The terrible results of social isolation were evident in a new study by the Justice Ministry of 52 of the most violent attacks in Japan between 2000 and 2009. By examining the indiscriminate attacks, the study found that 33 of 52 perpetrators of random attacks had poor or nonexistent social relationships and that more than 40 percent had attempted suicide before their attacks.
This study was the first to examine the living conditions of such perpetrators and the first to suggest realistic measures to help prevent random attacks. While the reasons behind the horrifying attacks that have occurred in Japan's primary schools, train stations and public streets can perhaps never be fully known, the study did help fill in the picture concerning at-risk individuals that can lead to prevention in the future.
The percentage of perpetrators who attempted suicide before carrying out an attack was 44.2 percent. Other problematic pre-offense behaviors of those convicted included drug abuse, other violent acts, self-isolation and gambling. While those behaviors are difficult to eliminate, and do not in themselves always lead to serious crimes later, they are often the harbinger of crises for which individuals should seek help at hospitals or on hotlines.