Japanese hotel guest hangs self

A 56-year-old Japanese national committed suicide the other day by hanging himself from a steel rod inside his hotel room in Ermita, Manila.

Prober PO3 Rodel Lingcong of the Western Police-District Homicide Section said the victim, identified as Mitsuji Nakashima, a native of Hyogo, Japan, was found dead by chambermaids at around 2:30 p.m. inside Room 538 in Riviera Mansion on Mabini street, Ermita.

Police said Janette Sison, executive housekeeper of the hotel, reported the incident to them after chambermaids Maricon Dicon and Alona Tumlos discovered the victim hanging from the curtain rod inside the bathroom with a white nylon cord looped around his neck.

Lingcong said a suicide note was recovered on the table beside the bed.

A professional linguist translated the suicide note written in Japanese: "I’m sorry to trouble you. I have no relatives in Japan. Please take care of my body. I want to die in the Philippines."

The victim was last seen alive by hotel staff at around 3:30 p.m. last Sept. 15 in the company of his friends. Police said they are now coordinating with the Japanese Embassy.