Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki AP PHOTO

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki called the recent student deaths "a grave concern" and urged schools, families and neighbors to take steps to better protect youths.

He urged a government education panel to tackle the problem as part of a planned overall reform, which is one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's top political goals.

Education Minister Bunmei Ibuki blamed deteriorating morality.

"We have to seek ways to restore ties among families and the community, which are now shifting all their responsibility on teachers," Ibuki said. Bullying and signs of suicide can be easily overlooked amid weakening family ties and indifference in the neighborhood, he said.

The comments come amid a string of suicides by children who indicated they had been bullied at school, including two who killed themselves Nov. 12.

A 14-year-old boy hanged himself inside a barn at home in Saitama Prefecture after classmates blackmailed him. In Osaka, a 12-year-old girl threw herself from an apartment building to death.

The latest victims followed three other teenagers who killed themselves over the last few weeks, during which the Education Ministry received letters believed to be from students warning of their plans to commit suicide.

Ibuki said he has so far received nine similar letters, of which four senders have been identified and contacted for protection.

The Japan Times Weekly: Nov. 18, 2006
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