Suicide in Japan

Japanese citizens are committing suicide at an alarming rate.

Here are some details from Paul Wiseman, Suicide epidemic grips Japan, USA Today, July 20, 2008:

• Approximately 34,000 Japanese citizens committed suicide in 2007.
• The Japanese suicide rate is the ninth highest in the world and twice that of the United States.
• Suicide has long been an accepted part of the Japanese culture (e.g., Samurai warriors committed seppuku; World War II’s kamikaze pilots).
• A common method is to combine household chemicals to create a cloud of poison gas.  Significant collateral damage may occur.
• Estate planning laws do not “punish” suicide.  For example, beneficiaries may still collect life insurance and insurers pay off home mortgages.  Thus, suicide may be viewed as a prudent financial decision for the family.
• The Internet makes it easy to locate self-help suicide instructions.