Group Suicide Becomes Frightening Trend in Japan

The reference article uses none of the language one would normally associate with religion, but the connection is only a tiny step away:

The Japanese culture is deeply covered in traditions and rituals carried from their roots in Shintoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism (et al.). Among these is the “ritual suicide” which, far from being a sin, is seen as an heroic act of honor in many cases.

Is this mindset the cause for this “frightening trend” in Japan today? Probably not directly – but there seems to be no doubt that the tradition helps to minimize the negative view of suicide as an alternative. Tradition based in… you guessed it: Religion.

TOKYO, March 13, 2005 — On the high-energy streets of Tokyo, bristling with so much life, a troubled teenager named Yoko says she constantly thinks of taking her own life.

“I want to die,” the 17-year-old said.

And if she decides to go through with it, she’ll have plenty of company. Japanese Web sites offer countless invitations to join in group suicides.

It’s become one of Japan’s most morbid trends — total strangers making meticulous arrangements online to kill themselves en masse. The group suicides usually take place inside sealed cars, where people burn charcoal so that they will die of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Refereces:
http://373news.com/2000on-japan/w-5.htm Ritual Suicide
http://altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_shinto.htm Shinto
http://www.destroy-all-monsters.com/seppuku.shtml Suicide Solution