This doesn't happen too often (thankfully). This double-murder/suicide was in the local news here recently. I just found it out from my good friend and co-worker. The murdered children were his students. Although the victim's names are unfamiliar to me, I definitely would have taught the older boy when I was still teaching at the school they attended.

Simply shocking. And incredibly sad.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/c...d-in-kofu-home

12-year-old boy, 10-year-old sister found dead in Kofu home

Wednesday 18th February, 08:00 AM JST

KOFU —

A 12-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister were found dead Tuesday evening in their home in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture in an apparent murder, police said. The victims were identified as Yuto Fukasawa and his sister Moeka. They were bleeding from stab wounds when they were found by their father, Osamu Fukasawa, 40, as he came home at around 6:40 p.m., police said.

Police are searching for their mother, Kazumi, 37, who has been missing since Tuesday afternoon. Her car was later found near a crossing on JR Chuo Line in Yamanashi City. At the crossing, a women died after being hit by an express train at around 7:10 p.m. Police have not yet identified the victim.