Policeman dead after setting fire to himself in Yamaguchi

Monday 23rd February, 10:46 AM JST

YAMAGUCHI —

A policeman was found dead on Sunday morning after apparently setting himself on fire in Yamaguchi City, police officials said. Police received a call just after 6 a.m. Sunday morning saying that there was a man on fire. A jogger passing by saw the man and told a nearby resident to call police.

Police said there were traces of gasoline on the man’s body and on the ground around him. A membership card for the Japan Police Personnel Mutual Aid Association was found in a car parked nearby. It belonged to a man in his 40s. They went to the home of the man, a policeman, and found a note describing some personal problems.

Police have not yet released the man’s name.

News reports

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Latest 15 of 16 Total Comments Show All

timorborder at 10:50 AM JST - 23rd February

a note describing some personal problems

One of which seems to be pyromania!

Seriously, setting oneself alight would have to be one of the more difficult suicide options.
Samuraiiki at 11:05 AM JST - 23rd February

This is definitely the year of fire.
Disillusioned at 11:22 AM JST - 23rd February

Testing new interrogation techniques?
bamboohat at 11:32 AM JST - 23rd February

A jogger passing by saw the man and told a nearby resident to call police.

You'd think that if a jogger saw a guy on fire, they'd scream bloody murder while trying desperately to put the guy out.

"excuse me, but there seems to be a fellow out here that is on fire, would you mind terribly calling the police? Oh, and do you have a spot of water?"
Mz at 12:00 PM JST - 23rd February

The poor jogger for having to come across the situation. What must trouble someone so much that they should kill themselves in what must be an excruciatingly painful way..?
Tatanka at 12:39 PM JST - 23rd February

We're coming up on suicide season here in Japan. Looks like its going to be a vintage year with the bad economy and all...
Spidey at 01:33 PM JST - 23rd February

They went to the home of the man, a policeman, and found a note describing some personal problems.

The perfect crime.

At least in Japan anyway.

S
buggerlugs at 02:00 PM JST - 23rd February

Sry to hear a person died, but it is a policeman...
rurika at 03:48 PM JST - 23rd February

what an awful way to go. RIP Mr. Policeman.
Thenewfront at 04:04 PM JST - 23rd February

Lack of mental health care and a fear of admitting mental problems was probably the cause.

Japans mental health care is in the Victorian age. Many die each year needlessly due to stigma and idiotic superstitions.
NYC_Samurai at 12:27 AM JST - 24th February

If you gotta go, this is still better than mixing cleaning agents and risking injury to innocent people. As long as you don't burn down the whole apartment complex doing it.
airrunwesker at 01:26 AM JST - 24th February

Not condoning suicide ...but he could have done it another way, either taking out a pediphile or two, or donating both his kidneys to someone who would make better use out of them. Suicide is selfish. Giving your life for someone else is one of the highest forms of love!
huddersboy at 09:32 AM JST - 24th February

airrunwesker how can you donate both your kidneys?
Nessie at 10:42 AM JST - 24th February

airrunwesker how can you donate both your kidneys?

The same way you can donate your heart and both your eyes.
gladiatrix84 at 04:26 PM JST - 26th February

I agree with spidey. Wake up and smell the gasoline peeps. I think the poor fella may have had some assistance with both the convinient note and fire. The fact that he's a policeman gives speaks volumes.