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Suicide in Japan

Summary/Abstract: This paper presents cultural and historical circumstances, different causes and methods of suicide in modern Japan. In this country, belonging to a group has always been an imperative, a national cultural characteristic that have been passed down through upbringing over the centuries, and it is still powerful today, despite modernization and individualization. A strong affiliation to a group protects individuals against the risk of suicide if a problem occurs in the group: weakening or termination of a relationship, when an individual is left alone, exposed to problems he/she can not cope with outside the group. Samurai, warriors from feudal times, considered suicide a reasonable and honorable act, and because of that in Japan today there is a tolerant view of suicide and relatively high suicide rate. In the past, the loss of honor was the main reason for suicide for samurai, which was typical of old Japan. Today, the reasons for suicide, due to globalization, are similar worldwide – existential despair, loss of reason for living, profound loneliness, lack of connection with others, etc. The rate of suicide performed by teenagers in Japan, as well as by corporate employees, is alarming, and this issue will be addressed in this paper.

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