Located on the coast of Fukui Prefecture, Tojinbo is infamous in Japan as a place people commit suicide. Recently, however, it’s been teeming with life thanks to Pokémon Go.
The area is supposed to be haunted by a Buddhist priest who, according to one legend, was chucked off the cliffs because of his corruption or, according to another, was pushed off by a rival who was also vying for the same beautiful princess.
Suicides were so high at Tojinbo (as many as 25 a year) that a retired police officer named Yukio Shige began patrolling the area, trying to talk down people who planned to end it all. Around 20 volunteers have joined his crusade, and Shige estimates that they’ve saved over 500 lives.
J-Cast reports that recently, that Pokémon Go have spotted hard to get Pocket Monsters like Aerodactyl, Dragonite, and Hitmonchan.
Now, families and young people are coming to Tojinbo, and the place, while spectacular, certainly seems a lot less grim.
One of the folks who patrols the area told Japanese TV that he felt as though this could be an opportunity to convey that suicide is wrong.
These are steep cliffs, so hopefully players will take care as they search for elusive Pokémon.
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