Suicide
According to the latest studies, suicide in Japan is still way too common here — Japan’s suicide rate remains high. Unlike many on this issue, though, I find it difficult to judge those who take their own lives. It’s simply not my place. It has to be horribly sad for the family members directly involved, though. I can only imagine. A friend of mine killed himself some years ago, and it affected me for a lot longer than I though it would. Perhaps because he chose a particularly brutal way to do it, I don’t know. I still think of him and the lost opportunity. But I hope he’s at peace. Another friend of mine recently witnessed a suicide scene in Tokyo. He blogged about it here — Dead in Yamanote Line.
When I lived in Japan we were told that there is so much pressure for the kids to succeed that there are often a rash of suicides around test results / college entrance time. How sad indeed.
David Meyer
November 14, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Yep. True.
Jim Grisanzio
November 15, 2007 at 4:49 am
Not only japan is seeing a rise in suicide but other countries also seeing an increase. According to WHO, many countries are also seeing a rise in the number of suicides. It’s a bad global trend.
ping
November 15, 2007 at 11:08 pm
ping … it seems much higher in eastern europe at this point.
Jim Grisanzio
November 21, 2007 at 3:41 pm
[...] Japanese take these things in stride, though. I suppose they are used to it, sadly. But people just get on their way with almost no obvious complaining and acting out — [...]
Second Suicide This Week | Jim Grisanzio
November 30, 2010 at 11:49 pm