On Saturday night, the seventeen-year-old high school student leaped from a building in a busy shopping center, striking a thirty-two-year-old woman who was out with her friends.
After the two were rushed to the hospital at 18:00 local time (09:00 GMT), the girl passed away an hour later. Soon later, the woman also passed away.
Although the reason for her possible suicide is unknown, official records show that more Japanese youths under the age of 18 commit suicide on September 1st, the day before classes resume, than on any other day.
In Japan, 513 youngsters committed suicide last year, with “school problems” being the most often mentioned cause.
“People who don’t go to school,” or futoko, are students who don’t want to return.
Based on a recent ministry of education survey, the top three reasons these futoko avoid school are bullying, personal troubles with peers, and family situations.
Authorities and media outlets have made an effort in recent years to increase public awareness of the difficulties faced by students during this time of year.
For instance, NHK, the public broadcaster of Japan, launched a Twitter campaign titled “On the night of August 31.”
