Tokyo Nights
Life In Tokyo - Neil Stalnaker
Thursday, January 19, 2006
1/19/06 Train "Accident".......
Just got back from my walk. I usually walk to SATY and have a cup of coffee at Starbucks, read and then go home (often stopping at the park to exercise a bit outside). I had a really long walk this morning so I decided to take the train home from SATY. Got to the station and realized that an "accident" had just happened. When I first came to Japan and ran into train delays, everyone always told me it was an "accident". It took me a while to catch-on. Usually these "accidents" are suicides. Today someone jumped off the platform in front of an express train that was "flying" through Tobu Nerima station. I can't imagine the pain that person was feeling inside before they jumped. After going through depression for years (because of hypothyroidism...because of radiation treatments to my throat), I can understand that someone might feel so much pain that they can see only one option for themselves. But, it's never been an option for me. Today, when I came upon this scene at the station, I felt sick...nauseous... 10-15 guys down on the tracks picking-up the pieces. I couldn't help but to think what a selfish act it was. So many people are touched by this situation. This is 3rd time that I have arrived at or been at a scene of suicide around a train station. One other time I arrived just after a guy jumped out of a 6th floor window. But, he survived. Today, I felt such an eerie feeling....it was deep....of course I felt sick and shocked by the whole situation but, beyond that, I sensed some deep feeling...something spiritual. I can't really explain. My vocabulary seems to be limited in this area. Last year, there were over 33,000 suicides in Japan....over 90 per day! It's beyond my comprehension.
Apple Store Written at 1/19/2006 05:05:00 PM by neil stalnaker.