3 men found dead in car; police suspect lethal gas made from detergent

Monday 12th May, 05:52 PM JST

TOKYO —

Three men were found dead in a car Monday in what police suspect is the latest in a string of suicides using lethal gas made from household detergent.

The three, in their 20s and 30s, were found by a passer-by in Tomioka north of Tokyo, said police spokesman Tominori Hirata. The car was in a parking lot.

“We found bottles of bath and toilet detergent in the car,” Hirata said, adding that police suspect the trio committed suicide by inhaling hydrogen sulfide gas made with the cleaning chemicals—a method that reportedly claimed more than 50 lives in Japan in April alone. Hirata declined to give further details.

Kyodo News agency said police found a warning sign outside the car reading, “Hydrogen sulfide gas being emitted.”

Alarmed by a wave of similar incidents, Japanese police have launched a crackdown on popular Internet sites that give instructions on how to commit suicide by inhaling hydrogen sulfide made by mixing common household products.

Authorities also fear the deadly gas could endanger bystanders or rescuers. Earlier this month a man killed himself by mixing detergent in his house on the northern island of Hokkaido, releasing toxic fumes that drove 350 neighbors from their homes.

The government said 32,155 people killed themselves in Japan in 2006, giving the country the world’s ninth highest suicide rate.

7 Comments

some14some at 08:00 PM JST - 12th May

Saga of Samurai Suicides. Silence on the issue by j-govt/social organisations is deafening.
Triple888 at 09:22 PM JST - 12th May

New age code of bushido: don't do well in life, terminate it now.
demolish at 10:59 PM JST - 12th May

Why did this story make it to the home page of CNN's website?? How is it any different than any of the other suicide stories?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/12/detergent.suicide/index.html
raymech1 at 01:21 AM JST - 13th May

"Hirata declined to give further details"

Uh, I think he said more than enough even though the cats been out the bag for awhile now
conqueror_of_Uranus at 02:09 AM JST - 13th May

Comedian Matsumoto Hitoshi is in hot water for remarks he made about the recent spate of detergent gas suicides on a radio show with Takasugi Kousei.

http://www.j-cast.com/m/2008/05/12019982.html

My crude translation:

Matsumoto Hitoshi: The news companies are having fun with the recent news. Countdown lists of how many killed themself today.... From now on, there should be no more news on this subject.

The more they bradcast this stuff, more people will start thinking, "maybe I want to kill myself too" and more people will.

In a way, maybe they are taking themselves out at the right time. I couldn't care less if these idiots want to kill themselves.

Takasugi Kousei: That's a good point, Matusmoto.

2chan was instantly flooded with complaints and commentary:

[Idiots!? Who do you think you are?] [This is worse than Koda Kumi's gaffe] [What do you mean perfect timing, Matsumoto is a scumbag]

[I totally agree] [Well, the news keeps saying Hydrogen Sulfide. They're giving people ideas] [He was going on a good rant up until then...]
KitsuneYoukai at 04:37 AM JST - 13th May

If Japan is the 9th in highest suicide rate per capita, who is the 1st?

Sad situation. They were in their prime. I wonder what is going on in this culture to resort to such drastic measures to get out of life. I don't htink I have seen any psychologist come out here and give their assesment of this continuing growing trend.
timorborder at 10:02 PM JST - 13th May

Matsumoto Hitoshi - Never backwards in coming forwards. When he and his side kick used to be on TV (a lot more), I sometimes used to wonder if the guy had mental problems, some of his "social commentary" used to be outrageous. It is nice to know that somethings never change.