Tokyo (AsiaNews) - The murder of a 15-year-old Japanese girl by one of her own age near Nagasaki "leaves everyone dumbfounded. It is equally strange that she was on her own even though her parents lived in the same city," said Fr Marco Villa, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in Japan, as he spoke to AsiaNews about one of the oddest news story to come out of Japan.
"Such cases certainly are headlines news because of the extreme violence," he explained, "but we should not generalise about Japanese youth or judge them for the actions of one. Certainly, teenagers have relationship problems, but this happens all over the world. What we need is to help young people grow up in a healthy way."
A high school girl in Sasebo city in Japan's southern Nagasaki prefecture was arrested on suspicion of killing and dismembering a classmate, including severing the victim's head, Japanese police say. The victim's body was found in the suspect's flat. The latter told police, "I did it all by myself".
The local community is shocked. Ten years ago, a similar crime rocked the same city when an 11-year-old schoolgirl stabbed her 12-year-old friend to death.
"Cases like this," Fr Villa said, "leave you dumbfounded. [. . .] Such cases certainly are headlines news because of the extreme violence;" however, most "young Japanese are not like that. In Japan as in the rest of the world, some kids are in trouble and have problems. Certainly Japanese kids are much less attached to the family than Italian kids. It is easier for them to break away from the family. However, when people try too soon to find their independence, things do not always work out."
"Such tragic events may be due to mental problems related to the separation." However, bullying should also be considered. In fact, "Here in Japan this is a major tragedy. It is the main cause of school dropout. And new technologies and so-called social network have made matters worse."
"The lack of physical contact and the inability of seeing the faces of those who tease you make it even worse. For young people, being part of a group of friends is the normal way to socialise. Socially, being an individual makes sense only within a circle. Being marginalised is like getting one's legs cut off. Then the only thing they can do is stay at home and become what the Japanese call a hikikomori, a term that describes those who have chosen to withdraw from social life, often seeking extreme forms of isolation and confinement."
Add on all this a typically Japanese trait, namely the need not to bother others. "Normally, the Japanese, especially young people, do not externalise their problems. This is society's first law."
"In a country so overpopulated, one does not bother those around you. However, this means that problems are not discussed, not even at home. Troubles held inside end up becoming magnified."
"Fortunately it is not as common as it appears. Yet, it is how some Japanese react to the world's difficulties. And this can lead to tragedies."