Who is Hiroki Kishinami and what is he accused of?

Hiroki Kishinami is a 36-year-old unemployed man indicted for allegedly aiding the suicides of five individuals he met through social media.

Why are suicides among young females in Japan increasing?

Experts cite a 'quiet crisis' potentially linked to social media use, difficulties in expressing real-world pain, and insufficient support networks.

What measures are being taken to prevent social media-related suicides in Japan?

Social media companies display hotlines, and organizations offer online counseling, but challenges remain due to coded language and insufficient support.

Home / Crime and Justice / Social Media Suicide Pact Sparks Shocking Arrest

Social Media Suicide Pact Sparks Shocking Arrest

17 Dec

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Summary

An unemployed man allegedly aided suicides of five young people.
Victims were lured via social media and met in remote locations.
Suicides among young Japanese females are alarmingly on the rise.

Social Media Suicide Pact Sparks Shocking Arrest

In a remote mountainous area of Yamagata Prefecture, the discovery of a teenage girl's body in a tent revealed a disturbing case of alleged suicide facilitation. A 36-year-old unemployed man, Hiroki Kishinami, has been indicted for aiding the suicides of five individuals, including the girl found deceased. He is accused of contacting young people expressing suicidal desires on social media, moving conversations to private apps, and luring them to remote locations to die.

Experts suggest motives range from a perpetrator's distorted belief of providing help to sexual gratification. Kishinami also faces charges of indecent acts and theft related to one of the victims. This case echoes the crimes of the "Twitter killer," Takahiro Shiraishi, who was arrested in 2017 for luring and murdering individuals found through social media. Prompted by such incidents, Japan has enhanced suicide prevention services, including social media counseling, though support networks remain insufficient.