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Big in Japan: Why Japan leads the world in suicide
Before you read any further, please adhere to the following warning:
Although it's the Holiday season, this post most likely is going to depress the hell out of you, especially if you're living in Japan.
Are you still with me? Alright then, but don't say that I didn't warn you.
This week, the Japanese government announced that the number of suicides in the countr
y topped 30,000 for the ninth straight year in a row. Clearly, this was one record that they were not happy to achieve.
At the press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said that a combination of economic hardships and job stress were the leading factors behind the high suicide rate.
Although the government said that employers were obliged to treat depression at the workplace, they are also proposing a range of measures including raising society's awareness of depression and promoting mental health programs.
In fact, the government hopes that by the year 2016, they will have succeeded in cutting the number of suicides by 20 percent. "This is a problem that needs to be dealt with comprehensively by society," Machimura told reporters.
Gallery: Japanese Fashion
The raw data on suicides is, to say the least, all together depressing.
According to government projections, 32,155 people killed themselves last year, which was a decrease of 397 from the previous year.
However, according to data released by the World Health Organization (WHO), Japan's suicide r
ate remains the ninth-highest in the world.
(In case you were wondering, Lithuania had the highest suicide rate, followed by Belarus and Russia. And, for the record, the United States ranked No. 43 in the report).
So why exactly do so many people in Japan kill themselves?
Although it's difficult to objectively measure quality of life, Machimura believes that Japanese people are strongly impacted by financial pressures and job stress.
"Suicide rates tend to rise when there is a recession and long working hours may also have an influence" said Machimura.
However, despite the monumental task ahead, Machimura is convinced that the government can effectively reduce suicide rates. "Suicide can be prevented. A sickness of the heart is a sickness, therefore it can be cured."
Gallery: Japanese Food
Government findings also indicated that the highest rates of suicide were in the northern prefecture of Akita. The report also found that men are more likely to commit suicide than women, and that Monday wa
s the most popular day for ending one's life as opposed to a Saturday or holiday.
In regards to methodology, the most common method of suicide chosen by Japanese people is hanging, while young people prefer to asphyxiate themselves on the carbon monoxide from charcoal burners.
The report also highlighted the sad reality that Tokyo train services are frequently halted by people jumping on the tracks.
As I said, today's post was anything but shiny and happy, though hopefully everyone reading this can take a moment to appreciate the value of their lives, and head into the weekend with a smile their face.
On that note, please do smile - sometimes it truly is the best medicine!
Filed under: Asia, Japan, Big in Japan
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Jolene Nov 26th 2007 6:21PM
I'm currently living in Japan, and this does not come as a surprise to me. The Japanese Goverment put's such such demand on their people to succeed that the stress level in very high.
The children here go to study hall in the mornnings, then regular school, and study hall again after school..plus go to school on Saturday. I have been on the trains at 9pm and see kids still in their school uniforms coming home.
As for the adults, the workers put in very long hours and the business world is very competitive. It is a shame that it takes a report like this to get people's attention to such event's.
Angela Nov 26th 2007 6:23PM
Most Asian countries have not traditionally considered suicide taboo, or an everlasting "embarrassment" to one's family. In many cases of suicide, it is considered honorable. Remember the Chinese toy executive who committed suicide not too long ago? Instead of the Chinese considering it a drastic and unnecessary step, they rather think the problem took care of itself. Perhaps some Asian countries are trying to change this because of the negative associations outside countries place on suicide.
PHART Nov 26th 2007 6:30PM
Anthony Conaway said...
This might explain the World War II kamikazes. I'm surprised it's not some crappy Muslim or Communist (yes they still exist) country like Iran, China, or North Korea.
Conway is partly correct. Muslims who follow the Jihad Quoran (Koran) are Evil as HEII and deserve to be sent there. Keep in mind that Barack Obama was raised in this sect and will more than likely return to the fold. Be very aware and beware.
The Truth Nov 26th 2007 6:48PM
Let's see, in the top 3 were the former communist or communist controlled countries of Lithuania and Russia and if you count suicide bombers, I'm sure some "crappy Muslim country" like IRAQ is pretty high on the list, so Johnny_the_future idiot, stfu.
Rusty Shackleford Nov 26th 2007 6:48PM
Why does the headline for this say "Japan leads the world in suicide" when it says in this very article that they're actually ninth?
J.T. Nov 26th 2007 7:32PM
Not shocking. The Japanes are obsessed with maintaining honor and "face", they hold in their emotions and they have the most insane job stresss. Plus, the concept of suicide being an honorable way out of things is part of their ancient traditions.
Ashley Nov 27th 2007 9:23AM
wow... this is very sad especially since they are (or the last time i checked) were having issues with getting there population stable. I can only pray that these people can get some help and that the suicide numbers will decrease.
Ruth Rochel States Nov 26th 2007 7:39PM
Why does the headline say, "Why Japan leads the world in suicide" when the text indicates that it actually ranks ninth? This is misleading.
Casey Nov 26th 2007 7:36PM
If you watch those athletic programs from Japan like "Ninja Warriors" you'll see how hard they are on themselves. They seem like the nicest people (and my parents agree - they lived in Okinawa for 5 years back in the 70s), but they hold themselves to a very high standard. It seems that instead of saying "oh well. This time I didn't do well, but I'm sure I can do better next time" they say "I didn't train myself well enough. I've failed my family." It's so sad to see such kind, friendly people be so hard on themselves.
JOJO Nov 26th 2007 8:01PM
To be or not to be that is the question
Can we live for God and for oneanother or is the
61/2 billion to be a cancer on the world
hopper62 Nov 26th 2007 9:02PM
They are so high strung...they don't have room in their lives for failer....they know that they can be replaced at a drop of a hat....from when they are young to adult hood...they have to do things 110%...they are so tence in anything they do....stress big time....I really feel sorry for how they have had to live up to the highest for everyone ... and especially their family....God be with U...and please don't think that suicide is the answer...! It is never the answer!
mc Nov 26th 2007 8:33PM
I hope that when people around the world read these comments they realize that it is only dim witted morons that have no life that have the inclination to send in such crap! I agree that we should not be able to respond anominously but stand by our responses.
Phil M. Nov 26th 2007 11:35PM
I've read all comments above.
Most comments appear to be made by those who have never been to Japan..nor do they know anything current about Japan.
It's a paradox that people who know nothing always seem to have the most to say about any subject.
I've worked extensively inside Japan on three occasions since 1987...in two different companies. While the suicide rate is high there...there may be several factors for their situation...including cultural and social pressures as discussed.
I've read in the past that our pacific northwest cities have a higher than normal suicide rate...and the climates between our northwest and Japan are very similar...Japanese language includes the word: karoshi...meaning work death in english.
It's good to read their government is taking a sincere initiative to reduce their suicides. I only wish our present government took any interest in our citizens for any reason...including such a serious topic as suicide.
kay Nov 26th 2007 10:10PM
Societal & family "expectations" and limited resources are the cause of these suicides... I lived 3 years on the most popular "suicide cliff" in Japan: numerous daily suicides, (and group suicides when school exam scores were published). Students would come all day long, especially at certain times of the year... I often discussed it with them and other Japanese friends: they all stated it was an issue of "Honor" and "Saving Face" which is rule #1 in Japanese culture, particularily for the men and especially for the #1 son as he is the next head of the family. Culturally they feel that if you don't measure up to standards, it's best to check out rather than bring shame upon your family and a burden to society. Remember, Japan is an island nation that is overpopulated; it lacks many natural resources; thus there simply is no room for people who are not efficient, productive, contributing members of society; they simply cannot bear the weight of " screw-ups" due to limited resouces. Most all Japanese people eat/sleep/work/sleep with 6-10 persons in one tiny multi-purpose room; all land area is needed for food production and business/trade/manufacturing purposes (much like our own cities are becomming due to overpopulation and over development: look at Manhattan!). Islands are especially vulnerable, especially if they have little land that can be cultivated. There are barley enough fish to go around; luckily rice is plentiful and the grains are small, compact and they expand enough to quell the hunger; people who are similar are preferred as they are sustainable!
M.E. Williams Nov 27th 2007 3:54AM
Wow, this topic seems to have brought out the crazies.
I have heard that another possible reason for the relatively high suicide rate in Japan, aside from the concepts of honor and saving face that others have mentioned, is that psychological counseling (IE, therapy &c) is relatively uncommon there. A depressed person is simply less compelled by those around them to "get help," the way they might be in the US or Europe.
Jan Nov 27th 2007 1:59PM
I have never responded to something like this before, but I was so amazed at some of the comments that I couldn't help myself.
I am perplexed as to why this article would be a reason for any healthy and normal human being to voice any hatred at all about anything. Is it that they never experienced much sorrow or loss, so they are unable to feel any empathy or have they experienced so much anguish that the suffering of others doesn't matter to them or can even bring them satisfaction? Do such resposes, especially those that stray so far from the subject, stem from narcisism, bitterness or bigotry or is it merely an attempt to be witty? Why would any problem like this spark any negative hateful resposes at all? It should only provoke a desire to correct this sad situation. Compassion is what separates us from a barbaric society.
John William Nov 28th 2007 11:19AM
Jan, thank you so much for that. After reading over 30 comments filled with pure ignorance, bigotry, hate, and stupidity, it was refreshing to see that someone in this world is a human.
"The Truth", well friend, you essentially missed my point. Inasmuch as a Muslim country, like Iraq, may be near the top of the suicide list, my response was to comment on the ignorance of someone making the remark that a Muslim country is automatically a "crappy" Muslim country. This is plain bigotry. Read more carefully next time. =)
Al Dec 1st 2007 10:03PM
Third Eye, Why don't you go to a safe place all by yourself and blow yourself up!
shaun May 11th 2008 3:01PM
I know...the truth hurts huh? i guess it was the brown hair remark, Hey I have an idea, instead of blowing up myself...why dont I blow up your fonzi jacket and your 4" heels tomarrow night, when you want to kill yourself, for spend $5,000.00 dollars on a tall blonde that laughed when she seen your hardward!
Ryan Dec 4th 2007 11:58AM
I didn't read all of the comments; but my gf, while I was living in Japan, told me that JR East started charging the families of the deceased for the cost of cleaning the body off the tracks. Or, as she so elloquently put it "They charge the families for the cost of scooping the jerk's caracass off the tracks and inconveniencing the entire city." There is a serious problem there with suicides on the Chuo-sen...at least that's where I noticed most of them.