Japan Suicide Rate Still Among The World's Highest Due To Low Job Prospects

TOKYO -- The number of Japanese who committed suicide declined last year, but remained above 30,000 for the 13th straight year with a sharp jump in deaths by those citing grim job prospects, a government report said Thursday.

Japan has for years had one of the world's highest suicide rates.

In all, 31,690 people killed themselves last year, a 3.5 percent decrease from the year before. Many cited depression, economic hardships and job-related concerns, according to the annual report by the National Police Agency.

The number of people who committed suicide indicating "failure to get jobs" rose to 424, up 20 percent from the year before and more than doubling from 180 in 2007, the report said. About one-third were in their 20s, including new graduates seeking jobs.

The results underscore the tough reality for student job seekers as companies cut back on hiring amid a lengthy economic slump.

A record one-third of university students graduating this month have not found jobs, a separate government survey said in January.

Stress from searching for a job apparently led a university student last month to grab the steering wheel of a highway bus from the driver, causing it to flip over, injuring 12. The student was on his way home from a job interview, and reportedly told police that he wanted to commit suicide.

Japan has long battled a high suicide rate. At 24.4 suicides per 100,000 people, the country ranked second in 2009 among the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations after Russia's 30.1, according to the World Health Organization.

The Japanese report didn't calculate the 2010 suicide rate, but its statistics combined with last year's population report indicate it would be 25 per 100,000.

Japan's suicides have declined in recent years after reaching a record 34,427 in 2003.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan has identified jobs and reviving growth as priorities for his administration.

Kan vowed further efforts, saying economic recovery is not enough to curb suicides.

"What we need is a society in which nobody feels abandoned," he said.

Comments

[JOHNSPEAKS]

09:33 PM on 03/20/2011

This article shows a high suicide rate in Japan but here in America we have a suicide rate that is a thousands times higher? The mental health industry guarantees a never ending supply of -Suicide- victims because of all the pain and suffering and experimentation and false hope of this never ending -Ponzi Scheme-? Think twice before -You- get involved with the mental health industry???

[loki]

10:02 PM on 03/06/2011

it may not be long before its a big trend here in the states too. I'm sure as soon as some big corporation finds a way to profit from it, they will make it legal for suicide assistance for the unemployed. But still not for the elderly or sick who can afford to pay for medical care. That would not be profitable for the corporations. But a homeless , broke , unemployed over 50 years old, disabled, or others who will never get another job due to age or health and the horrible economy. Just as long as they are almost broke or close to it, line them up, and hit them up for a one time fee. Not that I am sure the ivy greeders can pay congress to allow, so they can profit from bottom feeding. Just wait, I'm thinking in 5 to 10 years we could see it.

[A Radical Moderate]

09:29 AM on 03/07/2011

Yeah....except for the fact that there are vast cultural/social/personal differences between Japan and the US. Keep the paranoia throttled back a bit, it does nothing but makes your cause look weaker.

[chubber]

06:51 PM on 03/06/2011

Maybe they think they'll respawn...

[sassiestkat]

06:11 PM on 03/06/2011

'In all, 31,690 people killed themselves last year..'

How horribly sad. That equals out to:
86.8 per day
3.6 per hour
or approx 1 every 20 mins

I'd wager to guess it's actually far higher than that, that those numbers are grossly under-reported.

[omobob]

12:43 PM on 03/06/2011

> A record one-third of university students graduating this month have not found jobs, a separate government survey said in January.

The pressure is unbearable for those who can not make the transition. It is with no sense of irony that students who kill other students are all male and about to graduate to a world they think does not want them so they retaliate. In Japan, they turn to suicide. What are we going to ourselves and our world?
Killing ourselves slowly? Or growing to a brighter tomorrow?

[LiveTheSheenDream]

08:54 AM on 03/06/2011

winning

not

[Kuncous]

03:41 AM on 03/06/2011

Coming soon in a town near you Americans!

[MMRDO]

08:02 AM on 03/07/2011

No, there are big cultural differences.

[ShinjiIkari]

09:21 PM on 03/05/2011

Mamacat (downthread) was right: Japan doesn't have the onus against suicide that we do. The Buddhist view ofthe soul is that it doesn't just click off atdeath like a burned-out lightbulb. Awareness changes, but doesn't disappear altogether, but changes, depending on where it is reborn.

Also, money has been a factor in Japanese suicide rates since their economic downturn in the late 80s, and a sizable number of Japanese heads of household have killed themzelves to have their families receive the insurance money. But the most prominent reason for suicide--east and west--is health-related; older single male with terminal cancer tends to be the main reason. Again, Japan doesn't assume mental illness in a suicide, the way the Judeo-Christian west does.

[mamacat]

02:57 PM on 03/05/2011

Looking at the comments, I agree that, from what little I know, it does seem that suicide is more culturally acceptable in Japan than elsewhere.

On a related subject, among American servicemen, as opposed to the general population, the suicide rate seems to be heart-breakingly high. I don't know if it is true, but I have read that at least twice as many Vietnam-era vets have died from suicide than died during the conflict itself, and nearly 60,000 died during the conflict. Meanwhile, news reports of suicides among vets of the newer Asian wars routinely make the headlines.

[banker67]

09:55 AM on 03/06/2011

I heard that suicide among our active-duty service folks and veterans of our three consecutive 'Gulf Wars' is very high. The Pentagon isn't saying much about it, but given the generalissimos' record for telling truth to the taxpayers who fund their life-long salaries and benefits, I'd guess that suicides are indeed high.
Why not?
The soldiers risk there lives for what? To kill as many locals as they can without being held accountable? Is that something you want to keep living for?
Or do you persevere because you love the discipline, especially saluting and following the orders of people you despise? How about all the women who are raped by superior officers but can not file charges because convicting rapists might be bad for morale? That must be an ennobling military experience to carry around for a lifetime.
Perhaps it's the lofty, inspiring reasons they hear for being there: Teaching democracy, delivering freedom, punishing the 'terrorists' (poor people who don't like being killed by us), pacification...? The list of absurd rationalizations for our conquests is endless.
So I guess a lot of military folks give up. Frankly, I'm inclined to believe it, especially given their job prospects back home -- outside the defense industry.
Then again, why should anyone in power care? The higher the suicide rate, the fewer left to burden the neo-con billionaires with the tedious legal and accounting costs of evading the taxes that pay for veterans' benefits.

[Dadzilla]

10:01 AM on 03/05/2011

One thing hard to learn and accept is that you are not the content of your wallet or purse. Unfortunately we live in a society that places an extraordinary value of owning trinkets and toys, often broken, worn out or outdated soon after purchase.

[Garrett Sandeen]

07:33 AM on 03/05/2011

A very, very sad statistic.

Unfortunately, suicide is a cultural norm for Japan. There is a best selling book that has sold over 1.5 million copies on how to commit suicide in various different ways. What's interesting is that it is more shameful to think about suicide then it is to actually commit it (which, historically, has been seen as an honorable act).

The things people will do when they believe there is no hope...

[ronito6]

01:02 PM on 03/05/2011

Well, it is considered acceptable to a degree.

It is most acceptable if it is for your reputation, or to apologize for embarrassing your group of peers or family.

Not so much if it is for personal problems like unemployment, an inability to find a mate,
or being jilted.

[Garrett Sandeen]

04:26 PM on 03/05/2011

Thank you for elaborating :)

[Hopethisworks]

02:19 AM on 03/24/2011

Where can I get that book ?

[theaustralian]

07:32 AM on 03/05/2011

Japanese society is so monochrome, they need more multiculturalism.

[ronito6]

01:51 PM on 03/05/2011

The internet era has alleviated some of the lack of outside cultural influence.

Today you have Japanese kids who openly speak of love for Korean soap operas and pop stars.
A nearly impossible thing 15 or more years ago. Not to mention much stronger acceptance of black culture here today.

All that said, the Japanese do like safety of the social terrarium that Japan generally is.

I must admit, I never realized how stressful my life in America was until I came to Japan. The constant need to be ready to defend yourself or your property in the US is very wearing.

Here in Japan, strangers never hassle you for what you wear like they do in the USA.

Homeless people here very very rarely ask strangers for anything, let alone a handout.

Finally, rich and poor here mingle (for lack of a better word) much more often here than rich and poor do today's USA.

[mamacat]

02:50 PM on 03/05/2011

Some of the Korean TV programs are addictive, even with sub-titles. We watched all 82 hours of "Be Strong, Geum-Soon", and were sorry to see it end. We consider it one of the best TV serials ever made, anywhere.
They have an extremely talented and creative TV and film industry. Many of our American films are based on ideas first developed in Korean films. Other Korean films have so far been too controversial and/or difficult to remake for the American audience, but when watched with subtitles, are unforgettable.
I think that my partner and I watch almost as many Korean films as we do American films.

[robin360]

05:27 PM on 03/31/2011

Have you been there? I wouldn't say that's true for the younger generation.

[Khalid Motawaze]

03:29 AM on 03/05/2011

Maybe someone should investigate the relation between nuclear explosions and suicide rates, they might actually find something interesting. Thanks Amrika..

[Matheus Segura]

12:33 AM on 03/05/2011

It must be a cultural thing. In South America suicide is not as common as in Japan. Unfortunately, I dont have Brazil's numbers, but I bet they might be below 10 per 100,000 people.

[Kenz300]

11:59 PM on 03/04/2011

Stress.... stress....... stress.....

It will kill you one way or another.........

Relax.... exercise...... meditate...... don't let stress overtake your life

[BustMyChops]

07:04 AM on 03/05/2011

No offense and I don't say this to sound smug. But how much money do you make?

[Edward Standley]

01:31 PM on 03/05/2011

Kenz300 has a good point. In the past, I've lost every material thing. It was a true re-awakening. Quite painful at first, but honestly, one of the more significant positive things that has ever happened to me. I too, had placed far too much value and importance on "stuff". I have been reminded of what is truly important in this life, and enjoy it even more.