Counselors in Nagano Prefecture were seen typing nonstop in September between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., as they replied to high volumes of consultation requests received via the Line messaging app.

None of the 10 counselors had ever provided counseling via text-only social media. They said they had to "be quick on their feet," so the teenagers would not think they were being ignored.

The trial was run by the prefecture from Sept. 10 to 23. Counselors received 25 times more requests via the app than by telephone during the first week alone, with many teens looking to discuss serious problems and open up about emotional wounds.