NARITA, Chiba Pref. — Buddhist priest Eiichi Shinohara is at the forefront of a nationwide campaign to prevent suicides, which last year surpassed 30,000 for the 12th consecutive year since 1998.

The 65-year-old priest from Chojuin Temple in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, heads Jisatsu Boushi (Suicide Prevention) Network, a nonprofit groups set up by priests of various Buddhist sects in March 2009.

The network is active in 37 areas in 22 prefectures, including Tokyo and Hokkaido, as well as in Hawaii, providing counseling facilities similar to domestic abuse shelters. Shinohara's goal is to establish at least two of the facilities in each of the 47 prefectures.