14 Comments

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  romulus3 at 07:37 AM JST - 24th May

  Japan will change through suffering and death and ever so slowly yet again

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  pathat at 08:41 AM JST - 24th May

  Add two zeros to the 81 cited here and it would probably become a legitimate figure. Then add an extra two zeros and you would probably get a reasonably accurate number of those hospitalized for exhaustion due to slave-like working conditions.　

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  WMD at 11:53 AM JST - 24th May

  Disgraceful. At my workplace, the slaves are so fearful that they put in at least 14 hour days, with "overtime" totally unpaid. I'm totally unsurprised that japan is a suicide country.

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  TPOJ at 12:22 PM JST - 24th May

  This really strikes at the heart of what annoys me about Japan. I love living here, but every place has its issues, and this is a BIG one.

  Call it my gaijin arrogance, but I've always had an extremely hard time taking people seriously when they're too afraid/apathetic/"traditional" to try and fix GLARING problems.

  The few times I've been incredulous enough to try and broach the topic, I'm told "this is Japan," as if that's some kind of obvious excuse. One culture criticizing another is always a tricky proposition: cultural arrogance is a very easy thing to slip into. But what BIG problems are dealt with by a point blank refusal to take any action other than submissive cooperation, I'll go ahead and be the Ugly American: that is WRONG.

  "That's just the way it is" is not an adult way to deal with a bad situation.

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  jalways at 12:32 PM JST - 24th May

  Most of us know and understand that suicide in Japan along with divorce is amongst the highest in the Nation as been reported. It is tearful and extremely frightening to have this statistic in an area you live. As an example our children see this in news and other sources and feel it is common to do. Besides the listed 81 that have been reported, many unreported are due to other factors. I know of someone who took his own life due to girl problems, another that lost his job. Non-the less, many suicides are being done on a daily base in Japan. What is the Japanese person to due? Let me advise for our fellow people in need of help. Get out of the box you are living in. I find it so disturbing that a simple hello to a Japanese person usually gets no response. May I advise to use your heart in full? Say what you truly want to say and do what you truly want to do. Find something essential for you to live for and have a dream and goals and stop being selfish. We are in this world for one purpose and it is not to commit suicide. Find yourself and join your local congregation or church organization. I know you will find truth in religion and the true purpose of life.

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  proxy at 02:44 PM JST - 24th May

  How about all the high school kids that die of "heart attacks?" Pick a high school and there will be 3 or 4 kids that die of "heart attacks" every year.

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  Statistician at 03:33 PM JST - 24th May

  • jalways

  Japan does NOT have a high divorce rate. Actually, despite increases over the last three decades, it currently has one of the world's lower divorce rates.

  The divorce rate in Japan was much higher back in history

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  fingerless at 03:48 PM JST - 24th May

  Japanese companies have to get their management quality to a level which compares to the rest of the modern world. The system where people are promoted based on seniority rather than competence creates an environment where simplistic thinking like "an increase in working hours equals an increase in productivity" still prevails. There is so much to be gained in efficiency that I am certain most companies could easily reduce their working hours while increasing productivity if management was less wasteful with human resources. A happy worker is an efficient worker.

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  LKTucker at 03:15 AM JST - 25th May

  I have often wondered if the death rates published for Japan were accurate. Most workplaces I have seen in pictures do not use Cubicles. Is this accurate? Can any one corroborate that?

  If this is true the death's by suicide are not from over work but from Subliminal Distraction exposure.

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  nipbaka at 05:09 PM JST - 25th May

  There are no laws to protect Jpeople from the daimyos so ...what do you expect! Kamikaze is the honorable way especially with bathroom chemicals! Let's hope these cowards don't take a lot with them.

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  European1 at 12:49 AM JST - 26th May

  There are no laws to protect Jpeople from the daimyos so ...what do you expect!

  Exactly, thats why this is perfect country for business owners. You can exploit your employee and you wont be punished. They fear will keep them quiet がまんする

  Kamikaze is the honorable way especially with bathroom chemicals! Let's hope these cowards don't take a lot with them.

  after "がまん" they explode taking sometimes more than them and this is sad.

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  medievaltimes at 08:49 AM JST - 26th May

  Only 81??? Any responsible person involved with the mental health, labor management or legal professions should be screaming to the meida/government that these numbers are not even close to being accurate.

  But once again we see denial in action. Most Japanese think it is acceptable to deal with a problem by simply ignoring the fact that it exists.

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  netrek at 01:22 PM JST - 27th May

  I wonder what the suicide rate per capita is in Japan versus the United States - anyone know?

  How much of this is that they were pushed by overwork to the breaking point and how much is it cultural forces at work (overwhelming expectations, fear of dishonoring one's company/parents/family/country)?

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  netrek at 01:24 PM JST - 27th May

  Another thing to consider is the state of mental health treatment and awareness in Japan. Most people who commit suicide are depressed. People in a depressed mental state are thinking abnormally at a neurchemical level. They need help. I don't live in Japan so I don't know how much of a stigma there is about mental illness, what resources are available, what the support network is like, etc. Can someone fill me in please?

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