The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-10-05
TRIED HARI KARI
Counsellor Akiyama At.
tempts Suicide.
Result Of Mental Troubles - No;
Caused by Jspsn-Hawau
Controversy.

Late Japanese papers contain &C
/ counts OF the attempted suicide Of
Counsellor Akiyama OF the japanese
Foreign Office on August 20 last Mr.
Akiyama departed from the usual Gus
tom in such matters and instead OF
using E short dagger he utilized s
sword three feet long. he succeeding
in inficting Two serious wounds, one
near the jugular and one in the abdo-
men. The act w2s committed in his
own apartments about O'Clock in the
afternoon. As he had been complain
ing on returning from the foreign Office
some member Of the family visited the
room 70 inquire as 10 his health and
found him lyingin Jhepool Of blood. His
family was Immediately notified and
when Mr.. Akiy2ma's mother raised
his head, and asked him what had in
duced him 70 take such 3 course he
made no answer, but managed 10 let il
be understood that he did not wish TO
have medical aid A physician was
soon on the spot however. and the
wounds were treated. that on the stom-
ach requiring fifty stitches. II is under
stood 10 be the doctors opinion that II
no complications enSue, = fatal result
need not be app7ehended. The almost
invarisble custom with japanese who
contemplatss suicide, is 10 leave q writ
ten statement OF his reasons for the
act but nothing OF the kind has been
found in Mr.. Akiyama's case. and il is.
OF course. idle 10 speculate on the mo-
lives by which he was Influenced. Pos
sibly the simple explanation is mental
arrangement
Private 2dviCeS received here indi-
cate that the unfortunate man was in
sane, The rumors regarding difficulty
following his return from Hawaii are
pooh poohe6. Mr.. Akiyama'S position
IN the Government was not Of sufficient
importance 10 warrant the Govern |
nent laying any particular stress upon
MS views in the Hawaii-Japan case and |
no one realized this more than he |
Having been in Hawaii and being fam !
liar with all the details OF the case
be would naturally form an opinion, |
but the Government was not bound 10 |
recognize il
The general suppoSirion among Mr.. |
friends in Japan is that his |
brain was weakened by 10 close atten-
ion 10 his duties. Al the time he was
here he was only s. years OF age and |
had already served three years in Lon
Ion IN an official capacity and was
shortly afterward dispatched 10 ST.
Petersburg on q diplomatic mission. |
Being Of COnyivial nature he entered |
into the full swing OF social pleasure |
Il the Russian Capitol and the drain |
was TOO much for his constitution
Europeans who spent much time
with Mr.. Akiysm2'S during his sojourn |
I Honolulu considered him noticably |
cratic and one occasion 81 least he dis /
FUSED the subject of suicide in the
event Of failing health. His manner
II times was such as 10 alarm his jap
snese friends in Hawaii and among
some there was doubt felt as 10 his /
safe arrival in Yokohama so that his
irst letter, announcing his safe arrival |
vas quite 2 relief
He was recognized al home as an able /
and sincere Official OF the Imperial |
Government and regarded as worthy |
TO be dispatched on the most delicate |
missions. He was q graduate OF the |
Imperial University Of Japan receiving \
special instruction N international law. |