Suicide Statistics 2005
Suicides top 30,000 for 7th year
"Although the figure was down 6.1 percent, or 2,102, to 32,325 from the previous year, when it hit a record high, it was the fourth-highest figure since the survey started in 1978.
According to the report, debts and personal problems were the most common cause of suicide for men aged between 30 and 59, who accounted for more than 40 percent of the suicides.
While the economy has been picking up, the gap in incomes has become more serious, leaving men in the prime of their lives with financial difficulties.
The number of male suicides was down 6.8 percent to 23,272, while suicides by females dropped 4.3 percent to 9,053.
By age, men aged 60 or over accounted for the largest number at 7,015, followed by 6,128 men in their 50s, 4,074 men in their 40s and 3,200 men in their 30s.
Of the 10,443 people who left suicide notes, 4,087 said they were killing themselves because of ill health, followed by 3,436 who blamed financial and livelihood problems, followed by family troubles cited by 1,009, among other reasons.
However, financial and livelihood problems remained the most common reason for men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s with 382, 702 and 1,235, respectively, killing themselves for this reason.
Suicides by primary and middle school students decreased by 14 percent to 80, and those by high school students were down by 9.3 percent to 204...
... By prefecture, Tokyo topped the list with 2,691 people committing suicide, followed by Osaka Prefecture with 1,933, and Kanagawa Prefecture with 1,660. Tokushima Prefecture closed out the list with 176 suicides.
Between 1978 and 1997, there had been between 20,000 and 25,000 suicides per year. However, since 1998, when the figure increased by 35 percent to 32,863, exceeding 30,000 for the first time, it has topped 30,000 every year."
Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3, 2005
"Although the figure was down 6.1 percent, or 2,102, to 32,325 from the previous year, when it hit a record high, it was the fourth-highest figure since the survey started in 1978.
According to the report, debts and personal problems were the most common cause of suicide for men aged between 30 and 59, who accounted for more than 40 percent of the suicides.
While the economy has been picking up, the gap in incomes has become more serious, leaving men in the prime of their lives with financial difficulties.
The number of male suicides was down 6.8 percent to 23,272, while suicides by females dropped 4.3 percent to 9,053.
By age, men aged 60 or over accounted for the largest number at 7,015, followed by 6,128 men in their 50s, 4,074 men in their 40s and 3,200 men in their 30s.
Of the 10,443 people who left suicide notes, 4,087 said they were killing themselves because of ill health, followed by 3,436 who blamed financial and livelihood problems, followed by family troubles cited by 1,009, among other reasons.
However, financial and livelihood problems remained the most common reason for men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s with 382, 702 and 1,235, respectively, killing themselves for this reason.
Suicides by primary and middle school students decreased by 14 percent to 80, and those by high school students were down by 9.3 percent to 204...
... By prefecture, Tokyo topped the list with 2,691 people committing suicide, followed by Osaka Prefecture with 1,933, and Kanagawa Prefecture with 1,660. Tokushima Prefecture closed out the list with 176 suicides.
Between 1978 and 1997, there had been between 20,000 and 25,000 suicides per year. However, since 1998, when the figure increased by 35 percent to 32,863, exceeding 30,000 for the first time, it has topped 30,000 every year."
Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3, 2005
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