Today, the group has 85 members, including 20 active patrollers. They wander the cliffs every day from 10.30 am, looking for likely “candidates”, such as people who are not looking at the view. “I just say a simple hello to them and this can lead to a conversation,” Shige says.
He then brings them to the teahouse, where he offers Japanese rice cakes known as mochi. “Japanese mochi are served during the new year and funerals,” Shige explains. “Mochi brings back memories of people’s hometown, families and childhood, giving peace of mind.” Depending on the situation, he provides these people with counselling, 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 construction industry when he injured his back. After his wife became 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 you doing here?” Shige asked. “You may accidentally fall.” Although the man initially refused to reply, Shige persisted and they talked until after sunset. Eventually, the man agreed to come to the teahouse for more counselling. Later Shige accompanied him to negotiate with his wife for a divorce and “he is now happily back in society”.
The group’s activities include organising gatherings for suicide survivors, lobbying government officials to do more to prevent suicide, giving talks and 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.
Shige’s overriding goal is to provide support to people who have lost all hope. He seems to be on the right track – so far his group prevented more than 240 suicides in the area. “These people were waiting for someone to tell them that they do not have to die,” he declares. “Nobody wants to die.”