Anime Fan Missing in Japan

[Whatocean]

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-22/american-anime-fan-disappears-in-japan

Reading this is nearly as sobering as stories of children emulating Naruto and doing unimaginable things.

This has come to pass this month, too. It's freaky to hear a story like this so recent.
Actually, I retract that statement. When somebody is missing, people usually want the word out yesterday to get everyone aware and looking.

[Matt Cruea]

Her brother Bobby must be so upset.

[Teacher_Nine]

Her brother Bobby must be so upset.

Ha!
Classic indeed sir.


I won't deny it, I used to watch that show all the time.

[mippa]

Pardon me if this sounds calloused, but I hope this serves as a lesson for any naive anime fan that thinks that Japan is the Promised Land for otaku. It's a shame to see such foolishness playing out this way.

I hope she winds up being safe--and hopefully wiser.

[Teacher_Nine]

I think she went there to disappear, maybe even die. She sounded like she was a depressed sort. Perhaps more of a "I want to see this before I die" type thing.

Nothing anyone can really do but speculate at this point.

It is true though, nothing like living in Japan (even/especially on an Air Force Base) to make you remember what it is that you've left behind.
Definitely a great place to visit, but I prefer living in the states.

[Erica]

I think she went there to disappear, maybe even die. She sounded like she was a depressed sort. Perhaps more of a "I want to see this before I die" type thing.

I was thinking the same thing when I read this earlier.

[yukie]

Well yeah, that's what this article implied by mentioning the suicide note in her email :X I hope she's safe and that they'll find her soon.

[Sapphire]

That's real sad. I agree with Teacher Nine, completely. That's probably a very good reason why she went to Japan.

[tygerchickchibi]

Pardon me if this sounds calloused, but I hope this serves as a lesson for any naive anime fan that thinks that Japan is the Promised Land for otaku.


Er...what? It's not really a terrible thing that she went to go to Japan before she died. Sure, she was an anime fan, but if this place gave her a peace of mind then so what? Basically...If it were a promised land, I don't think it would be in her best interest to kill herself. Starting over, perhaps?

X.X Yes it sounds very calloused.

....I suppose this thread is a lot better than the BS posts I've read at ANN...that takes the cake indeed.

[ig.]

I hope she didn't hurl herself into a vat of animator's anime ink in an artful and poetic plan to become in death an intrinsic part of the thing she so loved in life...

And what the fuck happened to the first and second rules of Anime Club? You DO NOT. TALK. ABOUT. ANIME CLUB.

[GameBuddy]

If anime has taught us anything, it's that no one EVER covers up their decrepit old wells that lead to the nether realms. Try looking there first.

[Seeshelle]

This sucks..I can't believe she went by herself. I wonder how she communicates with the people. Most importantly, I hope she's happier

[Whatocean]

I hope she's alive.

[andy ichigo]

I hope she's alive.
Same here. Well, this is the first I'm hearing of this. That's a shame, just horrible.

[Windy*]

This sucks..I can't believe she went by herself. I wonder how she communicates with the people. Most importantly, I hope she's happier

Again, she probably went there with other things in mind.

People so out of touch with reality, presumably like this girl, can end up being deeply disturbed like this, and it's very sad. It would be nice if they found her alive, but who can count on it?

Yea, really sad.

[Seeshelle]

Again, she probably went there with other things in mind.

People so out of touch with reality, presumably like this girl, can end up being deeply disturbed like this, and it's very sad. It would be nice if they found her alive, but who can count on it?

Yea, really sad.
Yeah..that's true. We wouldn't really know. But if she did go there with the plan on dying, at least she went to the place she wanted to go to like Teacher_Nine said. so wouldn't that make her happier? Yeah..I'm confusing myself now. everybody has their own opinions..

[Ayu]

Poor girl. ;-;

[Horomaru]

Well, I rather have mixed feelings about this matter.
There is not enough evidence to signify whether this girl was from a slighty audacious house-hold, or was simply the average everyday gal (Though the photo suggests the latter).

However, pursuing your fantasies while abandoning everything that cares and loves you is fool-hardy and almost suicidal in this case.

I can simply lean back and hope she is safe and doing okay, but I also hope she learns a very valuable lesson and receives a rude awakening about the real world.

[VoiceVSP]

I don't know if she's been heard from yet (my ex and some of our friends know her personally from the anime club). :/ I don't think it's because of anime she went to Japan though... I mean, I've been active with anime and I'm planning on going to Japan for a year for study, but not because of anime. Because I have friends from there who have told me about good experiences, as well as that I enjoy their culture and my college also offers 100% payed exchange for some students that go there. ^^;
But remember, think twice before assuming. I hope she's alright too. I'll have to ask my ex if she's heard anything.

[Kuro]

...hehe...hehe..BAWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

[Ayumi Elric]

...hehe...hehe..BAWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!
o.O.........

[bninjah]

...hehe...hehe..BAWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

yeah...whats so funny?

[Kuro]

If you don't find this entire situation at least partially hilarious then I'm afraid we can never be friends.

hehe, weeaboo lost in Japan? C'mon, that is fucking comic gold. I might as well start a comic strip based off that premise alone.

[MaNa Shuffle]

I just hope she is alive, returns and learns about what she did...

[yukie]

I wouldn't be surprised if people like that up there ^ were part of the reason for her suicidal intention.

[leilei]

hehe, weeaboo lost in Japan? C'mon, that is fucking comic gold. I might as well start a comic strip based off that premise alone.
Gold indeed, the last two sentences in the article were the killer for me.

[Namiko Nakamura]

o.o Okay...

I hope she's okay too.

I like anime, but that isn't the reason I want to go to Japan the summer after my senior year...anime and manga are just a tiny fraction of Japanese culture...though I am a self-proclaimed "weeaboo."

Best wishes to her family.

[Windy*]

Gold indeed, the last two sentences in the article were the killer for me.

Disgusting, both of you. This girl is likely mentally disturbed in some way, and you're making light of a possible suicide attempt.

Request to close thread so we get no further comments like this.

[Kuro]

Disgusting, both of you. This girl is likely mentally disturbed in some way, and you're making light of a possible suicide attempt.

Request to close thread so we get no further comments like this.

It's been a long standing dream of mine to somehow be involved in an internet related suicide. So :P on you missy.

Seriously, L2Funny or get off the internet.

[yukie]

It's been a long standing dream of mine to somehow be involved in an internet related suicide. So :P on you missy.

Seriously, L2Funny or get off the internet.

You could easily go achieve that dream of yours yourself. Don't worry, unlike this one, I'm sure that'd be incredibly lulz worthy.

[Kuro]

You could easily go achieve that dream of yours yourself. Don't worry, unlike this one, I'm sure that'd be incredibly lulz worthy.

You people are amazing.

Loving caring individuals about some random deranged girl you never knew and most likely will NEVER now. Then suddenly as sharp tonged as any harpy. The girl clearly had issues but I fail to see how providing a trite and over used "Awww...I hope she's okay!" is any better than my making light of the situation.

[Nikki Wright]

Have there even been any updates on this story? I mean.. This was posted over a month ago, and here we are reminding people that Japan isn't some promised land, repeating "I hope she's okay!" without any real discussion, people mocking the entire notion of the story, and making references to early 90's TV shows, but.. I've yet to see anything further regarding this story.

You know, Anime News Network kept their thread for this story open for just two days. I think the thread for this story here has definitely lasted beyond its time.