Reader's comments on this article Add a new comment on this article

from Cult Surfer Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 16:07 (Agree/Disagree?) Would someone please get me in contact with Shigeru ASAP. Email cultsurfer@yahoo.com This is John (Sam) of China (reply to this comment)

From Mika Wednesday, January 19, 2005, 09:54 (Agree/Disagree?) he's under "moonmental" in the user directory.(reply to this comment)

From Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 19:42 (Agree/Disagree?) (reply to this comment)

from thepersoniamnow Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 04:08 (Agree/Disagree?) Just to set the record dtraight Abe did NOT die in a drunken accident. I live i nthe same area and my best friends were with him when he died. He was at their house. (reply to this comment)

from Harikari Voodoo Vandari Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 02:47 (Agree/Disagree?) Abu, Kei, Sho David, Miguel, Didn't these boys commit suicide in Japan? could be wrong. I don't know. Maybe there are more. Wonder why they are all guys, and no girls. (reply to this comment)

From moonmental Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 22:05 (Agree/Disagree?) I know all these guys, they were all my friends. Miguel was not a suicide, he died from complications brought on most likely from a drug OD. I've been very broken up each time a friend of mine has died, but I think Abe's passing hurt the most. Rest in peace. John (Sam), this is Shig. I'll mail you later. (reply to this comment)

From M&M Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 02:51 (Agree/Disagree?) TF says Abu died in a drunken accident. Miggy died from sickness, though some people say he OD'd. Sho was a suicide. I don't know anything about Kei.(reply to this comment)

From Lola Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 04:16 (Agree/Disagree?) Does anyone know Sho or Kei's full names?(reply to this comment)

From Baxter Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 04:00 (Agree/Disagree?) I'll be honest. I haven't seen Abe in several years. I'm not sure I could call him a close friend, but I think the best way to put it is, we knew each other very well. It was a kind of uneasy closeness, the kind shared by people who are not close friends, but have known each other long enough to have a good understanding of each others inner workings. We were extremely different personalities, and there was a relative amount of tension between us at the best of times. I have to say that I will remember him as a person who liked to have fun but thinly concealed a lot of anger. I remember how he used to get when he was drunk, and now I realise where all that anger came from. I know I would have come to this understanding had I spoken to him since, but the ill-informed conclusions of relegated memories are often hard to dislodge. All I can say is that hearing what happened to him has made me feel very sick and angry inside. It's turned my stomach to think of what's happening to us. It may seem totally redundant to say this, seeing as I have not been acquainted with the deceased for some years, but it is weighing heavily on me in a way I am never prepared for. I just heard from my younger brother that my dad referred to Ricky's Suicide as the product of 'bad thoughts'! BAD THOUGHTS!? How long will they insist on ignoring us? Do we all have to die? Where is the love that we were promised as children, the understanding, the care, the compassion? As much as I can consciously erase the notion from my mind, the subconscious disappointment is still overwhelming. WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING TO US!!!??(reply to this comment)

From Lola Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 04:14 (Agree/Disagree?) In response to: How long will they insist on ignoring us? -If we generate enough press they will be forced to acknowledge us. The world will be forced to acknowledge us. (reply to this comment)

From Baxter Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 03:10 (Agree/Disagree?) I didn't even know Abe died! Does anyone know when this happened? Rest in Peace.(reply to this comment)

From Vicky Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 03:12 (Agree/Disagree?) Look in the In Remembrance section, Baxter. (reply to this comment)

From Baxter Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 03:22 (Agree/Disagree?) Cheers, Vicky. I just saw it.(reply to this comment)

From HMMMMMMM Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 03:02 (Agree/Disagree?) And you are believing TFs version of what happened with Abe why, exactly???(reply to this comment)

from Moronic Minimee Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 02:37 (Agree/Disagree?) Can I have this journalists contact details? I don't have much of a story myself, but I just sent information about this issue to all major newspapers and weekly magazines in Japan, prompting them to provide this news here too. (reply to this comment)

from Oddman2 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - 00:47 (Agree/Disagree?) Should give them a list of TF communes in Japan. Japanese are already paranoid about cults thanks to at least 3 cults that have caused deaths. Japanese media is also taking up child abuse incidents very frequently, so public concern is there. A guy was just arrested for raping and murdering a school girl, and the Japanese government is looking at keeping track of sex related offenders. Prime time for our story. Also a lot of family homes in Japan make money off of weddings. If you let all those chapels know just what kind of church their priests come from, their income can be greatly squelched. I think the SG suicide rate is rather high in Japan, due to the fact that Japan is not an easy society to adapt to. Unlike western nations where mixed races, and mixed cultures are acceptable, Japan has only one breed, one tongue, and one culture. Failure to adapt into this culture can make life very difficult. I can't give much 1st hand testimony regarding abuse, but I can remember some of TF's old letters, and can argue about how TF way of childraising can be detrimental to a child's growth and mental health. (reply to this comment)

From LTN Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 03:56 (Agree/Disagree?) I just have one thing: I've noticed on the movingon site that some people are requesting information about what wedding Chapels and English jobs that TF are involved with here. I think I understand their motivation for wanting this information but my thoughts are that aren't we really trying to go after Zerby? I mean, she's the one really at fault here. Not so much the many sincere people who are trying to make a living and survive and do their best for what they believe is the Lord's work. It's really the Bitch who is at fault for continuing to use "Jesus Speaking" as her method of controlling many honest and true brethren. And, a second group of individuals would be the people who actually abused many of our children--like McDonald, and others. It just seems to me that these are the people we should be going after and not trying to stir up the media against every Family home. If we can get the Bitch and those who have abused others then the rest will fall. I don't know, I could be wrong but I thought I'd just pass this on for you to consider. (reply to this comment)

From Lola Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 01:00 (Agree/Disagree?) Would you mind sending me the names of those who took their lives in Japan. If you know the dates or any other specific information it would be a great help. Also any information on wedding chapels or english teaching... Please email me as I don't think posting the information here would be appropriate. Thank you(reply to this comment)

From Jordan Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 06:32 (Agree/Disagree?) I'm all for gettin the truth out but at the same time you must consider that some peoples lives and lively hoods are at stake. I live in Japan and although i despise the Family greatly my family lives and works here in Japan. They aren't CM members .... after leavin the family I have no idea what the hell they call thier memebers but in truth you could really destroy some peoples lives. Our younger brothers and sisters. PLs consider what you are goin to do and whose lives you will be accountable for. (reply to this comment)

From Oddman2 Tuesday, January 18, 2005, 02:45 (Agree/Disagree?) Actually, the suicide level might not be that high. Prolly more in the states. The number of SG's with problems returning to society is high though.(reply to this comment)

from Cult Surfer Monday, January 17, 2005 - 08:59 (Agree/Disagree?) I'll put you in contact with Sam and Angie who are here in San Diego for Abe's Memorial. Sam was there when Abe died, and he was also present for the 1st viewing of Ricky's video. They'll be returning to Kobe in a couple days. Drop me an email at cultsurfer@yahoo.com to discuss details. (reply to this comment)

from Fish Monday, January 17, 2005 - 08:45 (Agree/Disagree?) I would gladly do this, however I could not go "on record" for several good reasons. This is a great opportunity for us though. If the Japanese got riled up we could give them a full fledged “media storm”. (reply to this comment)

From from experience Monday, January 17, 2005, 08:53 (Agree/Disagree?) You don't have to give your real name and your face can be blanked out. I know as I did this for a few articles. It would be best to have a few voices in one article. Also not many males have spoken to the press as opposed to females, so it would be another useful and interesting perspective. (reply to this comment)

From Fish Monday, January 17, 2005, 08:54 (Agree/Disagree?) Leave your email add and Ill contact you. How soon do you need an answer?(reply to this comment)

From Lola Monday, January 17, 2005, 12:04 (Agree/Disagree?) I can be contacted on my profile. Thank you for responding. (reply to this comment)