July 27, 2006
Chuicide
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From Wikipedia:
The Chuo Line, one of Tokyo's major train lines, is so infamous for people committing suicide that many English editorials in Japan have taken to using the word Chuicide to refer to the means. Its relative popularity is partly due to its practical ease, and to avoid causing a nuisance to one's family, though families are often charged or sued by the railway companies to compensate for the trouble caused by the accident. A typical suicide may cause delays between one and a few hours on one or more lines and is certainly unpleasant for onlookers who may be present.Now, that last bit is cold. Your family member commits suicide, and the train company bills you close to a million dollars for their inconvenience as a punitive measure. It brings to mind the Chinese government's practice of billing the families of executed criminals for the cost of the bullet. I'm not sure if the billing works as a disincentive--probably not, considering that people keep on doing so in such large numbers--but even if it did work, I'd be squeamish about being so cruel to those who have just lost people they love.Another interesting trend related to train suicide is to wear a brightly colored cap (orange) to help shield your face. This is done out of concern for the train conductors, so that they may not be caused any trauma by seeing the face of the person about to be hit. It is also useful as a sign that the person is indeed intending to commit suicide, and that no one should risk their life in order to save them.
The costs to the surving families by the railway companies' "delay fee" is often in the 100 million yen (approx. 850 thousand U.S. Dollars) range. [Mainichi Shinbun, August 18, 2002]
This article in Wikipedia reports that of the 1,210 people who have committed train suicide in Japan since 1995, 156 of them, or about 13%, have done so on the Chuo Line. The article claims that the "high speed and frequency of the trains" is what draws people to it. But such things have their quirks. For example, more than a thousand people have committed suicide by jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge--but only one or two of all those jumpers chose the side of the bridge facing the city. It may be a matter of access, but if you've seen both sides, you'll know that the city side is indeed a far more desirable view than the ocean side--although it's an interesting question as to whether such a thing matters to someone about to leap to their doom.
I'd be shocked if huge fines to the families of suicide victims didn't have an impact on those who jump in front of trains although I do agree that imposing crippling fines on families is icy cold. The Japanese, after all, have a strong aversion to burdening others. It probably doesn't have an impact on the number of people who kill themselves, only on how they do it.
At least the major lines are putting the money they collect to use in regards to preventing suicides on their lines. All those annoying barriers that are put up along the tracks which have gates which open only after the train has stopped do serve to stop people from jumping onto the tracks.
And the train lines, JR in particular, have attempted other measures such as trying to eliminate areas which are relatively hidden, installing mirrors, and consulting psychologists about what they can do to decrease the chances that people will jump. The idea is to make it harder to act on the moment when people get up the nerve to do it.
If you research the statistics of suicides in Japan, you'll see 1/3 of suicides are committed by the elderly and nearly half because of health issues. I don't think that much can be done about the choices Japanese people make in this regard. Since the culture has no taboos against suicide and has a cultural history of choosing death over suffering or burdening one's family, it's too dramatic a change in the collective psychology to stop people from killing themselves.
Posted by: Shari at July 28, 2006 01:12 PM
We were on a train when someone decided to commit suicide one afternoon. When we stopped, we had that typical gaijin look of confusion. I believe that we were using Keikyu that day. Very interesting. I found your site doing a search on Cicada, Japan. This is my first time living somewhere with these creatures. I have a regular visitor by my front porch that's been screaching at me every morning when I open the door (then sputters off to find his mate).
Posted by: Nicole at August 2, 2006 04:03 PM
I agree entirely with the rail companies' practice of charging the family. It is not a "fine", it is a simple bill for lost revenue caused directly by the negligence and selfishness of one person. If the train stops for hours, the whole line stops for hours nad people take other lines. It is unfortunate that the surviving members must bear the responsibility but if it were not so widespread and causing the rail companies such trouble, it wouldn't be necessary. I believe it does act as a deterrent.
Posted by: trent at November 27, 2006 02:32 PM
The train companies do not actually "charge" the families of those who have committed suicide. However, if the family of someone who has committed suicide receives an insurance settlement, the railway company will sue to receive that settlement. In Japan the majority of suicides are due to financial troubles and the idea IS to deter those who think that their death will solve their financial troubles. I was on a train this morning that was delayed because of a suicide--on the Chuo Line. It is a sad fact, but it happens.
Posted by: Bob at April 22, 2007 12:50 AM
