Loneliness can be a powerful emotion, driving people to seek connection and attention in unusual ways. In Matsudo, Japan, a woman named Hiroko Hatagami, 51, found herself trapped in the clutches of loneliness. She allegedly resorted to making 2,761 false emergency calls over a period of about two years and nine months, seeking someone to listen to her and alleviate her solitude, according to The Mainichi.
Call and call and call
On July 13, the Chiba Police’s Matsudo Higashi Police Station arrested Hiroko Hatagami for supposedly obstructing the operations of the local fire department.
It was reported that she made emergency calls from her home and the surrounding neighborhood, feigning various ailments to seek attention.
These fabricated complaints included claims of severe stomachaches, medication overdoses, and excruciating leg pain.
Hiroko Hatagami’s calls numbered approximately three a day, adding up to an astounding total of 2,761 false emergency calls made over the course of nearly three years.
Her persistent behavior continued even after repeated warnings from both the fire department and the police station. On June 20, the fire department finally filed a police report, leading to her eventual arrest.
A Cry for Help Disguised in Loneliness
The motive behind Hatagami’s actions was both tragic and ironic. She lived alone and admitted that her actions were driven by an overwhelming sense of loneliness.
The false emergency calls became her way of seeking human connection and attention, even if it was under false pretenses.
Hiroko Hatagami’s case sheds light on a larger issue: the loneliness epidemic. In today’s fast-paced and digitally connected world, feelings of isolation and loneliness are becoming increasingly common.
Many people, especially those living alone, struggle to find meaningful connections and resort to desperate measures to ease their pain.
While Hatagami’s actions were driven by loneliness, they had significant consequences for emergency services. Dispatching ambulances and emergency responders to false calls not only wasted precious resources but also put lives at risk by potentially delaying responses to genuine emergencies.