I wrote:
The engineer is dead. The body has not been recovered yet as far as I know.
I mean they have located the body but not recovered it yet, according to the latest news reports.
In the old days the immediate supervisor would probably have committed suicide.
Not so old days. An Australian news report that says that in 2001 an engine driver hanged himself after being penalized for departing from Kyoto Station 50 seconds late:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,15108757%255E2703,00.html
He couldn't stand the "re-education" program he was subjected to as punishment. I am not surprised. Some of those corporate re-education programs have a tough reputation. You can imagine why the young guy, Takami, was rushing to make up time on Monday.
They do tend to set harsh, impossibly high standards and ridiculously tight train schedules in Japan. The press there is saying that was probably the root cause of the accident. It is saying society needs to relax.
The latest engineering speculation about the cause is reported in English here:
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/20050427p2a00m0dm010001c.html
Photos here:
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/photospecials/0504/0425train/26.html
- Jed
