Summary of Death and Dying in Japan

Tradition is a value that many people hold close to their hearts. The United States has traditions, and we're only around 200 years old. Imagine a small, isolated island that has been independent for centuries and centuries, held together by willpower and honor. That is Japan, and as a direct result of that they are not so willing to get rid of what they have always known. Combine that with a rapidly changing lifestyle and it results in a desire to grasp the past, specifically honor, and with honor can come death. I plan on wrapping up a few things this week before turning in my final project this Friday, specifically more about modern suicide in Japan.

Here is a fantastic video about suicide culture in Japan. The synopsis goes

"In a war on suicide, who is the enemy? ‘Saving 10,000′ is the story of an Irishman’s personal passion to uncover the true causes of the high suicide rate in Japan. The disturbing findings include the Japanese media`s perverse love affair with suicide, a variety of cruel and predatory economic pressures and an outdated and failing mental health care system. With the help of front-line experts and ordinary Japanese, many touched by the horror of suicide, the movie delivers practical proposals on how Japan can win a war on suicide. However with suicide such a taboo, the odds are nobody will listen. Or will they?"

This short (52 minute long) documentary features a lot about Japanese suicide culture, and has won several awards. Really a fantastic video, I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The Aokigahara Forest, or the Suicide Forest

Here is a fantastic video by Vice about a tremendously famous area of Japan. There really isn't much to say about the documentary itself that one can not learn by watching it. Its really a surface look into the forest and the people who's lives it affects daily, with more detail than some people can stomach, so be warned. Corpes (mainly skeletons) are shown, so its not for the faint of heart