Japan: Teenage girl jumps off building, lands on woman below, both die

Two people have died in Japan's Yokohama city after a teenage girl jumped off a building and landed on a pedestrian below. The incident took place in the crowded shopping centre of the city on Saturday (Aug 31).

The 17-year-old girl jumped off the building, while the 32-year-old woman below was out with her friends in the evening. The two were taken to the hospital around 18:00 local time (09:00 GMT), where the girl died an hour later.

The woman also succumbed to her injuries soon after, as it remains unclear why the girl committed suicide.

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It is not the first time such a tragic incident has transpired in Japan. In 2020, a 17-year-old boy jumped from the roof for a shopping centre and killed a 19-year-old girl student in a busy district of Osaka.

The teenage boy wasposthumously charged with manslaughter as the family owed compensation to the victim's family. However, the charges were dropped later.

Watch |Japan's loneliness crisis: 40,000 people died solitary deaths in their homes

Suicides in Japan

According to reports, more people under the age of 18 die by suicidein Japan on September 1 than any other day, just before the start of the new school term.

At least 513 students killed themselves due to "school problems" in 2023, according to official statistics. As a result, Japan is theonly G7 country where suicide is the leading cause of death for teenagers.

The students avoid schools due to family circumstances, personal issues with friends and bullying, according to previous surveys. The government had mounted awareness campaigns but the effect has not been great so far.

Apart from suicides, the ageing population of Japan is also undergoing a loneliness crisis. During the first half of 2024, approximately 40,000 people have been found dead alone in their homes.

More than 70 per cent of the cases involved individuals aged 65 and above - reflecting Japan's status as the country with the oldest population, as per United Nations data.

(With inputs from agencies)

Note: Get help & support for suicide.

If you or someone you know wants help for mental well-being, don't hesitate to talk to a professional. You can contact local authorities and also encourage the person to contact a suicide prevention hotline. WION does not make any recommendations.