Chuo line, its long straight railway is...

This morning, when I was almost going out to my job. I heard the huge horn and noise of a train. My apartment is next to a train station, so that it has good sound insulation. Actually I have never heard such a big noise. I looked out the window, and then I found a car crushed at the crossing place. Since all trains had to stop, I could not go to my job :-]. So I watched and took pics and sent them to my parents(to say look!) and co-workers(to say I will be late!). It was a sort of live coverage, until the trains could start running again after two hours.

That was a car accident; I saw the driver was alive fortunately. But we have such train delays so often because of suicide. I must say during this long recession. The number of train suicides has increased. Especially the Chuo line of JR EAST It has a lot of suicides, it was said that in 2003 they had 48 accidents resulting in injury or death, then many of them seemed to be suicide.

So why is Chuo line the only one to have so much trouble? The biggest reason is they have a long straight railway(pdf). It is around 24km (about 13miles?) Someone said it is the longest straight one in Japan, but I have heard the longest one is in Hokkaido (29km). So maybe Chuo line is No2 in Japan.  In such way  trains especially the express trains make good speed. (Nobody wants to throw oneself in front of a slow train!!), this would be a factor. Then I suppose it is like this: he is thinking about it. He is unsure whether he should do it or not... So it is really hard to make up his mind if the time is short after the train appears in sight. But in this Chuo line, he can see the train in far away then, when it is getting closer and closer...enough time to gather up his useless courage? :-(

Recently group suicide is getting to be a serious problem in Japan, People who have suicidal wishes might get their death buddy on Internet sites. One day all the strangers gather at the set place and commit suicide together. Since it is winter, they try monoxide poisoning by using artificial coal inside a car.

Comments

[Cheap Jordans]

If they think they are going to win over us by refusing to make any concession, they are mistaken~

[Supra skytop]

The article talks about control, what it is like to communicate with parents, Knowledge is a treasure

[chanel bags]

It is very nice of you to share your article to bloggers. I found that your article is so constructive and full with life wisdom. You must be a really mature guy!

[Puma Shoes]

I think your article very good ah! I am especially excited to see the good side of this chapter ah! You really powerful ah

[abraxis]

Isn't that a local Chuo line train in the picture?

I thought that the suicide line was the Chuo Line Rapid service (fast orange train) because it goes fast through the Yamanote loop...

[robert]

sounds like incentive if it was your family that made you want to commit suicide in the first place. many is the Thanksgiving I wished for a nice express train to clear the table and cease the bickering..nothing to meaningful, just some casual carnage. ah, but maybe it's just the holidays making me feel like this..winter blues. gomen. ;)

[Claire （クレア）]

Mari-san, is it true that JR bills the dead person's estate for the time and inconvenience that the suicide caused everyone? I read that somewhere. The article said it was supposed to make people think twice about committing suicide by jumping in front of trains because of the expense and humiliation it would bring their families.

[ramil]

i saw the news on the group suicide weeks ago. sad :(

why would teenagers want to commit suicide?

[robert]

I still find suicide incomprehensible. It is complete irony. As if something is SOOO bad in ones life, they just want to freeze it at its worst point and leave it for a legacy. The obstacle one couldn't or wouldn't overcome. Personally I want to live past my hard times so I can truly relish the good times that follow. Not to say we should walk around with an expectation that there will be good times for every bad..but more the realization that even bad times dont last forever. It is part of lifes process and every crisis is an opportunity for improvement. If nothing else it is a lesson for us. Yes, slow trains are not as effective, but I bet they could still put the hurt on ya. So Hokkaido doesn't have as many suicides as the Chuo despite having a longer line? I wonder if that is because the country folk are not as prone to thoughts of self destruction, or the cows are very good at suicide intervention? They have Death Buddy sites on the internet now?..I bet they have a heck of a time keeping their subscribers( But I bet their Hit counters are going crazy). Do you just get a number? Death Buddy 3408 Or do they let you chose a name like Cyanid3Gurrl with the epxress understanding that you will return it by a certain date? I wonder what their FAQ looks like? Actually this post reminded me of this movie I saw..not too long ago, called " Suicide Club " I'm not sure what the Japanese title was, but it was fairly interesting, until one of the main characters commits suicide..then it kinda went cuckoo. It had some interesting commentary, but I bet the story was a little clearer than the movie script which tended to obfuscate motive to move the plot forward and provide suspense. So I have to wonder if suicide is a result of despair, or desire..perhaps they are interchangeable? Personally I have decided if I ever were to commit suicide, I would have to be out of my mind to do so..therefore, I would take like 4 hits of acid (LSD)and go skydiving over the Las Vegas Strip. The colours would so enthrall me, that I would forget where I was and with any luck I would land on a purse snatcher and be known as the hero who gave his life to save some old retiree's hard won slot machine fodder...in a perfect world.