With the grieving still going on, more deaths are feared. The anguish over hide comes in the wake of growing official concern over suicides and violent crimes by Japanese schoolchildren. Latest statistics show that nearly one death in seven involving youngsters between the ages 15 and 19 is by suicide. The number rises to about one in four for those between 20 and 24. In a recent study, a Tokyo psychiatrist, Dr. Sekiya Tohru, noted a sharp increase in depression among young Japanese.
Sufferers are scared to die, but they are reluctant to live.
Such a mood is spreading in society. Disc jockey Yanai Maki thinks many fans saw in hide the rebel society would not allow them to be. A tearful Kojima Tsuneo was among those on the street the day Matsumoto was laid to rest. He gave me courage. All Rights Reserved.