17-Year-Old Girl Dies in Yokohama Fall

In a tragic incident in Yokohama, Japan, a 17-year-old high school girl died after jumping from the 12th floor of a shopping center, striking a pedestrian below, a 32-year-old woman, who also succumbed to her injuries shortly after. The event occurred on August 31, a date noted for a spike in youth suicides in Japan, particularly among those under 18, as it precedes the new school term. Last year, over 500 children in Japan took their own lives, often due to school-related issues, a phenomenon that authorities and media have attempted to address. This incident echoes a similar case from 2020 in Osaka, highlighting ongoing concerns about youth mental health in Japan, where suicide remains the leading cause of death among teenagers. Both victims were rushed to the hospital but were pronounced dead shortly after arrival, and police suspect the girl's death was a suicide. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.