TOKYO —
The total number of suicides that occurred nationwide in 2015 has slipped below 25,000 for the first time since 1997, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Police Agency (NPA).
The NPA said that a total of 23,971 people killed themselves in Japan between Jan 1 and Dec 31 last year, a reduction of 1,456 from 2014, and the sixth straight annual decline, Fuji TV reported.
By region, the highest number of suicides—2,471— occurred in Tokyo, followed by 1,382 and 1,301 in Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures, respectively. In terms of ratio per population, however, the highest suicide death toll was recorded in Akita Prefecture, while the lowest was observed in Osaka Prefecture.
Of those who killed themselves in 2015, 16,641 were men and 7,330 women.
The report further reveals that by month, the highest number of suicides was recorded in March, with a total of 2,300 cases, while the lowest was February, with 1,766 suicides nationwide.
The toll shows a significant improvement from Japan’s so-called “dark period” that began in 1998, a year that launched the beginning of 14 consecutive years of total suicides surpassing 30,000.
A steady decline began in 2012, slipping under 30,000 for the first time since 1997.
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39 Comments
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8
mrkobayashi
A decrease of 6% compared to a population decrease of 0.2%. Sounds great, especially considering suicide rates are highest in the plus 50 age group. This is a positive trend for Japan
2
MrTingle016
A step in the right direction if it really continues to drop, but Japan needs to address mental health here badly.
-2
Moonraker
Depends on the definition of suicide. Are there any factors which could mean underreporting (or overreporting)? And have these changed over time? Police statistics are not always what they seem.
4
Yubaru
Understatement of the year (so far).
-3
Peter Payne
I guess that AKB48 campaign a few years back helped.
-2
Schopenhauer
I sometime feel respect for those who commit suicides. It is not an easy thing at all to terminate one's life by himself or herself. It is a supreme decision, if it is a rational conclusion. When people fear death too much, their lives become miserable.
0
gokai_wo_maneku
So about every 20 minutes, someone end it all. Well, the population of Japan is decreasing, so I guess that could account for the decrease in the number of suicides. There are fewer people to kill themselves.
1
Akula
Good to see this number coming down. One of the biggest threats to Japan's security is its demographic situation, and the fewer people who commit suicide, the better.
-2
Steve Crichton
Thats why my train this morning was delayed by a jumper. Delayed for 50 mins.
-4
DaDude
I'd like to know the average by age and top locations for suicide to happen.
1
DiscoJ
Osaka's suicide rate appears to be the lowest, but its murder rate is the highest. Just a coincidence?
-6
sangetsu03
March would be the biggest month, the last month before the fiscal year. You don't want to be on the train on the first Monday of the fiscal year. Last year on March 30th, half the trains in Tokyo were delayed by jumpers.
What many people don't realize is that bankruptcy in Japan is considered tantamount to a crime. A bankrupt loses his or her right to vote, and cannot be hired as a full-time employee. The social consequences of bankruptcy are so severe that many commit suicide rather than bear the shame, or getting stuck working in a convenience store or driving a taxi for the rest of one's working days.
0
Aizo Yurei
Just wait until the tax goes up to 10%.
0
Cogito Ergo Sum
For a seemingly opulent society, this should be an affront to Japanese government ego. Apparently, it takes 30,000 residents for a place to be given a city ( Shi) status, How many shis are gone? Money makes not a happy life.
3
daito_hak
Well let's put this number (23,971) in perspective, shall we?
As of April 2015, the number of confirmed deaths after the 2011 tsunami is 15,891; plus the 2,500 people that Japan keeps calling "missing".
Which means that a tsunami even stronger occurs every year in Japan, reported to the number of people killing themselves in this country. A giant tsunami every year. This is what we've got here.
A tsunami occurs and all the society of Japan is behind the ganbaro thing and we've got all the memorials we need. However the society of Japan kills more people every year that the tsunami did once, and nobody seems to care. Let alone the Japanese politicians who doesn't want to admit that the societal model they have promoted for more than 50 years is a failure.
Everything is just put under the carpet, classified taboo.
0
Novenachama
It is a fact that suicides are terribly under-counted and the problem is much worse than official data count would lead us to believe. It seems to be a situation that has gotten out of hand and is rising around the world. There is value to human life and there is a way of life that produces true happiness, peace and lasting success. There is a way of life that teaches us how to face and overcome problems rather than resorting to suicide and the incredible human potential will provide you the solution and inspiration you need to make it through life's tough times. In the end human beings must never forget that he or she was created to be a success and not a failure. Suicide is not a physical disease or physical illness. It is a weakness of the mind and character.
-1
Deborah Lansford
Daito_Hak:
Totally reposting with your comment. A-freaking-men.
-2
Moon1
How do you know
It's good news yet still you people have to find issue with it, always finding some reason why it cannot be right. It is what it is.
-3
Schopenhauer
Are there not honorable deaths?
-2
TheGodfather
"the society of Japan kills more people every year that the tsunami did once"
Keep talking like that and we'll have a REVOLUTION on our hands...
2
wtfjapan
Are there not honorable deaths? yes living your life to its fullest, helping others, your family, not abandoning people you love, even if your going through tough times. basically the opposite of suicide
1
Yubaru
Your information is outdated and not accurate. Someone who files does not lose their voting rights nor lose the right to be hired full-time either.
http://beaconreports.net/going-broke-japan/
-2
Jay Que
In the US a lot of this is tied to abuse of addictive prescription medication, pain meds, mood meds, either legally prescribed or otherwise. I wonder what the difference is between the US and Japan in this regard? (I look into this subject closely, having lost a loved one...)
-1
Tamarama
Schopenhauer
Actually, it is easy. It's very, very simple. As simple as taking a step.
But I am interested in your post because someone very close to me committed suicide and I have often thought of the process of him doing so. The psychology, the physical process. I know what he did, I know where he went and how he did it. I think for most of us the idea of death is very frightening, so to take steps to face that fear is a form of courage. The derogatory remarks calling suicide cowardly are ignorant imo. This person was a brave and selfless person who was well known for his generosity - so what drove him to suicide was a deep and relentless torment that he eventually silenced after obviously reaching breaking point.
I feel very sad for suicide and I particularly feel for family and friends because it is a terrible cross to bear. I have seen the effects firsthand and it's truly awful. Everyone loses.
-1
Disillusioned
It's interesting that the majority of suicides happened in March, which is the start of the new financial year. I have no doubt this has been a pattern for many years. I guess one should also note that it is also the start of the new school year as well. It's a little disappointing that these statistics to not give the demographic breakdown of the suicides. How many were seniors and how many were teenagers? These statistics are very important to understand this phenomenon.
0
serendipitous
Actually March is the end of the fiscal year in Japan so the time when results are known and accompanying performance evaluations are conducted. Also the time to find out how impossible the coming financial year's targets are and/or where you may be transferred to etc.
-1
AsianGaijinYesWeExist
Suicide doesn't just devastate friends and families. I had a co-worker who ended her life many years ago. Even though I didn't know her that well, it definitely felt like there's a death in my (personal) family.
The only thing worse than dying from suicide though, is making an attempt and failing at it. For example, jumping from too low a building, firing into the wrong part of the head with a firearm. This can result in possibly life long injury like being in a permanent coma, etc.
0
takeda.shingen.1991@gmail.com
Not sure that really matters. As long as the collected statistics are taken from the same time span year over year, it shows a decrease in the number of suicides. That is a good thing.
0
Yumster100
@Jay,
I'm sorry for your loss and my condolences to you. I read somewhere that most people who file for bankruptcy is due to them not being able to pay their medical bills. Also, I'm sure many Americans knows this but student loans cannot be discharged from bankruptcy proceedings.
0
Moonraker
@Moon1 I fail to see how almost 24,000 official suicides is "good news". And believing official statistics almost anywhere in the world about anything has its drawbacks. Some experience will no doubt teach you this. But when any agency has motives for downplaying the stats or can alter parameters and definitions then we should be doubly sceptical. This is just basic common sense. And it is just the most basic logic to appeal for the definition. What you call suicide (or traffic fatality, or unemployed, or spending on Fukushima clean-up) may not be the same as what the state does.
0
Yubaru
Here in Japan?
0
Victor Nunnally
Why are they committing suicide?
-1
David Blue
The population has been declining so I believe the suicide rate is in line with that. Not surprising that tax time is the spike and right after is the fewest.
0
Daniel Neagari
Good to hear the suicides rates are dropping....
Couldn't help though to see that people here, are commenting suicide from a western - Abrahamic religion (guessing Catholic?) culture values... sure because that is the World norm I guess..
0
Citizen2012
Good news if it is true.
0
Cleveryani
Though it is still very sad to know that Japan is one of the countries in the world that have the most number of suicides every year, I personally feel at least positive about the transformation of many Japanese. People commit suicide because of different reasons and no matter what their reasons are, it is still very wrong to end your own life leaving your loved ones devastated. It is very sad that a number of Japanese have very short patience with life. They are unable bear stress , defeat, loses, failures, poverty aso.. All they need is education on how beautiful it is to live and how to have a better one... Attending seminars, counselling and maybe talk to friends could help a lot. There are so many ways in relieving stress...Life is indeed a beautiful thing. Ending oneself is an awful way of getting rid of life's tribulations. I wish Japan could create a better place for people who are emotionally, mentally and physically troubled.
0
Peter Payne
My daughter said, it's declining because police don't count suicides where a will or note is not left as suicide. This seems overly cynical to me, even for Japan. Anyone know if it's right?
-1
sfjp330
For the elderly, the breakdown of the traditional family unit, and the poor economy. Among the youth, the pressure over college entrance examinations. And for the middle-aged, it’s uncertainty about the economy. But no matter what the age, too many Japanese see suicide as a viable escape from the stresses of modern life. That attitude has to change.
0
Yumster100
@yubaru,
Sorry about not making myself clear. I meant student loans in the US. I have no clue on how things are like in Japan.
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