Japan's suicide rate for job seekers jumps

[Sangetsu]

Originally Posted by termogard

Yes, I understood.
But why other family members MUST pay compensation to, say, railway company for suicide one? Are they guilty for his (her) suicide action? If so, it is rather strange.

In Japan, personal responsibility goes beyond the individual. You are responsible for your family member's actions to an extent. It's a strange place. If I am driving my car and sitting stopped at a red light, and someone driving behind me isn't paying attention and crashes into me, I will be held partially responsible for the accident. It doesn't matter that I did nothing wrong.

Recently a drunk driver got into an accident and killed two high school boys who were walking along the road. The passenger in the car, as well as the bartender who served the drinks were also charged with and convicted of manslaughter.

It's an interesting country.

[termogard]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

In Japan, personal responsibility goes beyond the individual. You are responsible for your family member's actions to an extent. It's a strange place. If I am driving my car and sitting stopped at a red light, and someone driving behind me isn't paying attention and crashes into me, I will be held partially responsible for the accident. It doesn't matter that I did nothing wrong.

Recently a drunk driver got into an accident and killed two high school boys who were walking along the road. The passenger in the car, as well as the bartender who served the drinks were also charged with and convicted of manslaughter.

I am TOTALLY shocked.

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

It's an interesting country.

Yes, INDEED. And very interesting laws, I would add.

[Sinestra]

Originally Posted by evanny

P.S those 30 000 Japanese only make up for 3% of worlds suicides. not exactly an epidemic.

Its not an epidemic but i feel it could be the beginning of one. Its not a matter of the worlds population this is about Japan and Japan alone. For a country whose population is not only rapidly aging but has such a low birthrate the sheer amount of suicides is staggering. This not only effects Japans economy but that of any country that has trade with them therefore also effecting you.

Here you do the math

*In 2010 the Japanese population was roughly 127.08 million.

*There were roughly 2,186,121 foreign residents (but that number has started to drop and fast) so that puts the native Japanese population at around 124.8 million roughly

*More than 20 percent of Japan's total population is over 65 years old and only 13 percent is under 15.


*The number of suicides was at a 13 year high with 30,000 reported. The problem is not decreasing its increasing thats 26 suicides per 100,000 people. This amounts to approximately one suicide every 15 minutes.

Now add the low birth rate, rapid aging work force, drop in foreign residents working in the country, The reluctance of Japan to adopt a foreign work force policy and the high rate of suicide. What kind of potential problem do you have? I think its obvious at this point.

[HimeChan13]

All I can think about this is that it might help Japan's population. I have only heard that it is much too high. From every person I talk to about going to Japan, they have told me the population was too high. It would be so crowded there and very difficult to find a good job. This may not be good after a long period of time, but it might change after a short time. For now it might help the country, though I am NOT encouraging it. I'm just saying.

[tipsygypsy]

Originally Posted by HimeChan13

I'm in a Japanese language class at my high school and we also focus on the culture in Japan. My teacher has been there and she is very fluent with the language. Anyway, she told us a couple days ago that kids in Japan are pressured a lot in high school to get perfect grades.

and I didn't wanna go to highschool like that. so I chose to go to high school which I could graduate with doing nothing as long as my parents pay the tuition.

It's what makes your family honorable, to have a good job.

right. some pitiful families think that way.

There are some awful tests at the very end of a Japanese student's school career. These tests all take place over a week's time and the students refer to it as "Hell week".

I had no tests in my high school

in this time period, several students commit suicide because of the immense pressure they are under. But what may seem odd to people of other cultures, Japanese people see absolutley nothing wrong with this.

we see that thing more than wrong. we consider the increase of suicide rate as serious social problem we're holding.

Japanese people truly think suicide is an honorable way to die.

that's only for samurais who fought bravely and refused to be shameful pow. most of us think people who commit suicide are dumba**

This could be because of their religion. In a lot of countries, Chritsianity or Catholicism dominates. In Japan, they have religions that are very different than these two.

majority of japanese are atheist.

Apparantly, it is quite acceptable for Japanese people to take their own lives. They don't see anything wrong with it.

not acceptable. we see that thing damn wrong. people who commit suicide are people who don't have any imagination to make their own lives meaningful and precious.

[MMM]

Originally Posted by HimeChan13

All I can think about this is that it might help Japan's population. I have only heard that it is much too high. From every person I talk to about going to Japan, they have told me the population was too high. It would be so crowded there and very difficult to find a good job. This may not be good after a long period of time, but it might change after a short time. For now it might help the country, though I am NOT encouraging it. I'm just saying.

WHAT? You think suicide is good as a form of population control?

How can you go to a country and by walking around determine the population is too high?

[tipsygypsy]

to me, the biggest problem is the education system. every kid was taught to be accurate parts of a device which is called society. teachers force kids to learn how to be ideal person for working in the companies regardless everyones' personality. so kids become kinda like emotionless robots. that makes them commit suicide when they can't adjust the average of society. they feel they're unnecessary existence when they fail to adjust to the society. I call those people idiots. look around and see the every single spot of our society. Homeless people often look happier than salaryman because they have more freedom. there are a lot of people who make money without being salaryman. being salaryman a'int the only way to live. what school teaches you isn't the only ideal life. what majority of society does isn't the best thing for every single individual.

[Sinestra]

Originally Posted by tipsygypsy

to me, the biggest problem is the education system. every kid was taught to be accurate parts of a device which is called society. teachers force kids to learn how to be ideal person for working in the companies regardless everyones' personality. so kids become kinda like emotionless robots. that makes them commit suicide when they can't adjust the average of society. they feel they're unnecessary existence when they fail to adjust to the society. I call those people idiots. look around and see the every single spot of our society. Homeless people often look happier than salaryman because they have more freedom. there are a lot of people who make money without being salaryman. being salaryman a7int the only way to live. what school teaches you isn't the only ideal life. what majority of society does the best thing for every single individual.

Tipsygypsy this is what i have also learned from several friends iv made who have moved to the US or came here to go to school. So hearing it from you make me feel this is a big part of the problem that needs to be addressed first. In Japan its not about the individual its about fitting into you niche in society. Everyones heard the phrase "the nail that sticks out get hammered" So people conform to what their teachers tell them society wants them to be. Then they get into the real world and find out things are not as simple as being a robot. They cant adjust. they get depressed and stressed out and instead of trying to change their way of thinking or how they live they life they just take it. Thanks for your insight.

@HimeChan13 your comments scare me. I hope im just misunderstanding you but suicide as a form of population control is just wrong. btw i dont know where you heard Japan overcrowded. From my research its not its that a lot of people live in the cities Japan has a lot of rural land and the population is less there. Its just like the US populations drop as you get out of the cities and get into the country side.

if im wrong someone please correct me.

[ryuhebi13]

Originally Posted by Sangetsu

The problem isn't the pressure, but in how they deal with it. Relatively speaking, Japan is a prosperous country where most people do very well. But many Japanese have a limited perspective about themselves and the world. In high school they work themselves to death to pass university entrance exams, but the universities are mediocre at best, where professors are little more than tape players reading uninspiring lectures to students who need real-world knowledge and guidance.

Working life is not that great either, the hours are long, the work boring, and the pay is seniority-based rather than merit-based, so even those young people who have talent or skill are unable to rise up in the company other than by putting in long years. In Japan the boss is always right, even when he is flat wrong.

The universities cater to this business system, so they don't bother to teach initiative, debate, or outside-the-box thinking. And many Japanese would love to live outside the box, but simply don't know how.

This system plays a great part in Japan's low birth rate, and Japan's increasing inability to compete in international business, and the suicide rate.

Cool. thanks for the insight.

[ryuhebi13]

@Himechan13 Maybe your thinking of China. They instigated a One child policy back in '79 to control the population. Although that is currently being revised.