Shige, who calls this attitude a “socially organised crime”, decided to take action. When he retired in March 2004, he opened a teahouse about 100 metres from the cliff as a place where people contemplating suicide could come for solace and counselling. Until last year, when he started getting funding from the government, Shige paid expenses of more than ¥3 million ($40,000) in five years out of his pension and borrowings.