Video: Gatekeeper

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‘Their cries, their wishes, their hopes… I feel a sense of duty towards them.’

With about 70 self-inflicted deaths per day, Japan has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. The “suicide cliffs” located in Fukui Prefecture is notorious as a place where people go to end their lives. Directed by Yung Chang and produced by Field of Vision, this film portrays retired policeman Yukio Shige who patrols the cliffs, inviting distraught people to his nearby cafe, where he offers food, counseling, and emergency assistance. Over the past 12 years, Shige’s nonprofit organization has saved hundreds of lives.

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