Web suicide pacts surge in Japan

[nullpointer]

The number of Japanese who killed themselves in suicide pacts made over the internet rose sharply last year.

Police said 91 people died in the pacts in 2005, compared to 55 in 2004 and 34 in 2003, when the records started.Alarm at the rise has led to increased vigilance by internet service providers, who now report suspected suicide pacts to the authorities.Japan already has the highest suicide rate in the world, and the pacts may appeal to those scared to die alone. Police figures showed 34 internet-arranged suicide pacts were recorded last year. Of the 91 people who died, 54 were men and 37 were women, with most being in their twenties or thirties. But the number of cases may now be falling. Twenty of the 34 cases took place in the first three months of last year, before internet service providers started working with the authorities to tackle the problem.

[Buraku]

that's fucked up

[otto_creepo]

so ive been looking around to find these chat rooms. im fascintated. not suicidal, just interested. apparently, the keywords are "shall we die together?" in japanese. i dont speak the language. can anyone translate?

[Ketou]

so ive been looking around to find these chat rooms. im fascintated. not suicidal, just interested. apparently, the keywords are "shall we die together?" in japanese. i dont speak the language. can anyone translate?

Here's a link to a google search for the phrase. Although if you don't speak the language I'm not too sure how it will help.

[Buraku]

The Japanese parliament has approved a law ordering the government to tackle the country's high rate of suicide.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5082616.stm



The law calls on central and local governments to produce policies that would reduce the number of suicides.
Japan has one of the highest suicide rates amongst industrialised nations, with 32,552 people committing suicide in 2005.