sion ent, Shi paid expenses of more than $40,000 in five years out of his and borrowings volunteers shige walked the cliffs a few times each day by himself. Even as and he also came, drawn by ads and word of mouth, Shige's patrol duties increased took more time to counsel people in need. Today, the group has 85 members, including 20 active patrollers. They wander the cliffs every day from am, looking for likely candidates such as eople who are not looking at the vie "I just say a simple hello and this an lead to a conversation," Shige says He then brings them to the teahouse, where he offers Japanese rice known as Mochi. "Japanese Mochi are served the new year and funerals shige plains. "Mochi brings back memories of people's hometown, families, and giving peace of mind." Depending on the situation, he provides these people with counseling, helps them get social welfare support or directs them to temporary housing. In some cases, he helps them find a job Shige recalls one man. who had lost his job in the The cliff of Toujinbau construction industry when he injured his back. After his wife become abusive, he asked for a divorce, but she refused. When she bought life insurance in his name and told him to "go and die he travelled to Toujinbou Shige spotted him standing on the cliffs holding a cup of Japanese wine. "What are man you doing here?" Shige asked. "You may accidentally fall." Although the initially refused to replay, Shige persisted and they talked until after sunset. ntually the man agreed to come to the teahouse for more counseling. Later Shige accompanied him to negotiate with his wife for a divorce and is now happily back in society" gatherings for suicide survivors, The group's activities include organizing searching for people who have gone missing. Shige has also written four books. The latest, published in May, is Let's Prevent suicide, Toujinbou's Shige Declares. hope. overriding goal is to provide support to people who have lost all He seems to track so far his group prevented more than 240 they be on the right someone to tell them that suicides in area. "These people were waiting for the do not have die," he declares. "Nobody wants to die to