Thousands Mourn Rock Star in Japan

Thousands of weeping youngsters, many with their hair dyed pink like their idol’s, swarmed to a Buddhist temple here Thursday to mourn a rock star who committed suicide. One distraught fan killed herself and at least two others tried to.

Hideto “Hide” Matsumoto was the lead guitarist for X-Japan, one of this nation’s most popular rock bands. He hanged himself Saturday with a towel hooked to a doorknob.

Matsumoto left no clue as to why he killed himself. His group disbanded in September, but Matsumoto, 33, had embarked on a fairly successful solo career.

“I can’t believe he’s dead,” said Mayumi Meguro, a 21-year-old part-time worker who took the day off for Thursday’s service. She stood in line with throngs of teens and young people--many in black.

Some screamed “Hide” in shrill, frantic voices as his body left Tsukiji Honganji temple in a hearse. Others collapsed on the street and sobbed. Police helicopters buzzed above as about 50,000 people gathered.

By late Thursday, about 170 people had been treated at an emergency aid station set up at the temple, while 50 had been rushed to a hospital, overcome by emotion and the 82-degree heat, the Fire Department said.

“Good-bye, Hide,” said a headline in the Mainichi newspaper.

Matsumoto’s former band mates urged calm.

A 14-year-old girl was pronounced dead Thursday after hanging herself Monday night at her Tokyo home using a towel.

Another girl jumped from a bridge Monday but survived. On Wednesday, a 19-year-old woman who attended the wake was taken to the emergency room after she cut her wrist with a paper knife.

High-profile suicides--involving businesspeople and bureaucrats linked to a government scandal or financial difficulties--have dominated headlines in Japan recently.