Dead man’s diary brings attention to cause
Today, the cover of the New York Times featured a story about a man starving to death in Kitakyushu, Japan. This is apparently the third time a person has starved to death in one of the nation’s major cities due to the government’s refusal to provide poor people with welfare. What makes this case front-page news to us Americans? It turns out this last victim, referred to only as “the diarist,” chronicled the last few weeks alive in a diary. This diary has incited sympathy from the international and local community, while embarrassing government officials who cut off this man’s welfare. (Interestingly, his diary contradicts official statements that the man volunteered to have his welfare revoked.) Although his name is not revealed, his moving last entry is being reprinted in newspapers in Japan and elsewhere:
“‘My belly’s empty,’ read the diary’s last entry. ‘I want to eat a rice ball. I haven’t eaten rice in 25 days.’”
Judy