Body of missing 8-year-old girl found in river in Kagoshima town

Saki I really really hope you safe and just lost and most of all not suffering. My heart sinks every time I see these headlines knowing the POS's that walk the streets.

Oh, no. I hope she's found alive and unharmed. Beginning to see this more often back home in the UK and here in Japan in the last few years and too many of those are ending badly.

Every parent's nightmare! Let's hope she is found safe and well.

RIP.

Oh how sad for a young life to be cut short....

Heartbreaking every time I hear news like this. Personally I believe it is better to always go with your children places until they're at least 10+ years of age. I know the parents are going to be hurting from this, and it was an accident that could have been avoided with some parental oversight.

RIP Saki Ono...

Poor child, may she rest in peace.

Sad! - I know this sounds morbid and very negative, but I hope her death is thoroughly investigated to prove it was a tragic accident and she was not the victim of some crazed child murderer.

How did she just fall into a river???

I hope the police haven't ruled this out as foul play.

How many more children have to die before the Japanese national and local governments start requiring children under age 12 to have adult supervision when commuting? It's insane to allow an 8 year old girl to walk alone in today's society. Mind boggling!

How many more children have to die before the Japanese national and local governments start requiring children under age 12 to have adult supervision when commuting? It's insane to allow an 8 year old girl to walk alone in today's society. Mind boggling!

When you say "today's society" I presume you mean that there are a higher number of predatory paedophiles, rather than accidents involving swollen rivers, as seems to be the case here.

But even so, there are a handful of children that go missing at the hands of others in Japan each year, but far more die at the hands of their parents. Considering how many children go out and about by themselves, very few ever going missing, suggesting that the "stranger danger" paranoia of the West is an overreaction to the threat (the latest incarnation of this is doing the rounds with a viral video to show how children can be led away from playgrounds by the sight of a puppy).

One or two children die a year at the hands of strangers each year.. Very, very sad for the parents, but does this mean we should change our way of life for the worse? I suggest not.

what actually happened to you little angel; creates more pain in the heart

It never gets easier to read these stories. RIP sweet Saki.

It's insane to allow an 8 year old girl to walk alone in today's society.

Why? There is less violent crime now than there ever has been, and Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of kids that age go out without supervision every day in Japan without incident.

This is so sad! RIP angel!

Perhaps it wouldn't have made any difference in this case, but I wonder why the mother waited until 8pm before calling the police. The first few minutes after a child goes missing are golden minutes, because the trail can go cold very quickly. It's better to make a big fuss early on, even if you end up getting embarrassed when your child is found playing at a friend's house.

@Strangerland,

We have no idea if this was a crime or not. If the childs walk home was along a swollen river then maybe an adult should have met her at school and accompanied her. Obviously, she got too close or something else occurred. Youd have to be quite close to a river to just slip into it.

We have no idea if this was a crime or not. If the childs walk home was along a swollen river then maybe an adult should have met her at school and accompanied her. Obviously, she got too close or something else occurred. Youd have to be quite close to a river to just slip into it.

Ok...? I'm not sure why you addressed that to me.

@Strangerland,

Your last post mentions safety and crime in Japan. For the most part countries are more safe than dangerous. People should also use commonsense with their children.

Why are people talking about crime here? The article strongly suggests it was a simple accident.

Rest in peace little Saki, my condoleances to her family