A 17-year-old high school student in the Japanese city of Yokohama jumped from a shopping center in an attempt to commit suicide, but instead landed on a passerby, killing both of them.
The incident took place on Saturday night in a busy business area.
September 1st is statistically the day with the highest suicide rate among Japanese teenagers, often due to anxiety about the start of a new school term.
In Japan, 513 children committed suicide in 2022, with the most cited reason being “school problems.”
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According to a survey by the Japanese Ministry of Education, students who refuse to go to school are called “futoku”. They often face challenges related to family, social interactions and bullying.
Authorities and the media have stepped up efforts to raise awareness about these issues, especially around the start of the school year.
The incident is similar to another tragedy that occurred in Osaka in 2020, where a female student died as a result of the suicide of a teenage boy.