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Japan Suffers High Rate of Suicides
Last year, more than 31,957 people killed themselves in Japan, one of the most affluent and advanced societies in the world.
They didn't die of plague, or starvation or natural catastrophe; they died because they just couldn't stand to live any longer, and following the stern rules of their culture they didn't ask for help.
The figures for 2000 reflect a slight decrease of 1,091 from the previous year but still, an average of almost 100 people kill themselves every day. There are higher rates in other countries, but none with such a high level of economic and industrial development.
The United States has about the same number of suicides as Japan annually, but Japan has a total population of 126 million compared to the United States' 275 million.
Almost three-quarters (71 percent) of the suicides last year were Japanese men.
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