Suicide in Japan: Part Sixteen - Suicide Websites

J. Sean Curtin (GLOCOM Fellow)

A full list of articles in this series can be found here.

Suicide Websites
In recent years, a number of Japanese language websites have appeared entirely devoted to suicide. Many of these are targeted towards suicide prevention and it is thought that only a small percentage of people who use these sites have gone on to take their own lives. Every site is normally plastered with disclaimers about the dangers of their content.

These sites can be found quite easily using Japanese internet search engines, which appears to be how most people locate them. Some websites frequently move location while others are more stable. The majority simply discuss suicide and do not promote it. However, a few do contain specific information about how to take your own life and where suitable suicide venues can be found. Some even contain so called "suicide shopping lists" detailing the materials necessary for self-asphyxiation.

One or two sites have even been known to offer ready-made suicide packs for purchase. Perhaps the most notorious of this type of site came to public attention in 1998 when it was revealed that a 27-year-old science teacher was dispensing cyanide tablets to suicidal people who contacted him over the internet. The media attributed several cyanide-related deaths to the site which was promptly shut down. The teacher later committed suicide after an investigation into his conduct was launched.

Suicide-related chat rooms and bulletin boards
Most suicide websites contain links to suicide-related chat rooms and bulletin boards where people can search for others who feel suicidal and want to talk. It is normally in these forums that those individuals who are genuinely determined to commit suicide seek out other like minded people.

Suicide chat rooms and bulletin boards contain a broad spectrum of messages, ranging from death wishes to suicide prevention advice. People discuss their feeling and others sympathize. Some people dispense information about how to commit suicide, advising what are the best and most readily available drugs to use for an overdose or what are the most painless methods for terminating ones life. There are also pleas from people looking for others who want to commit suicide. However, it is difficult to tell how genuine many of the different kinds of messages are or whether many of the participants are truly suicidal or just pranksters.

Recently, there has been a huge amount of media interest in internet suicide and even films about it such as the popular "The Suicide Manual" (2003) and its darker sequel "The Suicide Manual 2" (2004). The promotional site for these macabre films contains disturbing trailers, graphically illustrating various forms of suicide associated with the internet.

The Japanese media have reported finding pleas on chat rooms and bulletin boards such as "I am looking for people to die with" and "Are there any women who would like to die with me?" One magazine even reported coming across the message, "I've got the car and the briquettes ready."

The problem with these messages is that there is no way to verify the validity of their content, a common problem with most internet chat rooms. Obviously, vulnerable people may take such messages at their face value, which can lead to tragedy.

Who uses suicide websites?
Only a small amount of research into such websites has been conducted. It indicates that most suicide sites appear to be frequented by mainly young people, some genuinely suicidal because of bullying, emotional or abuse problems, and others who are simply just there out of a morbid curiosity.

Suicide chat rooms are not the exclusive domain of the young and there are some forums aimed at older audiences. These mainly seem to concentrate on discussions about the stress generated from financial difficulties and unemployment. They also contain advice on such suicide-related issues as insurance company policy about payouts for suicide. Suicide prevention is the underlying theme of most of these forums.

Why are suicide websites not shut down?
Some politicians have demanded that suicide websites should be shut down or strictly regulated. However, officials at the telecommunication ministry's bureau, which is responsible for supervising such electronic communications, say such action would be extremely difficult to enforce because of the problems of establishing a direct causal link between one particular website and a specific suicide. There are also concerns about infringing on people's freedom of expression. Furthermore, if a site is shut down, it often has the ability to rapidly re-emerge at another location. Additionally, discussing a desire to commit suicide is not in itself an illegal act, a fact which limits the control the government can exercise on these forums. According to the law, it is only illegal to be an accomplice to a suicide.

Unlike some lawmakers, suicide councilors generally tend to be wary of restrictions being placed on most suicide websites, unless they are malicious. They point out that the prime motive for many of these websites is to actually dissuade potential victims from taking their own lives. Allowing suicidal people to communicate via the internet can be helpful and is not the fundamental issue.

Most professionals think the real problem is the lack of resources devoted towards suicide prevention measures and networks. Many experts describe current government policy as totally inadequate. They have also been critical of sensationalist media coverage of suicide and its glorification in such trendy movies as "The Suicide Manual."

A full list of articles in this series can be found here.