japan’s overall suicide rate is slowly declining, the opposite trend is being seen among its young population. Worryingly, Japan remains the only G7 country where suicide is the leading cause of death among teenagers. This fact paints a disturbing picture of the mental health crisis facing the country’s youth, who are often caught between societal expectations and their own personal struggles.