Man Saves 500 Lives

Yugio Shige patrols lonely cliff-tops to prevent suicides.

17:35 02 July 2015

Yugio Shige, a 70-year-old retired police office has devoted his life saving people from committing suicides. To date, he has saved about 500 lives. 

 

Everyday, he patrols the Tojinbo cliffs, which is a notorious place for suicide. 

 

Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. In 2014, the suicide rate in the country was 24.1 per 100,000. However, the number of people attempting suicide has gone down considerably low in recent years. 

 

Shige previously dealt with the consequence of suicide. He said that one of his friends ended his life a few years ago. 

 

"They told me he killed himself. He rented a car in north eastern Japan and drove into the ocean.

 

"I've seen so much grief. I don't wish to hear anymore more mourning," 

 

"If you stop and picture that scene; someone sitting and believing that their only option is to end everything, alone with their shadow, I truly feel that they want help. They want someone to step in and save them.

 

"We take those that want our help to the six apartments we own so that they can repair and rebuild their lives. We help them get their lives back.

 

"This is is what I do.