AN 11-year-old Japanese boy has died after throwing himself under a train in a protest against plans to close his school.
The boy, whose name has been withheld, jumped onto tracks at a station in Daito, near Osaka, police said on Friday.
"We are investigating the case as a possible suicide," a Daito police spokesman said.
"There was a note near his rucksack left on the platform."
Media reports said the child was upset about a plan to close his primary school and send its pupils to two other institutions, part of a rationalisation made necessary by Japan's low birthrate.
"Please stop the plan to abolish and merge schools in exchange for the death of an innocent person," the note read, according to the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers quoting the boy's relatives.
The boy reportedly sent a message to his mother's mobile phone, saying: "Thank you for everything. I love you all very, very much."
A ceremony to mark his school's closure had been planned for Sunday but it was cancelled after his death.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
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